La Direttiva Case Green è già in vigore in Italia?

La direttiva europea è stata pubblicata nel 2024, ma non è ancora stata recepita nell'ordinamento italiano. Non è inclusa nella legge di delegazione europea recente, che è il passaggio formale che avvia le attività di recepimento. Molte delle sue disposizioni richiedono un recepimento esplicito per produrre effetti sui cittadini italiani: allo stato attuale, non derivano dalla direttiva obblighi diretti per i proprietari di immobili in Italia.

Cosa succede se non efficiento la mia casa?

Non esistono oggi sanzioni dirette ai singoli proprietari derivanti dalla direttiva. Il rischio concreto e attuale è di natura economica: un'abitazione in classe energetica bassa tende a essere meno appetibile sul mercato, perché i potenziali acquirenti tengono conto dei costi di adeguamento. La direttiva prevede che, una volta recepita, eventuali sanzioni siano definite dai singoli Stati membri tenendo conto della situazione finanziaria dei proprietari (Art. 34).

Devo installare pannelli solari per legge?

Oggi in Italia non esiste un obbligo generalizzato di installazione derivante dalla Direttiva Case Green, che non è ancora stata recepita. La direttiva prevede, a livello europeo, l'installazione graduale di impianti solari sui nuovi edifici e sugli edifici esistenti sottoposti a ristrutturazioni importanti che richiedono un permesso di costruzione, ma la sua applicazione concreta dipenderà dalle scelte che l'Italia farà in fase di recepimento.

L'obbligo dei pannelli solari vale anche per i condomini?

Sul piano europeo i condomini sono tra i principali destinatari delle previsioni della direttiva. In caso di ristrutturazioni importanti o interventi che richiedono un'autorizzazione amministrativa, l'installazione di impianti solari sulle parti comuni potrà diventare obbligatoria laddove tecnicamente appropriata ed economicamente e funzionalmente fattibile (Art. 10, par. 3, lett. c), ma solo dopo il recepimento in Italia.

Esistono deroghe per gli edifici storici?

Sì. la direttiva prevede che gli edifici ufficialmente protetti in virtù del loro particolare valore architettonico o storico possono essere esclusi dagli obblighi di efficientamento qualora gli interventi ne alterino in modo inaccettabile il carattere o l’aspetto, o laddove la ristrutturazione non sia tecnicamente o economicamente fattibile (Art. 9, par. 6, lett. a). Questa deroga dovrà essere recepita e specificata dalla normativa italiana.

Gli incentivi attuali sono collegati alla Direttiva Case Green?

No. Gli incentivi oggi disponibili in Italia (Bonus Casa, Ecobonus, mutui green) trovano il loro fondamento nella normativa fiscale nazionale e non nella Direttiva Case Green. Esistevano prima della direttiva e continuano ad essere accessibili indipendentemente dal suo recepimento.

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Green Homes Directive

Energy efficiency

Green Homes Directive: what it entails

Understanding what is already in force and what is still being defined, so you can plan with awareness.

The Green Homes Directive, Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, EPBD – EU Directive 2024/1275, is European legislation that sets ambitious targets to reduce the Energy consumption of buildings by 2050.

It is an important reference for anyone who owns or wants to purchase a property, but it is essential to understand where Italy stands in its implementation process before drawing operational conclusions.

What is the Green Homes Directive?

The Green Homes Directive is European legislation, Directive (EU) 2024/1275, which establishes progressive Energy efficiency targets for the building stock of EU Member States, with the final objective of achieving climate neutrality in the building sector by 2050, Art. 1.

According to the official text, buildings are responsible for 40% of final Energy consumption in the EU and 36% of Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. The directive does not impose direct obligations on individual owners of residential properties: it sets aggregate targets at national level and leaves each Member State free to choose the tools to achieve them, including any measures concerning private individuals.

Status of transposition in Italy: what to know first

A fundamental point, often overlooked: Directive (EU) 2024/1275 has not yet been transposed into the Italian legal system. It is not included in the recently approved European Delegation Law, which is the formal step required to start transposition activities.

This has significant practical consequences:

the provisions of the directive that require explicit transposition by Member States are not directly applicable to Italian citizens;

there are currently no legal obligations for homeowners deriving from this directive;

the tax incentives currently available in Italy, such as the Home Bonus, Ecobonus and others, exist independently of the directive and are based on national tax legislation.

Knowing the directive is useful for guiding long-term choices and understanding the direction in which European policy is moving, but today’s operational decisions must refer to the Italian regulations currently in force, not to European targets that have not yet been transposed.

The European targets: the directive timeline

The directive sets precise intermediate steps that Member States are called upon to transpose and implement according to their own national tools. Here is the framework of the European targets:

Deadline	Building type	Directive objective
1 January 2028	New Public Buildings	Obligation to construct zero-emission buildings, Art. 7, para. 1, letter a.
1 January 2030	All new buildings, residential and non-residential	All new buildings must be zero-emission buildings, Art. 7, para. 1, letter b.
By 2030	Existing Residential Building Stock	Reduction of at least 16% in average primary Energy consumption compared to 2020, Art. 9, para. 2, letter a.
By 2035	Existing Residential Building Stock	Reduction of at least 20–22% in average primary Energy consumption compared to 2020, Art. 9, para. 2, letter b.
By 2040	All Member States	Each State must indicate in its national plans the specific deadlines for the progressive phase-out of fossil-fuel boilers in heating and cooling, Art. 3, para. 2, letter b; recital 14. This is not an automatic ban, but a national planning objective.
By 2050	Total Building Stock	Achievement of full climate neutrality: transformation of the entire building stock into zero-emission buildings, Art. 1.

Member States have flexibility in defining which buildings to renovate as a priority, with a focus on the worst-performing properties.

The pillars of the directive: what it entails at European level

The directive identifies a number of main guidelines for the building sector.

From 1 January 2025, Member States can no longer offer public incentives for the installation of stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels, Art. 15a. This is a ban addressed to States, not to private individuals: owners can still install and maintain these boilers, but they cannot receive public subsidies to do so.

By 2040, each State must also have defined, in its national plans, a pathway for the progressive reduction of the use of fossil fuels in heating and cooling, Art. 3, para. 2, letter b. This is not an automatic ban on use, but a national planning obligation.

As for alternative technologies, the directive does not indicate a single mandatory solution: Member States can move towards heat pumps, hybrid systems, connection to district heating networks, solar thermal systems or other low-emission solutions, depending on their own Energy and climate context.

Solar Energy plays a central role in the European plan. The directive provides for the gradual installation of solar systems on new residential buildings and on existing buildings undergoing major renovations that require a building permit, Art. 10.

Existing buildings will have to progressively reduce their consumption, with interventions that may include thermal insulation, replacement of window frames and system upgrades.

The incentives currently available in Italy

For 2026, several tax tools supporting Energy efficiency interventions have been confirmed.

50% Home Bonus

Ecobonus

Green mortgage

50% Home Bonus

For the main residence, the 50% deduction dedicated to building renovation interventions is active. This relief also includes incentives for the installation of Photovoltaic systems, providing for a maximum spending ceiling of €96,000. Access conditions and rates are subject to frequent regulatory updates. Before starting the works, it is strongly recommended to check the updated situation directly on the Italian Revenue Agency website.

Ecobonus

Specific relief is provided for those carrying out interventions that improve the Energy class of the building. The rates are proportionate to the depth of the Energy saving achieved.

Green mortgage

Several banks offer loans at preferential rates for those who purchase or renovate high Energy efficiency properties. These products take into account the lower risk of the property and its higher market value.

The value of the APE certification

The Energy Performance Certificate, APE, is a tool that is already fully operational in the Italian legal system, independently of the European directive. An updated and correct APE makes it possible to:

identify exactly where the building disperses Energy;
plan interventions with the best cost-benefit ratio;
access the highest tax incentives;
enhance the value of the property in the event of sale or lease.

From 2026, checks on the truthfulness of certifications are stricter.

Why it makes sense to plan today, with the right perspective?

Even in the absence of immediate obligations deriving from the directive, there are good reasons to evaluate Energy efficiency interventions:

concrete savings, to reduce bill costs from the first year;
tax benefits, to take advantage of current deductions before any regulatory changes;
market value, to make the home more competitive and ready for future requirements in the real estate sector;
logistical planning, to secure the best prices and the availability of companies.

Self-produce energy and save up to 60% on your bill

Photovoltaic system with design, installation and ENEA procedure management included starting from €3,500. In addition, if you are an Enel power customer or become one, you get a €360 bonus in your bill.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

The European directive was published in 2024, but it has not yet been transposed into the Italian legal system. It is not included in the recent European Delegation Law, which is the formal step that starts transposition activities. Many of its provisions require explicit transposition in order to produce effects for Italian citizens: at present, no direct obligations for property owners in Italy derive from the directive.

There are currently no direct penalties for individual owners deriving from the directive. The concrete and current risk is economic in nature: a home with a low Energy class tends to be less attractive on the market, because potential buyers take adjustment costs into account. The directive provides that, once transposed, any penalties will be defined by the individual Member States, taking into account the financial situation of owners, Art. 34.

Today in Italy there is no general installation obligation deriving from the Green Homes Directive, which has not yet been transposed. At European level, the directive provides for the gradual installation of solar systems on new buildings and on existing buildings undergoing major renovations that require a building permit, but its concrete application will depend on the choices Italy makes during the transposition phase.

At European level, condominiums are among the main recipients of the provisions of the directive. In the event of major renovations or interventions requiring administrative authorization, the installation of solar systems on common parts may become mandatory where technically appropriate and economically and functionally feasible, Art. 10, para. 3, letter c, but only after transposition in Italy.

Yes. The directive provides that buildings officially protected by virtue of their particular architectural or historical value may be excluded from Energy efficiency obligations where the interventions would unacceptably alter their character or appearance, or where renovation is not technically or economically feasible, Art. 9, para. 6, letter a. This exemption will have to be transposed and specified by Italian legislation.

No. The incentives currently available in Italy, such as the Home Bonus, Ecobonus and green mortgages, are based on national tax legislation and not on the Green Homes Directive. They existed before the directive and continue to be accessible regardless of its transposition.