Claude Turmes, Luxembourg's Minister for Energy; Credit: SIP

The Luxembourg Cabinet has approved a bill aimed at improving the overall energy performance of buildings on the territory of the Grand Duchy.

The bill, submitted by Minister for Energy Claude Turmes, aims to achieve the ambitious objectives set out in Luxembourg's integrated national energy and climate plan in terms of energy efficiency. The bill provides for a new energy performance class A+, a framework for functional buildings and a better anticipated reception of electromobility.

The Energy Minister stressed: “Compliance with our climate objectives today allows us to achieve climate neutrality in 2050. In addition, improving the energy performance of our buildings is not only beneficial for the climate, but also for the economy since it directly supports the craft industry".

New energy performance class A+

The bill provides for the introduction of a new energy performance class A+ on a voluntary basis, making it possible to identify and inform that the requirements of class A have been exceeded.

“With regard to residential buildings, we have already been able to acquire, in cooperation with companies, considerable experience in the field of zero-emission building. This experience must now also be applied to functional buildings. The energy class A+ on a voluntary basis will also allow us to maintain our existing subsidy programmes for renewable heating systems and therefore to actively orient ourselves towards 100% buildings without fossil heating”, explained Minister Claude Turmes.

Framework for functional buildings

To catch up with the energy efficiency requirements that functional buildings had over residential buildings, the bill provides for a new framework for functional buildings intended to promote the improvement of overall energy performance of buildings.

Luxembourg's Energy Minister stated: “Through these new provisions, the government is establishing a framework conducive to the construction of the 'building of tomorrow'. I am delighted that Luxembourg is setting a framework for improving the energy performance of the building sector, integrating solar energy into it from the start and thereby reducing our country's carbon emissions".

While today functional buildings still often have separate heating and air conditioning systems, designers will have to look into the future of the combination of heat and cold produced by the same equipment, namely the heat pump. According to Minister Claude Turmes: "Going from two separate systems to one will allow cost optimisation".

Better anticipated reception of electromobility 

In order to make all buildings on the national territory ready for the reception of electromobility, minimum requirements have been introduced concerning the reception of charging stations for electric or rechargeable hybrid vehicles.

“Combined with the requirement to install an intelligent load management system for buildings with more than 20 parking spaces, these measures will not only facilitate the transition to electromobility, but they will also reduce costs. Pre-installation reduces future costs of future work and installation", concluded the Energy Minister.

In addition, specific training for the experts who issue the performance certificates is planned for autumn 2020.