Where in Europe are buildings becoming more energy-efficient?

It's a long and winding road to 2050.

Last week, the EU launched an infringement procedure against all members for failing to fully transpose the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), also called the Green Homes Directive, into law. The deadline to do so was 29 May 2026.

Brussels planned to put the bloc on a common trajectory towards net-zero emissions by the first half of the century with a mandatory modernisation of buildings, Europe's largest energy consumer.

The opening of the infringement procedure, which means that each member state has been sent a letter of formal warning to complete the transposition, doesn't mean that Europe isn’t progressing on that front.

In fact, many buildings are becoming more energy-efficient, even though not as fast as Brussels may like.