Xella International GmbH
With over 7,000 employees, Xella Group is one of the leading, internationally operating solution provider of building materials and related industries.
ID: 744056241606-34
Lobbying Activity
Response to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU
22 Mar 2021
Xella International GmbH welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and would like to thank the Commission for the opportunity to provide its views on the associated roadmap. Xella Group is one of the leading, internationally operating solution provider of building materials and related industries.
Xella International GmbH greatly appreciates and supports the Commission’s ongoing efforts under the Fit for 55 package to increase energy efficiency rates across Europe and especially in buildings. Concerning the proposed policy options, the construction sector is in dire need of more far-reaching measures envisioned under “Option 3 – amend the EPBD to translate the actions proposed in the Renovation Wave and the increased ambition towards building carbonisation into legislation”, specifically, we would like to emphasize the following points:
• Regarding the roadmap’s outlined potential phased introduction of mandatory minimum energy performance standards for different types of buildings, Xella supports the introduction, but requests that all other aspects of building performance requirements are also considered.
• We further support the planned update of the framework for Energy Performance Certificates, with inclusion of additional information and more stringent provisions on availability and accessibility of databases.
• Xella believes that the Commission is right in addressing resource efficiency and circularity, to reduce whole lifecycle emissions, digitalization, climate resilience and health and environmental standards. Increasing standards of resource efficiency in the construction sector is essential and emissions should be looked at holistically over the entire life cycle of products.
Xella also believes that the revision of the energy efficiency performance measures for buildings should be coherent. In this regard, Xella would like to highlight, that the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) and the Construction Product Regulation (CPR), which are also currently in review, include several issues related to the energy efficiency of buildings. Xella believes that all energy efficiency measures related to construction and buildings should be included in the EPBD and reflected in the CPR to have a coherent policy framework and to decrease the administrative burden on our industry.
In addition, the renovation of buildings can certainly improve the energy efficiency of a building. At the same time, any measures included in the EPBD should not lead to unintended consequences. Other essential requirements of the built environment, that strongly impact the long-term sustainability of dwellings must be considered. This includes for example the durability of a material, fire safety features, or the impact on the interior air quality of buildings. Technological openness with regards to construction materials is the sole guarantee for innovation and scientific advancement contributing to the circularity and energy-efficiency of buildings. Buildings are not typical consumer goods and therefore require a long-term perspective by policy makers. Renovation is not always the best solution to guarantee the highest living standards for European citizens, given the quality and repairability of Europe’s post-War building stock. Revitalisation and new build can allow for buildings to be sustainable long-term, up to European quality standards, and tailored to the needs of the inhabitants.
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