Friday 29 May 2026 is the deadline by which European Union countries must transpose the EU “Green Homes” Directive, officially Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD). It is the law that will guide Europe’s building stock towards zero emissions by 2050. But what does it actually mean for anyone building, buying or renovating a home today?

The Green Homes Directive in brief

The directive entered into force on 28 May 2024. It does not oblige individual owners to renovate by a given date; instead, it sets targets for each country’s building stock as a whole. For residential buildings, average primary energy use must fall:

• by 16% by 2030;
• by 20–22% by 2035;
• to near-zero levels by 2050.

Each country decides how to get there: through incentives, rules on property sales and priority for the most energy-hungry buildings.

Key dates

A few days before the deadline, many countries are behind schedule. Italy does not yet have a transposition decree, and in March 2026 the European Commission opened proceedings against 19 countries, Italy included, for failing to submit the draft National Building Renovation Plan. Practical details, from exemptions to rules on second homes, will therefore come with the national decrees.

What changes for buyers

Energy class is becoming an ever more important price factor. An inefficient property already costs more to heat and cool; tomorrow it risks being worth less, because whoever buys it will need to budget for works. By contrast, a home already aligned with 2030 standards holds its value and attracts more discerning buyers and tenants.

The directive also introduces the renovation passport: a building-by-building roadmap showing which works to carry out and in what order. It is a useful tool even where it is not mandatory.

Where to start: envelope, windows, glass

The most effective way to cut consumption is to stop wasting energy. The building envelope comes before the systems: walls, roof and above all the glazed areas, which in many homes are the weakest point.

• High-performance windows. Timber or timber-aluminium windows with triple glazing, such as those made by Bomè, a Trentino joinery with five generations of experience, reduce heat loss without compromising on design.
• Certified insulating glass. TaccaGlass produces insulating glass units for residential buildings: the quality of the glass matters as much as that of the frame.
• Integrated shading. The ScreenLine® blinds built into the glass unit by Pellini – Finglas, of which BeSpace is the official distributor for Switzerland, control light and heat with no maintenance: in winter they let the sun in, in summer they keep it out.
• Timber structures for extensions and new builds. Buildings with a load-bearing timber structure by Abito Holz combine high thermal insulation, faster construction and lower environmental impact.
• Smart control. Lighting and shading control systems such as those by Lutron avoid waste by automating what we often forget to do.

And in Switzerland?

Switzerland is not part of the European Union and does not have to transpose the directive. The direction, however, is the same: cantonal energy regulations and standards such as Minergie are already pushing towards low-energy buildings. For people who live in Ticino and own property in Italy, or who invest on both sides of the border, knowing both sets of rules has become essential.

Our advice: don’t wait for the decree

The Italian details will come, but the direction is clear. Anyone designing a new home or a renovation today should already be working to 2030 standards: it costs less to do it now than to chase the rules in a few years.

With Real Estate + Contract we manage projects from property assessment to handover, choosing the most suitable solutions with our partners. Contact us for an initial analysis of your property.

Read more: Eco-brutalism: the green soul of concrete.

Sources: EPBD transposition: Italy, Germany, Austria and Spain – Ingenio · EU guidance on the EPBD – Certifico · Green Homes Directive targets – Infobuild