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In 1997 the Kyoto Protocol agreed mandates on emissions of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide, methane and hydrofluorocarbons), becoming law in 2005. 35 industrialised countries along with the European Union are now legally bound to reduce or limit their greenhouse gas emissions.

Specifically, Kyoto requires a nominal 5% reduction in emissions relative to 1990 levels by developed countries worldwide by 2008-2012. To meet this worldwide target, each country has its individual target reduction – the European Union (EU[15]) 8%, Japan 6% – based on past greenhouse gas emissions. To demonstrate its support for the Protocol, the UK government set itself the tougher target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.

Across the EU, buildings account for 40% of energy requirements. Reducing their needs offers the largest single potential for energy efficiency and therefore reducing carbon emissions. Research shows that more than one-fifth of the present energy consumption could be saved by 2010 by applying more ambitious standards to new buildings and refurbishments, which represents a considerable contribution to meeting the Kyoto targets.

The 2002 European Performance of Buildings Directive addresses this issue through the following key provisions:

• minimum requirements for the energy performance of all new buildings and of large existing buildings subject to major renovation;
• energy certification of all buildings (with frequently visited buildings providing public services required to prominently display the energy certificate);
• regular mandatory inspection of boilers and air conditioning systems.

“Kyoto is right. We will implement it and call upon all other nations to do so. But it’s only a start. With imagination, we could use or find the technologies that create energy without destroying our planet.”
Tony Blair, 2001.