Buildings

Objective: Facilitate the development of high-quality, energy-efficient and sustainable new construction in line with modern European standards and country needs

1.1. Introduction of standards for nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB) and zero-emission buildings (ZEB) 

• Testing of standards on public buildings and social housing facilities with a view to further scaling up, amending building codes and ensuring further compliance with EU standards.

• Providing financial incentives for pilot projects based on NZEB and ZEB standards, in particular through preferential loans and grants. 

• Setting a transition period after which NZEB requirements will become mandatory.

• Preparation and definition of a transition period prior to the adoption of the updated EU Directive 2024/1275 (Directive on the energy performance of buildings), including preparation for implementation of the new European standard for zero-emission buildings (ZEB).

• Training specialists to implement NZEB and ZEB standards through the development of special training programmes and capacity building.

• Preparing the legislative framework for implementation of rules aimed at reducing carbon emissions throughout the whole life cycle of buildings.

• Refining the methodology for determining the energy efficiency of buildings with current national standards in the field of energy efficiency, including the application of the 52000 family of standards.

1.2. Control of construction quality and compliance with declared design characteristics

• Raising awareness among designers and developers about the use of, and compliance with, energy efficiency standards in construction, as well as raising general public awareness.

• Raising awareness among local authorities about green building certification, and establishing requirements for developers at the stage of allocating land for construction and commissioning facilities. 

• Strengthening the responsibility of developers for non-compliance with energy efficiency requirements when commissioning a building (if the energy efficiency class of the building in the energy certificate, which is developed when the building is commissioned, differs from that specified in the project documentation).

1.3. Ensuring compliance with legislation regarding informing owners and tenants about the energy efficiency level of buildings 

• Strengthening control over the placement of energy efficiency certificates in a place accessible to consumers by ensuring compliance with paragraph 10 of Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Energy Efficiency of Buildings’.

• Encouraging real estate buyers to purchase energy-efficient housing by strengthening control over compliance with paragraph 2 of Article 25-1 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Advertising’.

• Monitoring lease agreements for the presence of information on the energy efficiency class of the building to ensure compliance with paragraph 4 of Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Energy Efficiency of Buildings’.

1.4. Promoting green certification at the housing design stage to launch the green construction market and demonstrate its advantages

• Conducting an information campaign for local government employees on existing green construction certification systems.

• Creating mechanisms to support projects that meet the criteria of international sustainability assessment systems (in particular, LEED, BREEAM, DGNB).

• Implementation of pilot green construction projects in public and residential buildings, as well as social housing facilities.

• Promotion of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool in construction.

1.5. Introduction of circular economy principles in construction

• Ensuring the process of bringing legislation and the regulatory framework in line with EU Regulation 2024/3110 to harmonise requirements for construction products, in particular regarding the introduction into circulation and use of secondary materials.

• Introduction of digital passports for construction materials to ensure transparency, traceability of origin and the circularity potential of materials.

• Development of a national platform for the certification of construction materials according to European standards, with initial piloting in several regions.

• Integration of criteria for repairability and reuse into state standards and tender procedures for reconstruction.

• Strengthening market surveillance and creating a database of counterfeit and dangerous construction products with restrictions on their use.

• Introducing support programmes for innovative practices, in particular alternative materials, 3D printing, and solutions for SMEs in the field of sustainable reconstruction.

• Introduction of audits on the reuse of materials before the demolition of buildings, as well as registers of materials from demolished buildings.

• Co-financing of pilot projects for the construction of housing based on the principles of the circular economy, in particular through public-private partnerships, social investment, municipal budgets and state support programmes.

• Inclusion of circular criteria in public procurement in construction, taking into account the life cycle of materials and environmental characteristics.

Decisions are taken by: the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, State Architectural and Urban Planning Inspectorate of Ukraine, and local self-government bodies.

Objective: Reduce energy demand through quickly implementable measures.

2.1. Raise public awareness of the energy performance of buildings

• Launch an express energy efficiency rating system for buildings.

• Develop and conduct energy efficiency certification of existing multi-family residential buildings by the end of 2027 to inform owners about the energy performance of their buildings.

• Regulate heat consumption – install individual heating units (IHUs) in all multi-family buildings connected to central heating systems.

• Introduction of standard IHU solutions for each standard type of building, carrying out measures to improve thermal insulation of heating and hot water pipes.

• Promotion of the introduction of radiator metering with consumption control – heat distribution devices.

• Introduction of an energy monitoring system for continuous analysis of building energy efficiency.

• Introduction of integrated information, technical and financial assistance to citizens through the creation of specialised assistance institutions, such as ‘one-stop shops’ for energy efficiency in buildings. Creation of at least one such institution in each region. Ensuring that vulnerable groups of the population are covered by the services of these institutions.

2.2. Introduction of financial incentives for energy efficiency measures and for measures promoting the implementation of RES projects in buildings

• Continuation of the Energy Efficiency Fund through annual allocations from the State Budget of Ukraine in the amount of at least UAH 1 billion.

• Introduction of preferential lending for implementation of energy efficiency measures through the Decarbonisation Fund.

• Support for co-financing programmes at regional and community levels, revolving funds.

• Introduction of a programme to assist citizens in need of social protection (receiving housing subsidies) with energy efficiency measures.

2.3. Encouraging installation of renewable energy sources to replace buildings' own energy needs

• Abolition of VAT on imported RES system components for a specified period if such components are not produced in Ukraine.

• While maintaining subsidies and cross-subsidies for energy for consumers, provide subsidies for energy produced from RES in an amount commensurate with subsidies for traditional energy sources for the population (provided through the PSO mechanism and subsidies).

• Reform of drilling fees for geothermal heat pumps.

2.4. Reconstruction of existing buildings and their adaptation to public needs

• Develop a financial and legal mechanism for transforming existing buildings that are not used for their intended purpose into social housing with high energy efficiency and inclusiveness standards, including the conversion of non-residential premises into residential premises.

• Support the development of innovative approaches to large-scale reconstruction and renovation of buildings, such as industrial prefabricated construction.

2.5. Reform of the construction pricing system

• Bring national rules on construction pricing into line with international standards. 

Decisions are taken by: the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine,  Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, and local self-government bodies.