The Building Energy Efficiency Certificate is used to evaluate the energy expenditure that a property will have over time. This document is regulated by Royal Decree 390/2021 and since 2013 it has been mandatory for real estate companies that want to rent or sell a newly built home. This accreditation assigns each property a label on a scale between A and G, depending on energy consumption or annual CO2 emissions.
A doctor with a qualifying degree in architecture or technical engineering will be the person authorized to issue an energy efficiency certificate, after inspecting and evaluating the aspects established by law. Once this report has been completed, it must be registered in the corresponding regional registry to obtain its validation. The document is valid for 10 years, except for those qualified with the letter G, in which case the validity is reduced to 5 years.
Obtaining an energy label with the letter A indicates a saving of almost 1,000 euros per year compared to a home classified with the letter E. These are the ranges stipulated by law according to consumption (kWh), emissions (kg of CO2) and the estimated annual cost:
Properties that do not meet the minimum energy efficiency standards are assessed with the G label.
The law requires that energy certification be included whenever renovations are carried out or thermal installations are replaced in cases where they affect more than 25% of the envelope or its surface is expanded by 10% or more. In addition, some energy companies reserve the right to ask you for it before hiring their services.
On the other hand, owners must include the degree of energy efficiency in any offer or advertising action aimed at selling or renting a property and also attach a copy of the certificate to the purchase, sale or lease contracts. The regulations contemplate penalties of between 300 and 6,000 euros in cases where this documentation is omitted or falsified.
The energy certificate can help you determine what renovations you need to do in your home to reduce costs and achieve efficient consumption. These actions are usually accompanied by notable tax benefits.
Since last year, the Government of Spain has offered communities of neighbors and owners aid for the energy rehabilitation of buildings or their habitual residence. Eligible actions are the renewal of elements of the thermal envelope (coverings or windows) or the implementation of electricity generation systems using renewable sources, among others. The aid will cover up to 40% of the total amount, when energy consumption or demand for heating or cooling is reduced by 30% or 7% respectively.
