Zero-Emission Buildings– the (near) future standard everyone needs to understand

“A Zero Emission Building (ZEB) is the defining building energy standard of the near future, which all market participants—developers, owners, tenants, investors, and financiers—must understand and apply.”

-emphasized Gábor Szarvas, Managing Director of Greenbors, during a panel discussion at MEHI’s conference titled “Guidance for the Hungarian Implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).”

One of the key messages from the expert, who also contributed as a co-author of the presented at the conference, is that from 2030 onwards, all newly constructed buildings must be zero-emission. In the case of new buildings constructed under state or municipal ownership, or intended for state use, this requirement will already apply from 2028. At the same time, ZEB will become a benchmark requirement as early as 2026, against which the performance of both new and existing buildings must be assessed in energy certification. As a result, the transition to ZEB is not only a technical issue but also a financial and market one: the lack of ZEB compliance represents an increasing risk and may lead to depreciation of building assets. Therefore, even existing buildings must already be planned in line with this standard.

EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive)

The regulatory background of ZEB is provided by the EPBD, the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings, aligned with the EU’s climate and energy policy goals. According to EU targets, emissions must be reduced by 60% by 2030, and 35 million building units must undergo deep renovation. The long-term goal is to achieve a fully zero-emission building stock and a climate-neutral construction sector by 2050.

The EPBD regulates the sector in a complex and comprehensive way, assigning responsibilities to all stakeholders in the construction economy:

• it requires the preparation of national building renovation plans and the monitoring of their implementation,

• introduces new minimum energy performance requirements,

• establishes the zero-emission building standard,

• mandates and regulates the preparation of renovation passports,

• and accordingly modifies the requirements for energy performance certification.

  
  

In addition, the regulation places emphasis on reducing lifecycle carbon footprints, phasing out fossil energy, and promoting solar energy use. It also addresses green financing, energy poverty, digitalization, data management, smart building control and energy management systems, and sustainable mobility infrastructure.

Zero Emission Building (ZEB)

In line with EPBD requirements, a ZEB must meet the following four conditions:

1. The building must be energy-efficient, with at least an “A+” energy rating or better (i.e. 10% below the current nearly zero-energy requirement).

2. It must have no on-site carbon emissions, meaning it cannot use fossil fuels such as natural gas or diesel.

3. Its energy supply must be based on renewable sources, such as on-site solar, wind, or geothermal energy, renewable energy communities, low-carbon district heating, or externally generated green electricity.

4. It must also feature controllable energy management that takes weather and grid capacity conditions into account, including optimization of energy production, storage, and consumption.

   
   

Timeline for the Implementation of EPBD and ZEB

The timeline is clear: the EPBD published in 2024 must be transposed into national law by 2026. From 2028, all new public buildings must be ZEB, and from 2030, all new buildings must meet this standard.

Between 2033 and 2035, minimum energy performance requirements will be further tightened, and by 2050, the entire building stock must become zero-emission.

This will have significant implications. For new developments, it is advisable to target ZEB levels even before 2030 to avoid future depreciation. For existing buildings, it is essential to assess ZEB compliance and review renovation and maintenance plans. The implementation of ZEB will also require revisiting energy performance classifications, and achieving top ratings may necessitate substantial technical and financial investments. These may include replacing gas boilers, installing heat pumps, solar or geothermal systems, and upgrading building structures such as roofs, façades, and windows.

These developments may be required even earlier than regulatory deadlines due to changing tenant expectations and increasing demands from investors and financiers. Early signs of this are already visible in the market: large European-backed companies, both as tenants and investors, are requesting the rapid implementation of ZEB compliance from commercial real estate operators.

Conclusion

Overall, it is important to emphasize that ZEB is not merely a new energy category, but a regulatory and market turning point that will transform the entire real estate sector. Adapting to it requires strategic planning, timely renovations, and conscious financial decision-making.

Greenbors Consulting is an independent, market-leading Hungarian sustainability advisory firm specializing in green building certifications, EU Taxonomy, ESG and green finance, carbon footprint calculations, net-zero and climate risk strategies, as well as energy and technical services. We have extensive European experience, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, and our goal is to support clients in navigating rapidly evolving sustainability requirements. Our work is supported by our proprietary AI-based tool, Sustainabot, which can deliver up to 70% time savings and greater accuracy in BREEAM certification projects through the analysis of complex documents.

As pioneers, we focus on the practical adaptation of future regulatory requirements (such as EPBD) and international standards in Hungary. As early as 2025, we developed a methodology for assessing ZEB compliance, which has already been applied to several buildings in Hungary.