What is the energy efficiency certificate?

The energy certificate is a compulsory document in Spain. If you are thinking of renting or buying real estate in Spain to spend a peaceful retirement or work there, this article will answer all your questions regarding this certificate: its definition, the types of property it concerns, what it contains, who emits it, for what purpose was it set up and finally why it is mandatory.

What is the energy certificate?

The energy efficiency certificate also called energy certificate is an official and compulsory document in Spain, especially when an owner wishes to sell or rent his property. It lists all the energy characteristics of the property as well as its carbon dioxide emission rate.

For what types of goods is it compulsory and for what purpose?

The energy efficiency certificate must be applied to all real estate (houses, buildings or apartments) to prove their energy quality. This certificate is valid for a maximum of ten years. The main function of the establishment of this certificate is to encourage citizens to use renewable energies more and to increase actions that promote energy savings.

Who issues this energy certificate?

It is the owner who must provide it to buyers or tenants. But before that, it is an approved and competent technician (architect or engineer) who must measure the energy qualities of the property and then write the energy efficiency certificate. For this, the technician refers to numerous data including, for example, the energy consumption over one year, necessary to meet the energy demand generated by the occupants of the property. All these calculations take into account the production of hot water, the production of heat (heating for the winter), light, ventilation of the property and finally refrigeration.

What's in it?

The energy efficiency certificate contains several essential information. It must in particular clearly describe and identify the property or part of the building to be certified. It must then formally indicate all the energy characteristics of the property. The specification of standards on economy and energy efficiency must also appear. The technician in charge of certification must record all the inspections and verifications carried out as well as all the evidence he used to establish his diagnosis. The energy certificate must also specify the thermal envelope and the installations present in the property which create energy expenditure (such as the water heater for example). It is also necessary to indicate the conditions under which the accommodation is operated and occupied at the time of certification. The technician must reference the quality of the air as well as the energy expenditure necessary to obtain a certain level of comfort with regard to the lighting and the interior temperature of the property. The certificate must imperatively mention the letter A, B, C, D, E, F or G which defines the energy quality of the property and allows people who rent or buy the property to better identify themselves on this scale. The letter A corresponds to a property which has excellent energy characteristics and conversely the letter G corresponds to a property whose characteristics are very poor. Finally, the technician must make a recommendation sheet indicating the work and measures that could be undertaken to increase the rating of the property.

Why is it important (mandatory) for buyers?

The energy efficiency certificate is important for buyers (or tenants) because it allows them to plan for the future energy expenditure they will have to make in their home (hot water, lighting, electricity costs). It also indicates to them the rate of carbon dioxide emission of the property and this makes it possible to empower the population with regard to energy saving.

If you wish to be accompanied for your project, we invite you to contact our real estate agency in Empuriabrava