You’ve probably heard about the energy certificate and, when renting or buying a house, it’s one of the topics that interests you the most, if energy prices weren’t increasingly high. But what is an energy certificate anyway? What criteria are used to define the energy class of a property? In this article, we answer your questions.
What is the energy certificate?
The energy certificate is a document that evaluates the energy efficiency of a given property, on a scale from A+ to F, where A+ is the most efficient and F the least efficient. This document is issued by the Energy Agency (ADENE), which is the managing entity of the building energy certification system (SCE).
What type of information does the energy certificate contain?
The document, issued by ADENE, contains information about the construction of the property, characteristics that make it possible to measure energy consumption in different uses, such as, for example, heating the house or producing hot sanitary water for baths.
The energy certificate also includes measures to increase energy efficiency and reduce waste. Reinforcing insulation or installing double glazing are some of the measures contained in this document.
What is the validity period of the energy certificate?
The validity of the energy certificate for a given type of property varies depending on the certificate and the property itself. In the case of residential buildings and/or small commercial and service buildings, the document is valid for 10 years. In large commercial and service buildings, the period is eight years.
What influences the energy class of the property?
There are several factors that have a direct impact on the energy class of the property, for example:
- Location. Where is the property located? What is the light exposure?
- Construction year. What year was it built? Has it been recently rehabilitated?
- Property typology. If it is a house or an apartment, for example.
- Materials used in construction. The type of walls, flooring, roofing, among others.
- Equipment associated with air conditioning.
- Ventilation.
- Production of sanitary hot water.
How to request the energy certificate?
You should request this document from a specialist. If you don’t know any, access the Certificar é Valorizar website and search for a specialist nearby in your area of residence. We advise you to request quotes from different specialists, as there are several factors that directly impact the energy class of the property, as we have just explained.
After selecting the specialist and visiting the property, the calculations will be carried out and subsequently entered into the Energy Certification System. Before this last step, ask for a prior consultation of the document.
