The year 2025 brings with it important updates to standards and regulations that directly impact the air conditioning of spaces, aimed at promoting sustainability, energy efficiency and compliance with environmental commitments. Below are some of the main new developments:
1. Prohibition of Subsidies for Fossil Fuel Boilers
From 2025, the European Union will prohibit subsidies for the installation of boilers that run exclusively on fossil fuels. This measure seeks to encourage the use of more sustainable technologies, such as heat pumps and hybrid boilers.
2. Review of the RITE (Regulation of Thermal Installations in Buildings)
The RITE incorporates updates to align thermal installations with European objectives for energy efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Among the most notable changes:
Improved seasonal performance: Equipment must guarantee greater energy performance under real conditions of use.
Greater control and monitoring: Requirements for management and remote control systems to optimize the operation of installations in real time.
Incentives for the use of renewable energy: The recommendation to use aerothermal, geothermal and biomass in new or renovated installations is reinforced.
3. European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED)
This directive imposes new standards for installations in commercial and industrial buildings:
Mandatory energy certification: All installations must prove their compliance with energy efficiency requirements.
Mandatory energy audits: Companies with high energy consumption must carry out periodic audits and establish improvement plans.
Incentives for equipment renewal: Financial aid will be implemented to replace obsolete equipment with state-of-the-art systems.
4. Transition to Low-GWP Refrigerants
As of January 1, 2025, all new air conditioning and heat pump equipment must use refrigerants classified as A2L, which are low-GWP and less flammable, in line with current environmental regulations.
5. Regulation F-Gases and transition to ecological refrigerants
Regulation (EU) 2024/573 introduces significant restrictions. From 1 January 2025, the maintenance or revision of refrigeration systems that use gases with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) equal to or greater than 2500 is prohibited. This prohibition does not apply to military equipment or applications below -50°C. On a temporary basis, until 1 January 2030, the use of recycled or regenerated gases is permitted.
6. Modifications to the Technical Building Code (CTE)
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda has initiated a partial modification of the CTE to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in buildings. This includes the promotion of technologies such as heat pumps and the electrification of energy consumption, in line with decarbonisation objectives.
These regulatory updates not only seek to comply with the climate commitments of the European Union and Spain, but also to encourage companies to adopt cleaner and more efficient technologies, with long-term economic benefits. If your business is thinking of updating its HVAC systems, these rules and regulations make 2025 a good year to take the step.
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