Energy performance certificates provide building owners, but also potential buyers or tenants, with reliable information on typical energy use, estimated energy costs, and recommendations for improvement.
These certificates are an essential information tool, which indicates the energy performance of a building, taking into account
With buildings responsible for 40% of energy use in the EU, they are a cornerstone of the EU’s policies to lower energy bills, fight energy poverty and increase health and comfort at home and at work.
What are the benefits?
The energy performance certificates help you estimate how much it will cost to keep the home or office warm in winter and cool in summer. It helps people make more informed decisions on buying or renting property, based on energy performance.
Buildings with higher ratings, close to A, often sell faster and for higher prices, because they are cheaper to run and more comfortable.
Energy performance certificates based on the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive suggest potential improvements, big or small - like adding insulation or replacing the boiler - and estimate how much energy these upgrades could save you. They will also provide the contact information of the relevant one-stop shop for renovation advice.
An average A-class building typically consumes 10 times less energy than an average G-class building.
How to obtain an energy performance certificate?
If you want to rent – or buy – a property, you should get the current energy performance certificate. The certificate is valid for 10 years, unless significant renovations are made that change the property’s energy performance.
If you want or need to establish a new certificate, you need an assessment by an independent and certified professional.
The expert will visit the property to inspect its construction, heating systems, insulation and windows and estimates the building’s energy use based on all the relevant parameters.
The expert will assign an energy performance class from A to G and an energy label to the building, based on its energy performance.
Advertisements for buildings on sale or for rent must indicate the energy performance indicator and energy performance class. Prospective tenants or buyers have a right to see the building’s full energy performance certificate.
EU rules on energy performance
The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive strengthens the energy performance certificates and ensures that they are comprehensive, comparable and of good quality across the EU.