Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings: A Key Pillar of the EU’s Energy Strategy

Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB) represent a fundamental component of the European Union’s energy strategy. Under EU Directive 2010/31/EU and Romania’s Law 372/2005 (republished), Romania is required to ensure that all new buildings—public or private—comply with NZEB standards starting from 2021. However, practical implementation remains uneven, especially in rural areas and among small developers.

According to the Ministry of Development, only 38% of buildings authorized in 2023 fully met NZEB criteria, while the remainder were granted exemptions or were still in transition. Key requirements include high-performance thermal insulation, use of renewable energy sources, heat recovery systems, and energy-efficient lighting and ventilation.

The main challenges remain the lack of local technical expertise, high costs of energy-efficient solutions, and insufficient fiscal incentives. On the other hand, NRRP projects dedicated to energy efficiency (Component 5 – Renovation Wave) are expected to significantly accelerate implementation in 2025, particularly for public buildings.

(Photo: Freepik)