Our dream homes will have to be green

Homes and offices built after 2020 will have to generate almost all their own energy from renewable sources under new EU rules that will force the construction industry to make fundamental changes.

The new buildings will also be required to have high-energy saving standards. This means the Maltese will have to re-think the methods used to build residences and other edifices. Designs will have to make more space for energy-producing technology such as solar and photovoltaic equipment. Buildings will also have to employ better energy-saving techniques such as increased insulation, larger windows and double glazing. The rules kick in even earlier, from 2018, in the case of public buildings but churches, industrial zones, holiday homes used for less than four months a year and protected historical buildings will be exempt.

The new rules were agreed between negotiators from the European Parliament and European Council and now need to have the rubber stamps of both institutions.

Malta will have to draw up a national plan to increase the number of "nearly zero" energy buildings.

By mid-2011, it will also have to make a list of financial and other incentives for the transition, such as technical assistance, subsidies, loan schemes and low-interest loans.

Existing buildings will also be affected if they require major renovations, in which case they will have to improve their energy performance if this is technically, functionally and economically feasible.

Owners of such places will have to use the renovation to install smart meters and replace existing heating, hot-water plumbing and air conditioning with high-efficiency alternatives such as heat pumps or renewable based systems.

In Malta's case, smart meters will be available by the time the rules come into force as the government has already embarked on a multi-million euro project to install them in all buildings within two years.

A system of energy performance certificates for all new buildings will also be introduced.

All member states will have to establish a certification system to measure the energy performance of buildings. Certificates will be required for any structures that are constructed, sold or rented out to a new tenant and for those where more than 500 square metres will be occupied by a public authority and frequently visited by the public.

The rules, which form part of the EU's efforts to tackle climate change, were welcomed by environmental organisations, though they felt they should have been introduced earlier.

According to WWF, a major pro-environment organisation, the deadlines are too late: "This means the rules will not contribute to the EU's 2020 goals for cutting emissions."