Homeowners in Brussels will have until 2025 to undertake home renovations to put residential buildings in the capital on track with national energy-efficiency goals by 2030, according to a decree passed by outgoing regional authorities.
The decree will make it obligatory for homeowners to obtain a PEB energy performance certificate for their homes by 2025, in order to drive down energy consumption of Brussels homes by a third between 2030 and 2050.
The measure aims to ensure the Brussels Capital Region respects a national commitment to cut Belgium’s carbon emissions by 35 percent by 2030 — which would mean that emissions from the capital region should drop by at least 32 percent in 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.
Residential and office buildings in the region currently account for over 74 percent of energy consumption, and out of an estimated 575,000 residential buildings in Brussels, 30 percent were built before the 1960s and are non-insulated.
The PEB certificates ranks a building’s energy performance on seven levels that go from “very economical (A-grade)” to “very energy intensive (G-grade).”
Owners of residential buildings in the capital region will therefore have to address local authorities to obtain the certificate, and to undertake any necessary renovations to improve a building’s insulation and heating performance.
With an estimated cost of €40,000 per homeowner, regional authorities have said that a financing plan will be made available.
“In 2016, we obtained €80 million” from climate agreements, Brussels Housing Minister Céline Fremault told BX1.
“In the coming years, those funds need to be invested in helping homeowners undertake home improvements.”
Sanctions will be implemented for landowners who don’t accomplish their obligations. The sanctions are not yet defined and will be determined by the incoming regional government.
Gabriela Galindo
The Brussels Times
