In two recent articles, Europe Gets Tough on Energy Performance
of Buildings and Efficiency in Buildings: Beginning of the end of
the "payback period"?, we highlighted important
legislative proposals by the EU in the draft Recast Directive on
the Energy Performance of Buildings (COM (2008) 780 Final).
Another proposed change relates to when display energy
performance certificates will be required. This change may lead to
administrative implications, at least, for real estate landlords,
investors and tenants (if not also commercial implications in time
to come).
Current position – limited to public authorities and
public services
The current EU legislation (Article 7 of the 2002 Energy
Performance of Buildings Directive) requires that for
"buildings with a total useful floor area over 1,000 square
metres occupied by public authorities and by institutions providing
public services to a large number of persons and therefore
frequently visited by these persons" a
