Brussels introduces new rules for building construction

All new buildings owned by the state, municipalities, state and municipal authorities, as well as public enterprises must be designed and constructed as zero-emission buildings (facilities that do not use fossil fuels for heating and cooling and receive almost all their energy from renewable sources such as the sun) from 1 January 2028, while for all other buildings this requirement will apply from 1 January 2030. In addition, the installation of fossil fuel heating systems in new buildings will be prohibited from 1 January 2030, while zero-emission buildings must not use fossil fuels on site.

This is defined by the Roadmap for the transposition of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) in Montenegro and for the adoption of the National Building Renovation Plan.

Control by the European Commission

Montenegro, as a contracting party to the Energy Community and a candidate country for membership in the European Union (EU), is obliged to align its national legislation with the EU acquis in the field of energy efficiency and decarbonisation of the buildings sector. In this context, the EC, within the framework of the negotiation Chapter 15 - Energy, has conditioned the closure of the chapter on the adoption of this Roadmap for the implementation of the EPBD and EED directives and the National Building Renovation Plan, which must be adopted by the end of 2027. Before adoption, the National Building Renovation Plan is submitted to the European Commission for an opinion. The implementation of the plan is monitored by the European Commission, to which annual reports are submitted.

According to the Roadmap, which Vijesti has access to, the National Building Reconstruction Plan should define how Montenegro will reduce energy consumption in buildings, renovate old buildings and gradually switch to energy efficiency and cleaner energy sources in the coming decades. The plan will contain an overview of the existing building stock, targets for reducing energy consumption and emissions by 2030, 2040 and 2050, as well as measures to help citizens who cannot finance the energy renovation of their homes on their own. The document will also define how much money will be needed to implement these measures, from which sources they will be financed, and how the state will monitor the achievement of the set goals.

Public money, including subsidies, grants, tax breaks and other forms of financial support from the budget of Montenegro or municipal budgets, cannot be used for the installation of autonomous fossil fuel heating systems in new buildings.

"The plan shall be adopted by 31 December 2027 and updated at least every five years. The Ministry of Energy shall monitor the implementation of the plan and submit an annual progress report to the Government. The Ministry shall maintain a central register of buildings with the worst energy performance in order to monitor the implementation of minimum energy performance standards and plan measures from the National Building Reconstruction Plan," the Roadmap defines.

Every year, consumption decreases by 1,9 percent

The roadmap stipulates that state administration bodies, public institutions, local self-government units and other public bodies that are predominantly financed from public funds must reduce their total energy consumption by at least 1,9 percent each year, i.e. consume less electricity, heating and other energy sources compared to the previous period. The document stipulates that the Government, by decree, will more precisely define the obligations of individual parts of the public sector, the base year for comparing consumption and the method of keeping records. It is also envisaged that the adoption of the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Program will be adopted, which will determine measures to reduce energy consumption, a plan for the reconstruction of public buildings and the method of financing these measures.

"The state shall ensure that at least 3% of the total usable area of ​​heated and/or cooled buildings owned by public sector entities is renovated each year, so that they are transformed into buildings with nearly zero energy consumption or zero emission buildings. The government shall adopt a program for the reconstruction of public buildings, which shall determine the annual renovation plan for buildings owned by the public sector, priority buildings for reconstruction, the implementation schedule and sources of financing.

The roadmap foresees that energy suppliers and energy distributors will be obliged to encourage citizens and companies to consume less energy through various measures, in order to achieve the annual savings envisaged in the national energy and climate plans. The Ministry will determine the overall annual energy savings target, while the obligations will be distributed among energy suppliers and energy distributors in accordance with their market share. It is also envisaged to establish an information system through which the achieved energy savings will be monitored and recorded, while the state, if necessary, will be able to introduce additional measures in order to achieve the planned energy consumption reduction targets.

Solar panels mandatory on buildings

The roadmap foresees that existing non-residential buildings will have to gradually meet minimum energy efficiency standards within the deadlines defined by the National Building Reconstruction Plan. This applies to business and administrative buildings, offices, shopping malls, hotels, factories, warehouses and other buildings that are not intended for housing. The Government will define the standards that these buildings must meet through special regulations, but certain buildings may be exempted from these obligations, such as buildings that are protected cultural heritage, religious buildings, temporary buildings or buildings where reconstruction is not technically or functionally possible. It is also envisaged that the Ministry will maintain a special register of non-residential buildings that do not meet the prescribed energy efficiency standards.

It is further defined that new buildings, as well as buildings undergoing major reconstruction, must be designed to allow for the installation of solar panels on roofs or other suitable parts of the building. The obligation to install solar systems will be introduced gradually, from July 2028 for new public and new non-residential buildings, as well as for existing public buildings larger than 250 square meters and existing non-residential buildings larger than 500 square meters. For new residential buildings, this obligation will apply from the end of 2029, while existing non-residential buildings larger than 250 square meters will have to have solar systems by the end of 2030.

The document stipulates that solar systems will be mandatory only where their installation is technically, functionally and economically feasible, while exceptions will apply to objects that are protected cultural assets or are located in protected cultural and historical entities. The Ministry responsible for construction will subsequently define detailed technical conditions, criteria for exemptions and a method of assessing the cost-effectiveness of installing solar systems in regulations.

Buildings must also have chargers for electric vehicles

It will also be mandatory to introduce infrastructure for electric vehicles in new buildings and facilities undergoing major reconstruction. Thus, new and reconstructed non-residential buildings with more than five parking spaces will have to have at least one space with a charger for electric vehicles, while at least half of the parking spaces will have to have infrastructure prepared for the subsequent installation of additional chargers. In new and reconstructed residential buildings with more than three parking spaces, pre-installation for chargers will be mandatory in all parking spaces.

The document also stipulates that existing non-residential buildings with more than 20 parking spaces must have at least one charger for electric vehicles, while non-residential buildings will also have to provide an appropriate number of bicycle parking spaces. These obligations will apply only where technically and economically feasible, and detailed conditions and possible exceptions will be prescribed by the Government at a later date.

Help for low-income citizens

Financial incentive programs for energy efficiency must include specific measures to reduce energy poverty. Measures may include subsidies for energy renovation of buildings of low-income households, as well as replacement of heating systems.

"The government may adopt a special program to reduce energy poverty, which establishes support measures for low-income households for energy renovation of buildings and replacement of heating systems," the Roadmap states.