Ireland South MEP, Seán Kelly, has been appointed Rapporteur for a European Parliament Report on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), a key component of the 'Renovation Wave' and the European Green Deal.

The Directive seeks to modernise EU buildings to make them fit for a greener and more digital society, and to sustain economic recovery.

"Decarbonisation of the buildings sector is vital to deliver on EU climate and energy objectives. The EU plans to renovate up to 35 million buildings by 2030. Closer to home, the Programme for Government committed to retrofitting 500,000 homes to at least BER B2 standard in the same period,” MEP Kelly said.

“This renovation wave will create green jobs and help the post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Energy refurbishment of buildings is labour-intensive, and the industry is dominated by local businesses. I would like to see ambitious renovation schemes inject much-needed stimulus into local economies. In Ireland buildings account for 36% of our greenhouse gas emissions, where around half of our residential heat comes from old and polluting individual oil-fired boilers. Buildings are responsible for 40% of total energy consumption in the EU. Renovations will be crucial to unlock the energy efficiency potential of our buildings and homes.”