What does the Energy Certification of buildings involve?

Gestilar, which is committed to protecting the environment, promotes sustainability and energy-efficiency in all of its projects, designing exclusive homes in accordance with ecological principles. But what is Energy Certification of homes exactly?

Beyond being merely a trend within the real-estate sector, this rating is already well on the way to becoming one of the basic standards for any building, even determining whether or not it is in compliance with the law in this sector.

What is an Energy-Efficiency Certificate?

An Energy-Efficiency Certificate is a document required by the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Tourism for all homes, containing information on the energy characteristics of the building. This measure seeks to improve efficiency and encourage a more responsible use of resources.

Thus, as the name suggests, a building is ‘rated’ on the basis of the annual energy consumption it requires in order to cover its needs, such as hot water, optimal temperature control, lighting, or ventilation.

This evaluation is summarized in the certificate itself, and it is then assigned a so-called energy label, of which there are two different kinds, as we shall see below.

Is it compulsory for homes to have an Energy-Efficiency Certificate?

As from 2013, all homes are required to have one (with some exceptions), in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 235/2013 of 5 April. Without doubt, this is a step towards a sustainable future which has also been promoted by Europe: a 20% reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels and in CO₂ emissions must be achieved by 2020, and energy production must also attain a 20% renewables target.

Going beyond this, the law provides that as from 2020, all new buildings must have an energy-efficiency rating of ‘almost negligible consumption’.

The energy label: types and characteristics

Basically this is the ‘score’ that the building has been given with regard to its energy consumption, also depending on its CO₂ emissions. The energy label has a standardized scale to grade how well the building performs, running from A, the highest score, to G, which identifies a home that has no efficiency at all.

Do you have to pay to get a Certificate, and who can issue one?

The cost is not regulated by the Government: it is established in accordance with supply and demand in the marketplace at any given time, and so the best option is to ask for an estimate from an authorized technician, and there are numerous businesses that offer this service.

At Gestilar we work with projects that have an A grade ENERGY RATING, such as the promotions at Isla de la Toja, Islas Estelas or Isla de Arosa. Meanwhile, our first project in Galicia, Isla de Santa Cruz, en Oleiros, has a B grade ENERGY RATING and we have achieved a reduction in CO₂ emissions and also a reduction in the energy needs of the building.

What is the Energy Rating of your home?