EU pushing efficiency for Polish office buildings

There are some substantial changes planned for new Polish office projects thanks to new rules that will be implemented by the EU affecting the efficiency of buildings. According to EU directives, all buildings must be certified to be near-zero energy consumption. The deadline has been set at 2021 for all buildings, and 2018 for state-owned properties. This would push developers to build more passive buildings, and owners to invest in building modernization work, all of which it’s hoped will stimulate the country’s construction sector.
Initial indications suggest that there’s a long way to go on efficiency. “According to Polish standards, power consumption per sqm currently stands at about 120 to 300 kWh per year. However, in developed Western countries the level is about 50 kWh,” says Zbigniew Szpak, head of the Polish Energy Conservation Agency KAPE.