With the entry into force of the EPBD Directive, Member States are required to draw up National Plans for increasing the number of nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs). According to paragraph 3 of Article 9, these plans shall include nZEB definitions reflecting national, regional or local conditions, and a numerical indicator of primary energy use.
The existing residential buildings stock, to which an average age of about 55 years is attributed, is the main energy efficiency challenge that Member States are facing. Due to the economic downturn, there is a great unrealised potential for energy saving in the refurbishment sector, to which other key benefits are related: improvement in energy security, job creation, fuel poverty alleviation, improved indoor comfort, increased property values, energy system benefits, etc.