A lot has been written about the Energy Performance Certificate but there are still some uncertainties so I will try to give some light to the Spanish law that was passed on the 5th of April 2013 that includes some obligations to those properties on sale or long term rental.
What is the Energy Performance Certificate?
It is a Certificate issued by a qualified technician that establishes how energy efficient is a construction. The Law requires that the certificate has to be duly registered by the Junta de Andalucia and there is procedure to do it online. The Certificate will include:
Information about the property’s construction characteristics, heating and cooling systems, hot water elements and renewable energy production systems.
The Energy Efficiency Label, that colored label that goes from green, the best or A, to red, the worst or G, that you can also see on kitchen appliances.
Recommendations and proposals to improve the Energy Performance of the property by means of upgrading the energy efficiency of the cooling and heating systems, improving the thermal isolation of the building itself (double glazing on windows, additional thermal isolation on walls, better exterior carpentry seals, etc…) or the installation of renewable energy production systems.
Which constructions are affected?
New buildings, houses or apartments, those that are for sale or long term rental (it is considered long term rental when the rental period is longer than four months) and public buildings larger than 250 m2.
From when it is applicable?
From June 1st, 2013.
Is the Certificate compulsory?
Yes, it is. It has to be shown to potential buyers or potential renters of the properties so they can compare the energy efficiency of the properties they are considering. Notaries require them when signing the completion of a sale. In addition, the regulation establishes that all marketing material of properties for sale or long term rental has to include the Energy Performance Label.
Who can issue them?
Competent technicians. Those professionals have to be registered by the Junta de Andalucia to be able to issue and register the certificates.
What are the costs?
There are many technicians offering the services but as an average the cost seems to be between 1 to 2 euros per m2 depending on the size of the property. The bigger the cheaper per m2.