The future of EU Building Design

As the European Union prepares for a major revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in autumn 2023, the importance of sustainable building design has never been greater.  

In their article The Future of EU Building Design, our Infrastructures experts Thomas Herber and Jan Liefooghe take a closer look at the changes brought about by this new regulation. They explore how our designs integrate energy performance and financial viability, and deal with greenhouse gas emissions, for both new buildings and renovations.  

Over the past 20 years, the construction sector has successfully reduced operational emissions, leading in some cases to a paradoxical increase in embodied emissions. To meet this challenge, calculation methods and methodologies have been developed, and Tractebel is rapidly expanding its expertise in this field. 

Stricter regulations are on the horizon, with the forthcoming revision of the EPBD in 2023, focusing on faster renovations for existing buildings, the transition from Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) to Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB) for new constructions, and an overhaul of European energy labels. 

The transition from NZEB to ZEB marks a shift in focus from solely considering energy consumption to considering greenhouse gas emissions over the entire life cycle of a building. 

This article demonstrates Tractebel's expertise and commitment to sustainable building design, addressing performance, emissions and environmental sustainability while preparing for evolving regulations. We are fully prepared to assist our clients in addressing these challenges and achieving their sustainable building goals. 

Read the full article here below or download it here