Energy performance certificate

Energy performance certificates help consumers compare buildings’ energy efficiency. The classification scale familiar from household appliances gives an overall picture of a building’s energy efficiency in a simple way. Energy performance certificates also aim to raise the status of energy efficiency so that it becomes one of the design criteria for buildings.

Energy performance certificates are computed. They are based on the building’s E figure, which is composed of the building’s calculated annual consumption of purchased energy, weighted with the factors of various forms of energy. The factors and definition employed are the same as in the energy efficiency regulations concerning new buildings which took effect on 1 July 2012.

Energy performance certificates are based on buildings’ properties. Computed comparison enables the comparison of the energy efficiency of an old and a new building.

New detached houses currently being built pursuant to building regulations belong in class C. Class D or E for a fairly new, existing detached house is fairly commonplace, while the class for older houses can be E–G. The classification can be influenced by, for instance, improving a house’s thermal insulation, the recovery of ventilation heat or the use of renewable energy.

Energy performance certificates have been in use in Finland since 2008. The Act on a Building’s Energy Performance Certificate was amended on 1 June 2013.

What are energy performance certificates needed for?

For new buildings, the energy performance certificate is drawn up during the building permit phase.

Energy reports and energy performance certificates are tools worth using during a building’s design phase. The energy performance certificate must be confirmed before the building’s commissioning, since some of the data needed for the computation may changed during the construction.

For existing buildings, energy performance certificates are necessary in the context of a sale or renting. Certificates are prepared by persons qualified to prepare energy performance certificates.

Further information on energy performance certificates and more details on, among other things, the adoption of energy performance certificates and the related transition periods are available in the consumer advice service maintained by Motiva.