Optimizing Energy Performance and Smart Readiness in EU Buildings: Insights from the tunES Project

The recent commencement of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in May 2024 pushes for the integration and complementation of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) of buildings, aiming at enhancing energy savings across the European Building Stock. The EU-funded LIFE project “tunES,” addresses the common challenges faced by EU Member States (MS) in making the EPC and the SRI more attractive and maximizing their joint spreading across EU. In this paper, the first results of a survey and interviews conducted with stakeholders in Poland to assess the current effectiveness, awareness and integration of EPC and the SRI are presented and discussed, along with the description of the common methodology established by the consortium for the subsequent policy design and impact assessment phases. Both the survey and interviews found a high level of dissatisfaction with EPC accuracy, methodology and communication and a consequent need for updated regulations, better training and national databases to enhance EPC reliability. Awareness of SRI was quite low, though its potential to enhance energy savings was widely recognized.