Italy lags in EU residential energy efficiency improvements

Italy currently holds the lowest rate of residential energy efficiency improvements in the European Union. According to recent data, only 2.6% of the Italian population reported undergoing energy retrofitting in the last five years, significantly trailing the EU average of 23.9%. In contrast, the Netherlands leads with a rate of 60.5%.

European Union directives, specifically the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), mandate a 16% reduction in residential energy consumption by 2030 and total decarbonization by 2050. However, public funding is expected to cover only 20% to 30% of the necessary costs, leaving the majority of the financial burden to private property owners.

Technical reports from ENEA and the Italian Thermotechnical Committee highlight that energy efficiency is heavily dictated by the thermal insulation of a building's envelope—including walls, roofs, and windows—rather than just the heating system. In Italy, 43.7% of certified buildings remain in the least efficient energy classes (F and G), while only about 20% reach high-performance classes (A4 to B).