Energy certificate: everything you need to know

If you are thinking of renting or selling a property, whether for residential or commercial purposes, you will obligatorily need to have an energy certificate, otherwise you could run the risk of being fined.

Currently, in Portugal there are almost 1.5 million properties that already have an energy rating, according to ADENE – Agência para a Energia, but this figure is still far from ideal.

The Energy Certification of Buildings (SCE), a system managed by ADENE, is an independent evaluation and validation tool of the energy performance of properties. Learn everything about the topic.

AFTER ALL, WHAT IS THE ENERGY CERTIFICATE?
The energy efficiency certificate is a document that, as the name implies, proves the energy efficiency of a property. This certification is carried out by ADENE technicians, who, after assessing, assign the property a label ranging from “A+” (very efficient) to “G” (poorly efficient).

What does it include?
Through the energy certificate, information is presented on your property´s energy consumption in relation to air conditioning and domestic hot water, and measures that you can implement to improve energy efficiency and reduce the property´s energy consumption are also included.

There are two different energy certificate models in force: one for residential buildings and the other for commercial and service buildings.

What is the validity?
The energy efficiency certificate is valid according to the building to which it relates:

Housing buildings: 10 years;
Small commercial and service buildings: 10 years;
Large commercial and service buildings: 6 years, for certificates issued up to April 30, 2015;
Large commercial and service buildings: 8 years, for certificates issued after April 30, 2015.
IN WHICH SITUATIONS IS THE ENERGY CERTIFICATE MANDATORY?
Energy efficiency certification is mandatory in the case of buildings:
New;
Existing buildings subject to major rehabilitation interventions, and therefore works whose cost exceeds 25% of the value of the building;
Existing trade and services with a useful interior floor area equal to or greater than 1000m2, or 500m2 in the case of shopping centres, hypermarkets, supermarkets and covered swimming pools;
Publicly owned buildings, frequented by the public, with a useful interior floor area of more than 250m2;

In addition, it is necessary in the following situations:
When signing contracts for the sale and leasing of buildings, including leasing – in these situations, the owner must present the energy certificate to the potential buyer, tenant or tenant;
In situations of trespass of commercial establishments;
waiver of presentation
Some properties are exempt from presenting an energy certificate:

- Non-residential industrial, livestock or agricultural installations with reduced energy needs or that are used by national agreement on energy performance;
-Buildings used as places of worship or for religious activities;
-Fractions or buildings intended for non-air-conditioned parking lots, workshops and warehouses where human presence is not significant;
-Single-family buildings with a floor area equal to or less than 50m2;
- Vacant services and commercial buildings, until their sale or lease;
-Buildings in ruins;
-Military infrastructures and buildings related to information systems or security forces and services, provided they are subject to control and confidentiality rules;
-Sale or donation in compliance with co-owners, tenants, in executive proceedings, the expropriating entity or for total demolition;
-Lease of the landlord´s usual residence for a period of less than 4 months;
-Donation and inheritance contracts;
- Leasing of those who are already lessees of the leased thing;
-Sale of fractions or buildings in insolvency proceedings;
- Trespass contracts in which only the transfer of equipment or services is verified - except when the trespass contract includes the physical space;
-Lending contracts.
Fines in case of non-compliance
You should also take into account that you can be fined if your property does not have energy certification. Fines vary between 250 euros and 3,740 euros for individuals and between 2,500 euros and 44,890 euros for companies.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE ENERGY CERTIFICATE?
Any owner of a building or fraction can request an energy certificate for the property he owns. If this is your case, you should first look for a qualified expert close to your area of residence.

To do so, you can use the ADENE expert pool. If there are several experts available in your area, then contact them and compare the prices that each one charges, as they can vary.

You will need to submit the following documents:

Copy of the plan of the property to be evaluated for certification;
Urban building booklet;
Certificate of registration at the conservatory;
Housing technical sheet.
After gathering the necessary information, the calculations are introduced into the National System of Energy Certification and Indoor Air Quality in Buildings. Before the certificate is issued, you can even consult a preview version. Within 2 to 3 days you will be able to have your property´s energy efficiency certificate.

What is the cost of the energy certificate?
The costs of the energy certificate vary according to the type of property and the complexity of the building. In addition to the fees corresponding to the registration of the certificate, VAT at the rate in force and the fees of the qualified technician, which are variable.

In the case of residential buildings, the rates in force are:

T0 and T1: 28€;
T2 and T3: €40.50;
T4 and T5: 55€;
T6 or higher: 65€.
For commercial and service buildings, the rates in force are:

Area equal to or less than 250m2: €135;
More than 250m2 and equal to or less than 500m2: €350;
Area greater than 500m2 and equal to or less than 5000m2: €750;
Area greater than 5000m2: 950€.
How long does it take to get the certificate?
It is a relatively quick process, usually taking between 2 to 3 days. There are even companies that make urgent emissions overnight possible.

Exemption
The applicant may also benefit from fee exemption, if the property in question already has an energy certificate and the measures indicated therein have been implemented.

However, the original certificate must be less than 10 years old, which is its expiry date, and the implemented measures must have led to the improvement of the energy class of the building to a minimum of “B-“.

Sources
ADENE – Agency for Energy
Certifying is Valuing – Energy Certification of Buildings
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