New publication in the Official Journal of the European Union marking a new step towards achieving the objectives of climate neutrality and energy efficiency within the continental organisation, with a greater impact on the construction sector.

On 8 May, Directive (EU) 2024/1275 was adopted, which reflects the sustainability aspects of public and private buildings. The main objective of this directive is to achieve carbon neutrality in the construction sector by requiring buildings to achieve zero emissions (ZEB, Zero Energy Building). From 2030, new buildings will have to meet ZEB standards, two years earlier in the case of public buildings. Achieving these targets, however, requires funding and a detailed national plan. The aim is to simplify the procurement of subsidies and financing by the private sector. Member States must implement the Directive within two years, which requires a stable political and financial framework for implementation. The technology deployment supported by this legislation offers the opportunity to decarbonise and digitise buildings across the European Union, thereby achieving the ZEB by 2050.

Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs) are structures designed to minimise their energy consumption and, in many cases, generate the energy they need from renewable sources. These buildings are designed with a combination of energy efficient technologies, such as energy efficient air conditioning and cooling systems, to reduce the need for energy. The main aim of ZEBs is to minimise their carbon footprint and environmental impact, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change. As well as being more environmentally friendly, these buildings offer significant savings in running costs over their lifetime, as they incorporate advanced energy control systems to improve occupant comfort. They also focus on real-time monitoring of energy consumption, temperature, humidity and CO2 levels. The aim is to improve indoor air quality and resistance to climate change, particularly overheating.

Today, 36% of greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of final energy consumption in the EU come from buildings, 75% of which are not energy efficient. Zero energy buildings implement advanced systems to control energy and improve user comfort, based on energy management systems; they focus on real-time monitoring of energy consumption and other relevant data. Therefore, this regulation does not only focus on new buildings, but especially on the existing building stock, which can be retrofitted with these systems to become sustainable. Renovation plays a fundamental role in this Directive, promoting change through the aforementioned reforms in installations with intelligent air conditioning and cooling systems or the use of renewable energy.

What is energy efficiency and how can it be optimised

Energy optimisation in the industrial sector has emerged as a critical aspect of business sustainability and competitiveness. Awareness of its importance is growing as companies recognise the benefits of reducing operating costs, improving efficiency and complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. This recognition has driven the adoption of innovative technologies ranging from advanced process monitoring and control systems to the integration of renewable energy into industrial operations.

 

A key part of this process is energy audits, which provide a detailed assessment of improvement opportunities and areas of inefficiency in industrial processes. These audits serve as a starting point for implementing energy optimisation measures, allowing companies to identify and prioritise actions that will lead to greater energy efficiency. An industrial site energy audit is a comprehensive process designed to identify opportunities to improve energy consumption and operational efficiency. The audit involves a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of the site’s energy use, including the evaluation of equipment, HVAC, industrial processes and any other factors that may influence energy consumption. The audit collects data on current energy consumption, identifies areas of waste and proposes specific recommendations to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs and minimise environmental impact. These recommendations may include upgrading obsolete equipment, optimising processes, implementing more efficient technologies and adopting more effective energy management practices. At the end of the audit, a detailed report is provided that summarises the findings and provides an action plan with priority measures for implementation. Not only does this stop here, but the process has to be closely monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that the process remains on track and that there are no negative variations.

How to make your installation more efficient with Articae

As stated above, implementing energy monitoring and management systems to identify areas of improvement and optimise the performance of your systems helps to reduce operating costs and improve the sustainability of your business, and therefore has a positive impact on the environment. Articae has the necessary solutions to help industrial and logistics sites reduce their level of expenditure and also achieve ZEB status, thanks to efficient cold chains and controlled auditing. Through the following link we invite you to browse through our hardware and software solutions and make your business a more sustainable place.