Jun 25th 2022 Energy efficiency in real estate

Meaning of energy efficiency

Energy efficiency indicates how much energy must be used to achieve a certain benefit, e.g. a certain room temperature. If only a minimum amount of energy is used, the appliance or property is considered to be maximally efficient.

Energy-efficient construction is intended to reduce the impact on the climate and the environment and save homeowners high heating costs. Building owners who go above and beyond the legal requirements benefit particularly strongly from this.

Just a few years ago, even newly built houses swallowed several thousand litres of heating oil a year to avoid freezing in winter. However, energy crises, economic crises, high fuel prices and the noticeable effects of climate change are making it increasingly clear that oil, coal and gas will not be available to us in inexhaustible quantities. In addition, pollutant emissions are also a major factor in the undesirably rapid warming of the earth's atmosphere. Energy-efficient construction is one way of significantly reducing the fuel consumption of houses for the benefit of the climate and the costs of homeowners.

There is particularly high potential for energy savings in the building sector. More than a quarter of Austria's energy requirements are already covered by renewable energies. In order to comply with the EU regulation, this positive trend must continue in the future, as the requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings continue to rise.

Energy efficiency classes

Energy efficiency classes for buildings are used to compare properties with each other in terms of their energy efficiency. The energy efficiency classes enable a transparent and clear assessment of a property's overall energy requirements. All relevant details relating to energy requirements are included in the assessment. Firstly, the primary energy requirement is decisive. The categorisation also takes into account the thermal insulation, the building tightness, the exact type of heating system and the installed energy source.

Brief overview of the energy certificate classes

• A++ max. 10 kWh/m² = passive houses.
• A+ max. 15 kWh/m² = passive houses.
• A max. 25 kWh/m² = low-energy house with comfort ventilation.
• B max. 50 kWh/m² = energy-saving house.
• C max. 100 kWh/m² = low-energy houses.
• D to G max. 150 kWh/m² to over 250 kWh/m² = Old, unrenovated buildings.

What role does the energy performance certificate play when renting or selling a property?

The energy efficiency classes are very interesting when buying or renting a property. All current and future energy costs can be easily estimated. The energy efficiency class is stated in the energy performance certificate, which must be available at the first viewing appointment when selling or renting a property.

The following applies to both sellers and landlords: the more energy-efficient the property is, the higher the sales and rental prices that can be achieved. As the energy performance certificate is now required by law and the clear and transparent presentation makes it easy to estimate energy requirements, potential buyers are placing ever greater value on an excellent rating. The energy efficiency class has become an important feature for assessing the value of a property, as have conventional criteria such as location, size and year of construction.

For properties with a low energy efficiency rating, there is currently no legal obligation to renovate or modernise, but it is still a great advantage to aim for the best possible energy efficiency rating. If you buy a property with a low energy efficiency rating, you can easily achieve a better energy efficiency rating with an energy-efficient refurbishment. The lower the energy requirement of a building, the more environmentally friendly it is. It also increases the value of the property as a whole. This also makes it worthwhile from an economic point of view (higher sales value or rental income).

The following are authorised to issue an energy certificate:

• Master builders
• Electrical engineering
• Gas and sanitary engineering
• Heating technology
• Refrigeration and air conditioning technology
• Ventilation technology
• Master carpenters
• Engineering offices for: Building physics, electrical engineering, building technology (installation, heating and air conditioning technology), interior design, mechanical engineering
• Civil engineers, architects
• Civil engineers and engineering consultants for: Civil engineering, industrial engineering - civil engineering, technical physics, process engineering, mechanical engineering, building services engineering

The prices for issuing an energy performance certificate vary from provider to provider and depend on the amount of work required - for example, it is significantly more expensive to have an energy performance certificate issued for an old building with incomplete and poor plans than for a new-build flat. Prices currently range between 500 and 1,000 euros.

Conclusion

Anyone thinking about building a house today should definitely plan ahead. In the coming years, the requirements for energy-efficient construction will continue to increase due to the increasingly stringent energy policy. According to the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, all public buildings are to be built to the lowest energy standard from 2018 and all private homes from 2020. If you decide in favour of this highly efficient construction method now, you will secure the future value of your home.

^Sources:

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