The European Union has recently approved the Green Homes Directive, which will result in a 270 billion euro bill for Italian real estate. According to the Unimpresa Study Centre, over 61% of Italian properties fall into the worst energy classes, F and G, requiring significant investments for redevelopment. Each property is estimated to require an investment ranging from 20 thousand to 55 thousand euros.
The directive aims to achieve significant energy efficiency improvements in residential buildings and real estate units across the European Union. It mandates that member states must reduce energy consumption in various sectors, including homes, public buildings, and new buildings. A plan to achieve this involves the full energy requalification of all properties by 2050, with an average expense of approximately 35,000 euros per property. The directive outlines a common methodology for calculating energy performance and sets minimum requirements for new and existing buildings. Exemptions are provided for certain types of properties, such as listed buildings, historic properties, and temporary structures.
Unimpresa President Giovanna Ferrara criticizes the EU for operating based on ideologies rather than overall interests, noting that countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal will struggle to bear the high costs. Despite the directive not currently enforcing sanctions for non-compliance, individual national governments can decide on penalties
