How the EU Green Deal Impacts Your Building’s Energy Strategy

3 minutes of reading
Enectiva team

The European Union’s Green Deal framework represents the most ambitious climate and energy policy package in the European Union’s history. With a trajectory toward climate neutrality by 2050, the Green Deal mandates a series of interlinked regulatory reforms, including the Fit for 55 package, the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD 2024), and the expansion of emissions trading schemes.

Fit for 55 and the Energy Efficiency Imperative

The Fit for 55 package demonstrates the EU’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (relative to 1990 levels). Key instruments within the package, such as the revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), impose both horizontal and sector-specific obligations on Member States and private actors alike.

In the European context, this translates into:

  1. A legally binding energy savings obligation for large energy consumers
  2. Mandatory energy audits for industrial facilities
  3. Emphasis on reducing energy intensity (kWh/m² or per unit of production)

The implication for building operators is twofold: energy consumption must not only be monitored but actively reduced in ways that are quantifiable and reportable.

EPBD 2024: Digitalization, Deep Renovation, and Smart Readiness

The 2024 recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) introduces a regulatory shift from passive compliance to proactive digitalization. Among its most impactful elements are:

  1. Requirements for zero-emission buildings (ZEB) for all new construction by 2030
  2. Obligations for deep renovation of inefficient existing buildings
  3. Introduction of Smart Readiness Indicators* (SRI) and Building Renovation Passports
  • SRI is particularly relevant, as it assesses a building’s capacity to adapt energy use in response to occupant behavior, grid signals, and environmental conditions.

Emissions Trading, Carbon Pricing, and Scope 1 and 2 Compliance

The revised EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and upcoming ETS2 for buildings and transport will expand carbon pricing to a broader set of building operators and energy users, including smaller-scale commercial and municipal infrastructure.

For stakeholders, this raises three key concerns:

  1. Measurement of Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased energy) greenhouse gas emissions must be precise and auditable.
  2. Carbon cost exposure will rise for inefficient or poorly monitored facilities.
  3. Access to climate finance (funding for climate mitigation or adaptation) will increasingly depend on the credibility of energy and emissions data.

Policy Alignment: From Reporting to Actionability

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) reinforces the need for building-level energy management by requiring large companies to disclose detailed environmental impacts, including:

  1. Energy consumption by source
  2. Renewable energy share
  3. Energy efficiency improvements over time

Rather than functioning as a passive reporting tool, platforms like Enectiva act as compliance infrastructure, delivering:

  1. Time-stamped energy data by building, floor, or equipment type
  2. Predictive analytics for identifying retrofit priorities
  3. Integration with ESG platforms and audit systems

GRI 302: Energy and the Role of Structured Disclosure

The GRI 302: Energy standard strengthens EU policy by requiring transparent, comparable reporting of organizational energy use. According to ERA Environmental, GRI 302 emphasizes disclosure of total energy consumption (both direct and indirect), energy intensity ratios, documented reductions, and efficiency improvements. By aligning with GRI 302, companies can build credibility in ESG reporting while meeting broader EU regulatory expectations.

The Green Deal is not just about penalties.

The EU Green Deal is a roadmap for building value, cutting costs, and securing funding. Companies that monitor and manage their energy consumption with precision will be expected to:

  1. Cut long-term operating costs
  2. Unlock EU renovation grants and green financing
  3. Build trust with investors, partners, and regulators

It can be strategic—if you let it.

Contact

For more information or to get started, contact us directly at sales@enectiva.com or +420 222 766 951. Let’s create a more efficient and sustainable future together.