New building energy requirements take effect in October

The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket) has adopted new regulations covering energy efficiency and thermal insulation in buildings, together with changes to the rules governing energy performance certificates. The new provisions take effect on 1 October 2026. The energy efficiency requirements will follow the same structure as Boverket's new building regulations and are primarily aimed at professionals involved in building design, construction and inspection. The regulations introduce fewer and clearer provisions and use technology- and material-neutral functional requirements. A one-year transition period applies to these energy efficiency rules, ending on 30 September 2027. Energy performance certificates will also change. The rules clarify what certificates must contain and how a building's energy performance should be presented. A redesigned certificate summary will help highlight potential cost-effective energy-efficiency measures. These changes do not have a general transition period. However, publicly owned buildings that previously did not require an energy performance certificate have until 1 July 2028 to obtain one. The changes are connected to the EU's revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and form part of Sweden's implementation of European requirements concerning building energy use and emissions.