New generation Energy Performance Certificate: development and application in an Italian case study as an EU proof of concept

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive recast, voted in March 2024, aims to boost the amelioration of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with the introduction of new indicators in a dedicated template (Annex V), as a key tool towards the decarbonization of the building sector, in line with the Green Deal's climate neutrality goals. In this context, the H2020 Energy Performance Certificate Recast project develops a new generation of EPC focused on existing residential buildings. The paper presents the state of progress of the Energy Performance Certificate Recast methodology, comparing it with the standard national procedure in different EU partner countries. The novelty of the work is the testing methodology of a new generation of this tool, which aims to overcome the barriers identified in the current EPC procedure across Europe and to validate the reliability and user-friendliness of this new approach. The final goal of the work is to prove the applicability and potentialities of this innovative approach, providing a clear and punctual presentation of each step of the assessment and the testing methodology of the new generation of Energy Performance Certificate, coupled with its application in an Italian case study as a Proof of Concept.