Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1495665
19 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 MARCH 2023 All Malta's MEPs voted against the proposed amend- ment – Labour MEPs went against the socialist drift, while David Casa's centre-right EPP was split down the middle on the vote. Labour MEP Alfred Sant said the costly measures would af- fect homeowners negatively, even though he praised the EU's objective to create a high- ly energy-efficient building stock that is carbon-free. "The social consequenc- es, according to the various home-owning cultures and structures in the EU, should have been thoroughly consid- ered. This was not properly done. European Parliament ne- gotiators tried to take into ac- count the needs of vulnerable and single-parent households, social housing as well as of ru- ral and remote areas, but they ignored too many essential considerations for these ex- posed sectors," Sant said. According to the European Commission, buildings in the European Union are responsi- ble for 40% of energy consump- tion and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. The European Commission adopted a legisla- tive proposal to revise the En- ergy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), as part of the so-called 'Fit for 55' package. Sant said the energy perfor- mance of buildings was a very sensitive social issue, and that the common denominator ap- proach has "blithely attached the major costs for change to ordinary citizens" on the grounds of climate ambition. "The obligations are not real- istic and achievable," Sant said, calling for a more moederation positio that can incentivise homeowners to improve their property energy performance, rather than be penalised. Labour MEP Alex Agius Sal- iba also echoed Sant's stance, saying it would be "crazy" to ignore the realities of mem- bers states like Malta, whose geographical limitations also dictate a different dimension as well as different building practices. "It is right to be ambitious on the environment... but it is crazy that the European Parlia- ment inflicts greater burdens onto new owners, especially youths seeking to buy their first property... I believe the Eu- ropean Parliament draft laws proposed are a big disadvan- tage to Maltese consumers." The PN candidate for Europe, Peter Agius, earlier this week warned that the radical shake- up in the way properties are built in Malta would require wall, floor and ceiling insula- tion as well as smart lighting and solar panels to become the standard, suggesting added compliance costs could raise the price of a three-bedroom apartment by €36,000. Agius said that by 2028, the extra costs would comprise €5,000 in thermal and dou- ble-glazing, €3,000 in smart lighting, €6,000 in solar panels and €3,000 for a heat pump, €8,000 in wall insulation, and €11,000 in ground and ceiling insulation. "As a country, it is in our interest to be part of the fight against climate change. Initial capital investments in property improvements will be offset in due time, however, we must be vigilant not to pass on the full cost of climate change on the upcoming generations," Agius said. Residential buildings have to achieve, at a minimum, energy performance class E by 2030, and D by 2033 – on a scale going from A to G, the lat- ter corresponding to the 15% worst-performing buildings in the national stock of a member state. Non-residential and pub- lic buildings would have to achieve the same ratings by 2027 and 2030 respectively. The upgrade in energy per- formance, which can take the form of insulation works or improvement in the heating system, would take place when a building is sold or undergoes a major renovation or, if it is being rented, when a new con- tract is signed. Member states have to pres- ent national renovation plans that also include support schemes to facilitate access to grants and funding. They can also exclude build- ings protected for their special architectural or historical mer- it, technical buildings, build- ings used temporarily, and churches and places of wor- ship. Member states may also exempt public social housing, where renovations would lead to rent increases that cannot be compensated by savings on energy bills. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt