EU: Multiple key regulations are entering the countdown or mandatory enforcement stage

The EU is in a critical period of building energy efficiency transformation, and several regulations have reached important milestones recently. 

The EPBD directive has fully come into effect, making intelligent buildings a "must-have": The revised EU "Energy Performance of Buildings Directive" (EPBD) officially came into force on June 1st, 2026. This directive mandates that all new commercial buildings must install automatic lighting control systems and building automation systems. This regulation has transformed intelligent lighting from an "optional" feature to a "mandatory" one, exerting a profound impact on architectural design and technology selection. 

Submission deadline for "Smart Readiness Indicator" (SRI) report: In accordance with regulatory requirements, the European Commission is obligated to submit a report on the testing and implementation of the "Smart Readiness Indicator" (SRI) to the European Parliament and Council by June 30, 2026. SRI is a key tool for assessing the level of building intelligence, and this report will pave the way for mandatory requirements for specific buildings to adopt SRI in the future. 

The large-scale building renovation plan is about to be announced: The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced that a major building renovation project will be released within this week (the week of June 22nd). The focus will be on schools, hospitals and social housing. This move aims to accelerate the achievement of her goal of renovating 3% of government buildings each year, in order to address the challenge that building energy consumption accounts for 40% of the total energy consumption in the European Union. 

Industry conference focuses on practical implementation: On June 23rd, FIN Connect 2026 was held in Verona, Italy. The core topic of the conference was how to convert regulatory pressures such as EPBD and SRI into practical intelligent building solutions. Many industry giants, including Siemens and Panasonic, participated in the discussion.

The United States: Compliance Nodes and Legislative Trends at the State and Federal Levels

The developments in the United States mainly focus on the mandatory compliance requirements at the state level and the advancement of new standards at the federal level. 

Washington State's "Clean Building Performance Standards" enter mandatory compliance period: Washington State's "Clean Building Performance Standards" (CBPS) has reached its first mandatory compliance deadline. Starting from June 1, 2026, large buildings (Tier 1) with an area exceeding 220,000 square feet must comply with and report mandatory requirements. The specific requirements include measuring and tracking energy consumption, implementing operation and maintenance plans, developing energy management plans, and meeting energy intensity targets. 

Federal building energy efficiency standards update enters environmental assessment: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is preparing an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of updating the energy efficiency benchmark standards for federal commercial and multi-family high-rise residential buildings through regulations. 

The Minnesota Public Building Energy Efficiency Act failed to pass: A bill numbered SF 3429, which was originally intended to require public buildings and large private buildings to reduce energy consumption and emissions by 90% compared to the 2005 levels by 2045, was not approved at the 2026 legislative meeting of Minnesota. 

Federal tax incentives are about to expire: The 179D tax deduction policy for energy-efficient commercial buildings is about to close its window of opportunity. Projects must commence construction by June 30, 2026 in order to qualify for this tax credit.