The Energy Performance Certificate

A lot is being written about the Energy Performance Certificate and there are still some uncertainties so I will try to give some light to the new Spanish law that was passed on the 5th of April 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. Although the law establishes that the certificate has to be duly registered by the Junta de Andalucia, that Registry has not been yet defined. 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.

When will be 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 will require them when signing the completion of a sale. In addition, the new regulation establishes that all marketing material of properties for sale or long term rental has to include the Energy Performance Label.

** A lawyer referred me last week to article 2.2.g of the Law where it is established that those properties that are in use less than four months a year are excluded. In these cases, a certificate from the owner stating that that is the case is required.

How long is the Certificate valid: Ten years.

Who can issue them: Registered technicians. Although it is not fully clear in the text of the law, architects and technical architects can for sure do it and some engineers. The professionals have to be registered although that Registry has not been yet created.

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. This will settle after the establishment period.