If you want to let or sell your home, you need an energy performance certificate. This year, an above-average number of certificates are due to expire. Following the kick-off lecture in April, Stadtwerke Gießen once again provided information on what property owners need to know and why the energy performance certificate is worthwhile even without an obligation.
An energy certificate provides information about the energy requirements of a house. Generally speaking, the lower the expected consumption, the more attractive the building or flat. Since 2008, property owners have been legally obliged to present the certificate to tenants or buyers at the latest when signing a contract. Certain information must already be included in adverts on online platforms or in daily newspapers. Legislators further tightened the regulations with the 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance.
The legal regulations remain an explosive topic for property owners. For this reason, Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) provided information about the new regulations and other important background information for the second time this year on Wednesday, 25 July at a presentation in the SWG customer centre on the market square in Gießen. Energy consultant Martin Lorenz explained: "Generally speaking, there are two types of energy certificates - consumption-orientated and demand-orientated. Which one owners need for their property depends on various factors. For new buildings, only the needs-based certificate is now permitted. This also applies to properties with up to four flats that do not comply with the 1977 Thermal Insulation Ordinance. As in the past, owners of other properties are free to decide."
During the presentation, visitors to the event also learnt what makes the difference between the two types of certificate. While the consumption certificate documents the averaged, actual consumption of the last three years before the certificate is issued, the demand certificate shows the calculated energy requirement. The existing building fabric serves as the basis for the calculation. This procedure requires greater effort and is associated with higher costs.
Expert knowledge required
Despite the seemingly clear distinction in the law, many property owners find it difficult to judge whether they are obliged to have a requirement certificate issued or whether the cheaper option is sufficient. "The 1977 Thermal Insulation Ordinance speaks of a maximum heat requirement of around 200 kilowatt hours per square metre of living space per year. Usually, only experts can make a meaningful judgement as to which building this applies to," explained Martin Lorenz, adding: "We help to classify flats and houses into the appropriate category."
When it comes to compiling the data for the necessary certificate, the staff at the SWG customer centre provide support - regardless of which certificate the owner needs. However, collecting this data can also be worthwhile for all those who live in their own home and are therefore not obliged to have an energy performance certificate for their property. This is because the energy performance certificate in particular not only documents the energy status, it can also provide information on which investments can be made to increase energy efficiency. "CO2 emissions and operating costs can sometimes be significantly reduced - for example, by replacing an old heating system with a modern appliance," emphasised Martin Lorenz.
SWG's energy consultants can help with all questions relating to energy certificates from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by telephone on 0800 2302100 or on site at the SWG customer centre on Marktplatz. Information is also available around the clock on the SWG website www.energiessen.de.