Introduction:
EU energy policy is increasingly clear: modern buildings must not only measure energy use, but also understand it, compare it, and actively improve it. The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) (Directive (EU) 2024/1275) establishes upgraded requirements for Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS), with key deadlines in December 2024, May 2026, and December 2029.
What the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) Requires (In simple terms):
For certain non-residential buildings, EU rules now require the installation of a Building Automation and Control System (BACS) particularly where systems are large enough to matter. Where technically and economically feasible:
- Buildings with heating or air-conditioning systems over 290 kW must be equipped with BACS by 31 December 2024
- This requirement expands to non-residential buildings with systems over 70 kW by 31 December 2029 The Directive defines BACS broadly as a system comprising products, software, and engineering services enabling efficient, economical, and safe operation of technical building systems.
Most importantly, the required BACS capabilities can be summarized in three core outcomes:
- Continuous monitoring, logging, analysis, and the ability to adjust energy use
- Benchmarking performance, detecting efficiency losses, and informing responsible people with improvement opportunities
- Interoperability—communication across technical systems from different manufacturers and protocols
Additionally, from 29 May 2026, BACS must be capable of monitoring indoor environmental quality (IEQ)—including air quality, thermal comfort, and lighting conditions—to ensure healthy indoor environments alongside energy efficiency.
Where Enectiva Fits
Enectiva is designed to connect energy data, building technology, and decision-making into one platform—supporting industrial sites, commercial portfolios, and residential properties (including multi-site and mixed-use environments).
Below is how Enectiva aligns with the EPBD’s functional requirements.
1) Continuous Monitoring, Logging, And Analysis
- High-granularity data capture is the foundation of “continuous monitoring.” Enectiva supports readings from monthly/manual entries through automated readings down to very short intervals for critical meters, allowing organizations to monitor consumption patterns as closely as their use case requires.
- Hardware independence is equally important: Enectiva can collect data via multiple protocols (including M-Bus, Modbus, WM bus, BACnet, pulses/S0) and transmit via fixed, mobile, and IoT networks.
- Analysis becomes actionable when it can be linked to context. Enectiva supports capturing “energy events” (e.g., equipment replacement or insulation upgrades) so teams can see how changes impact consumption and costs over time.
2) Benchmarking, Loss Detection, And Informing Responsible Teams
The EPBD expects that the system doesn’t just collect data, it helps identify losses and informs the people who can act. Enectiva supports this workflow with:
- Dashboards and portfolio visibility (consumption, water, gas, and more) to establish baselines and track trends.
- Automated notifications (email/SMS) for consumption and cost thresholds—helpful for early detection of abnormal operation or budget overruns.
- Benchmark-ready data inputs, including integration of external drivers (such as weather station data or occupancy/production parameters) that make comparisons more meaningful.
This combination supports the Directive’s requirement to benchmark efficiency, detect losses, and inform the person responsible about improvement opportunities.
3) Interoperability Across Systems And Manufacturers
A core EPBD requirement is interoperability—buildings rarely have “one vendor, one protocol.” Enectiva supports interoperability through:
- Multi-protocol data acquisition (including BACnet and Modbus)
- A REST API to integrate with company systems, accounting/ERP, and measurement & regulation / BMS systems
- The management systems to send meter readings directly to Enectiva, supporting multi-vendor environments.
Industrial, Commercial, And Residential Use Cases
While the EPBD’s BACS requirement for non-residential over 290 kW systems applied from 31 December 2024, the Directive also introduces functionality that applies to residential buildings from 29 May 2026 (continuous monitoring, efficiency drop alerts, and effective controls for new buildings and those undergoing major renovation). That makes Enectiva’s monitoring + alerts + integration approach relevant across:
- Industrial: sub-metering for production lines, utilities, compressed air, and process heat
- Commercial: multi-site portfolios (offices, retail, logistics), cost control, performance reporting
- Residential: apartment blocks and shared systems, transparency for owners/managers, abnormal consumption alerts
Implementation Note
Compliance is not just “software installed”—it depends on how the system is configured, what meters/controllers are connected, and how reporting/alerts are set up for responsible roles. For EPBD alignment, the best practice is to document:
- Connected Meters and Technical Systems
- Data Granularity and Retention
- Benchmarks and Alert Thresholds
- Reporting Routines and Responsible Recipients
- IEQ Monitoring Capabilities (air quality, temperature, humidity, lighting sensors and reporting—from 29 May 2026)
Compliance Timeline Table
| Deadline | Requirement | Applies To | Enectiva Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December 2024 | BACS mandatory | Non-residential buildings with heating/cooling systems >290 kW | Monitoring, logging, analysis, benchmarking, interoperability |
| 29 May 2026 | IEQ monitoring capability | All buildings where BACS is required | Integration with air quality, temperature, humidity, lighting sensors |
| 31 December 2029 | BACS mandatory (expanded) | Non-residential buildings with heating/cooling systems >70 kW | Scalable to smaller commercial buildings and portfolios |
| From 29 May 2026 | Continuous monitoring and alerts | New residential buildings and major renovations | Residential dashboards, automated alerts, efficiency tracking |
Competitor Comparison: EPBD 2024/1275 Compliance
| Requirement | Enectiva | Traditional BACS Vendors | Cloud Analytics Platforms | IoT-First Startups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEQ Monitoring (from May 2026) | Native integration—air quality, temp, humidity, lighting sensors unified with energy data in one platform | Often require separate environmental modules or third-party integration; legacy systems may need hardware upgrades | Energy-only focus; no native IEQ capabilities | Strong on IEQ sensors, but often lack deep energy analytics and BACS integration |
| BACS Deadline Compliance (Dec 2024) | Immediate deployment—software layer works with existing meters and controllers; no rip-and-replace | Full BACS hardware/software stacks, but expensive and slow to deploy; often proprietary | Not BACS—purely monitoring/reporting; does not meet control/adjustment requirements | Monitoring only; rarely include control capabilities needed for full BACS compliance |
| 70 kW Phase (Dec 2029) Readiness | Scalable pricing—economical for smaller commercial buildings; portfolio-wide deployment | Cost-prohibitive for smaller buildings; typically target >500 kW projects | Portfolio-friendly, but lack control functions | Cost-effective, but limited energy analytics depth |
| Interoperability (multi-vendor) | Protocol-agnostic—M-Bus, Modbus, BACnet, WM-Bus, pulses, IoT networks; REST API for ERP/BMS | Often push proprietary protocols; “open” only within their ecosystem | Good API connectivity, but limited to data exchange—not device control | Often locked to specific sensor hardware brands |
| Benchmarking and Loss Detection | Built-in—portfolio dashboards, automated alerts, anomaly detection, weather/production normalization | Advanced, but complex and require specialist configuration | Strong reporting, but reactive—not predictive | Basic threshold alerts; limited benchmarking depth |
| Implementation Speed | Weeks—software layer over existing infrastructure | Months—full hardware/software installation and commissioning | Weeks—cloud onboarding, but limited to data integration | Days—sensor deployment, but shallow energy analytics |
| Cost Model | SaaS subscription—no large upfront CAPEX; scales with portfolio | High CAPEX—hardware, licenses, maintenance contracts | SaaS—lower cost, but limited functionality | SaaS/hardware bundles—affordable entry, but sensor costs add up |
| Residential Sector | Proven—multi-family buildings, shared systems, owner transparency | Rarely target residential; over-engineered and expensive | Limited residential functionality | Good for residential, but weak on commercial/industrial energy depth |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive)?
The EPBD is an EU legal framework that sets minimum requirements for energy performance in buildings. The recast Directive (EU) 2024/1275 (which replaces the previous 2010/31/EU version as amended) establishes new rules for building automation, energy certification, and zero-emission buildings, with specific deadlines for BACS implementation.
What are the key deadlines for Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS)?
The recast directive establishes three critical dates:
- 31 December 2024: BACS mandatory for non-residential buildings with heating/cooling systems over 290 kW
- 29 May 2026: IEQ monitoring capability required for all BACS-equipped buildings; monitoring and alerts required for new residential buildings and major renovations
- 31 December 2029: BACS requirement expands to non-residential buildings with systems over 70 kW
What do the BACS requirements cover?
Per Article 13(10) of Directive (EU) 2024/1275, BACS must be capable of:
- Continuously monitoring, logging, analysing and allowing for adjusting energy use
- Benchmarking energy efficiency, detecting losses, and informing responsible persons
- Interoperability across different manufacturers and protocols
- From 29 May 2026: Monitoring indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
Is Enectiva a “BACS” (Building Automation and Control System)?
Enectiva can serve as part of a BACS solution by providing the central software layer for monitoring, analytics, benchmarking, alerts, and integration. Whether a specific building setup fully qualifies as a BACS depends on the complete deployed system—including connected hardware, controllers, sensors, and proper commissioning—and compliance with the specific deadlines above.
What is IEQ and why does it matter from May 2026?
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) refers to air quality, thermal comfort, lighting conditions, and acoustic comfort. The 2024 recast mandates that BACS must monitor IEQ parameters from 29 May 2026 to ensure buildings maintain healthy indoor environments while optimising energy use.
Does Enectiva support IEQ monitoring?
Yes. Enectiva can integrate data from IEQ sensors (air quality, temperature, humidity, lighting) alongside energy data, providing unified dashboards and alerts from May 2026 onwards.
What types of buildings can use Enectiva?
Enectiva applies across industrial facilities, commercial buildings and portfolios, and residential properties—particularly multi-family buildings. The EPBD’s strict BACS deadlines apply primarily to non-residential buildings, but residential buildings face requirements from 29 May 2026 for new builds and major renovations.
How do we demonstrate compliance with the 2024/2029 BACS requirements?
Maintain an evidence pack documenting:
- System architecture and connected meters/controllers
- Data granularity, retention policies, and frequency
- Benchmark methodology and alert thresholds
- IEQ monitoring capabilities (from May 2026)
- Responsible recipients for reports and notifications
- Commissioning records and configuration changes
What changed from the previous EPBD version?
The 2024 recast (Directive (EU) 2024/1275) introduced:
- Earlier BACS deadline: 31 December 2024 (was 2025 in the 2018 amendment)
- Lower threshold phase: 70 kW by 2029 (new)
- IEQ monitoring requirement: From May 2026 (new)
- Zero-emission building standard: Replacing nearly zero-energy building (NZEB) from 2028/2030
- Smart readiness indicator: Mandatory for certain buildings from 2026
For more information or to get started, contact us directly at sales@enectiva.com or +420 222 766 950.