Calculating the global warming potential of new buildings: Open for public feedback

The Commission has opened the feedback period on draft rules relating to the calculation of the life-cycle global warming potential (GWP) of new buildings.

The life-cycle GWP of a building brings together greenhouse gas emissions embodied in construction products with direct and indirect greenhouse emissions from the use stage. Under Article 7 of the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the Commission is required to establish an EU framework for the national calculation of the life-cycle GWP of new buildings. It must be disclosed in the energy performance certificate for large new buildings (with a floor space of over 1000m²) from January 2028 and for all new buildings from January 2030. The draft delegated regulation sets out a harmonised, simplified way of carrying out this calculation. 

The mandatory calculation of GWP based on the calculation framework in the delegated regulation creates an incentive to use low-carbon construction materials including clean steel and cement, thereby fostering lead markets for such products, and biobased material such as wood which promotes the carbon storage in buildings. The Commission believes that this harmonisation and simplification to the rules can foster transparency and and boost European competitiveness and industrial innovation.

This draft delegated act builds on a series of consultations and workshops since the start of this year. Following this 4 week feedback period (which closes on 31 October) and an opinion from the relevant expert group (likely before the end of October), the aim is that the delegated regulation can be formally adopted in December. Under EU rules, the Council and the European Parliament will then have a 2-month period to object (which can be prolonged by a further 2 months if requested). 

Feedback will be published on the Commission website in line with its feedback rules.

Related links

• Energy Performance of Buildings Directive