What is the Energy Performance Certificate?

Saving energy is one of the most important aspects to bear in mind within our society. People need to be aware of the importance of energy consumption, and one of the concepts that can help us understand this is the Energy Performance Certificate.

Energy efficiency is the set of means and tools you put into practice to try to use less energy without losing the levels of comfort and quality of life to which you are accustomed. The aim is to find a balance between energy consumption and the use of basic services in your daily life.

So, what exactly is the Energy Performance Certificate?

That is where the energy certificate comes in. This is an official document issued by an authorised technician recording all information relating to a building’s energy characteristics. The certificate records the energy rating of a house or building.

It is of vital importance in the purchase and sale of a property. Not surprisingly, it has been mandatory since 2013 and serves to inform buyers or renters about the energy consumption of a house. You will need it when selling a property or if you want to rent your home out.

The annual-consumption calculation recorded on the certificate takes into account the property’s heating, hot water, ventilation, cooling and lighting. Other elements may also be considered, such as the materials of the enclosure walls, joinery, the type of windows used or the air-conditioning systems, etc. Essentially, it measures aspects such as the consumption of electricity, natural gas and the property’s insulation system.

What is the purpose of the energy certificate?

Despite being mandatory, this certificate is only an informative document. However, you must have it if you want to sell or rent your home. It not only includes the energy characteristics of the property, it also offers recommendations on what kind of improvements could be made to the house to obtain a better energy rating.

It is an essential document for the future buyer or tenant looking to discover the energy conditions of the property . The results of this energy rating may therefore influence the decision to purchase, as it will tell potential buyers whether or not the house requires renovation to improve its energy rating.

However, in certain cases (protected buildings or monuments, religious buildings, temporary constructions that are less than two years old, workshops and rooms for agricultural work or buildings of less than 50 square metres) it is not mandatory to have this certificate.

How to get the Energy Performance Certificate

There are just two very simple steps required to obtain a building’s energy certificate. First, you must request a visit from an authorised certifier. This technician will carry out an energy study of the house, inspecting the heating and air-conditioning systems, and will prepare a report detailing all the energy characteristics of the property.

The second step is to register the certificate that the authorised technician gives you. To do so, you must submit it to the competent body in your Autonomous Community. Usually, it is the technician themselves who is responsible for presenting the document to be registered and approved, allowing you to obtain the official energy label.

It’s important to bear in mind that this certificate is valid for 10 years. However, if any changes have taken place between the date on which the certification was issued and that of the sale or rental of the property, the document will need to be renewed.

How much does the Energy Performance Certificate cost?

There is no fixed price for the processing of this certificate. The amount is determined by the authorised technician, always according to the going market rate. Today, the price is estimated to be around 1.50 euros per square metre. So, for a house of 90 square metres, the price of the certificate would be 135 euros.

It is also true that the price may fluctuate if it is the technician themselves who registers the certificate with the relevant authority. In addition, administrative fees may vary from one Autonomous Community to another. In some cases, there are no fees. The certificate must be paid for by the owner of the property at the time it is issued by the technician.The Energy Performance Certificate is therefore a mandatory document that sets out the energy characteristics of a building. It must be issued by an authorised technician and registered with the relevant authority within the Autonomous Community. Its price is not fixed and will depend on the market rate.