For over twenty years, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) has shaped how Europe designs, renovates and assesses its buildings. The 2024 recast (Directive (EU) 2024/1275) has expanded its scope, making significant changes for those dealing with EPBD HVAC requirements.
From energy efficiency to indoor environmental quality
Until now, the directive has focused mainly on energy consumption. The revised version introduces a definition of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) for the first time in EU law. This is an assessment of parameters such as temperature, humidity, ventilation rate and indoor contaminants that affect the health and wellbeing of occupants. The principle is clear: energy savings must never compromise the air people breathe.
How will HVAC systems be affected?
The EPBD translates this principle into concrete measures:
- member States must establish requirements to ensure a healthy indoor climate in new buildings and during major renovations;
- non-residential zero-emission buildings must be equipped with devices to monitor and control indoor environmental quality (IEQ);
- inspection obligations now also apply to stand-alone ventilation systems when the combined heating and cooling power reaches at least 70 kW.
In other words, HVAC systems will now be judged not only on how efficiently they run, but also on the quality of the indoor environment they provide.
Beyond the annual check
This shift in focus demonstrates a change in how building performance is evaluated. A single inspection captures a system’s condition on one day of the year, whereas the directive’s focus on monitoring indicates continuous, measurable performance over time. In this context, technologies such as IoT sensors and AI-driven monitoring are set to play an increasingly important role.
What’s next
Member States had to transpose the directive into national law by 29 May 2026. But where do they stand today? We will explore this in the second part of our blog.
