Since 2021, all new buildings in Romania must comply with the NZEB – Nearly Zero Energy Building – standard, in line with European legislation. In 2025, the effects of this regulation are visible in the residential sector through the emergence of innovative technical and architectural solutions.

Builders are frequently integrating heat pumps, heat recovery ventilation, photovoltaic systems, and high-performance triple glazing. At the same time, developers are adopting compact configurations and optimal building orientations for passive efficiency.

A study conducted by OAR and INCD URBAN-INCERC shows that NZEB-compliant homes reduce energy consumption by up to 80% and monthly costs by 50–60%.

On the real estate market, NZEB-certified apartments are 8–12% more expensive, but their attractiveness is steadily increasing thanks to lower operating expenses and higher standards of thermal and acoustic comfort.

Challenges remain in the area of compliance inspections and in aligning national legislation with applicable technical guidelines.

(Photo: Freepik)