EP demands compulsory use of solar panels

All new buildings will eventually have to start producing as much energy as they consume, according to new rules approved by the European Parliament's Industry Committee.

The rules still need to get the green light from all MEPs next May and then from all member states.

When it first made the proposals, the Commission did not include any target dates for zero-energy buildings but MEPs are insisting on imposing these obligations from 2019. The only exception to the rule will be small houses with a floor area of under 50 square metres, buildings used for religious activities, temporary buildings in use for less than 18 months, workshops and agricultural buildings with low energy demand and protected historic buildings where an energy-efficiency measure would "unacceptably alter their character".

Through the proposed directive, the EP also wants "smart" meters to be installed in all new buildings. Such meters measure both how much and at what time energy is consumed and should allow consumers to benefit from lower night-time tariffs.

Malta already has advanced plans in this area as Enemalta is planning to change all conventional meters into smart meters by 2012.

But beyond the meters, the EP's Industry Committee agreed that member states should be pushed further to ensure zero-energy buildings even among the existing building stock.

According to amendments made, member states will have to set intermediate national targets for existing buildings in order to establish a minimum amount of buildings that should be zero energy by 2015 and by 2020 respectively.

But the MEPs are also urging the Commission to propose additional financial assistance to help with this change by mid-2010.