whereas buildings account for 40 % of final energy use and 36 % of CO emissions; whereas, in addition, that 50 % of final energy consumption is accounted for by heating and cooling, and 80 % is used in buildings with much of it wasted; whereas a heating and cooling energy demand indicator for buildings needs to be developed at national level; whereas 50 % of the emission cuts required to limit global temperature increase to less than 2 oC must come from energy efficiency; whereas reducing the energy demand of buildings is also the most cost-effective pathway to improving energy security ...[+++] and reducing CO emissions while contributing to the EU’s reindustrialisation goals.

4. Member States may provide for exemptions from the obligations provided for in paragraph 1 and 2 for categories of buildings, in particular single dwellings, or major renovation works in cases in which the fulfilment of those obligations is disproportionate, such as in terms of costs for individual or joint owners or in terms of type of building, such as specific categories of monuments, historic buildings, holiday homes, military buildings or other buildings used for national security purposes.

Construction products are subject to the rules on the free movement of goods in the European Union (EU) and the rules relating to the safety of buildings, health, durability, energy economy and the protection of the environment.

2. The host Member States shall take all effective and adequate measures to maintain order and security in the immediate vicinity of the buildings, premises and land used by the Agency and shall provide to the Agency the appropriate protection, in accordance with the relevant Headquarters Agreement concerning the seat of the Agency and the Agreements concerning the technical and backup sites, whilst guaranteeing free access to these buildings, premises and land to persons authorised by the Agency.

These measures should not affect other requirements concerning buildings such as accessibility, safety and the intended use of the building.

(a) logistical and structural costs, including the higher maintenance costs and the expense of adapting the buildings, costs resulting from the need to use warehouses which need to be higher to combat the effects of humidity and tides, higher prices for purchasing or renting property and additional costs as a consequence of architectural limitations and scenic and safety restrictions;