Energy performance certificate
The energy performance certificate is the formal document that shows a building's energy label, together with the associated measures proposed to reduce energy use. The certificate is valid for ten years and must be presented when a home over 50 m² or a commercial building over 1,000 m² is sold or let. Enova runs the scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, under the energy labelling regulations.
The certificate is public and searchable in Enova's register. It has three parts. First the label itself: a letter from A to G for calculated delivered energy per UFA (usable floor area), and a colour from green to red for the share of renewable heat. Then a summary of the building's technical data: area, year of construction, building category, heating system, ventilation and insulation value. Finally a list of measures where the energy expert suggests simple and more extensive steps, from extra loft insulation to changing the heat source, with an indication of cost effectiveness. The measures are recommendations, with no duty to carry them out.
The registration threshold depends on the building type. For a home under 1,000 m², the owner can enter the details through Enova's self-service solution, and the certificate is generated immediately. Self-registered certificates carry a visibility mark stating that a certified expert has not been involved, so accuracy varies with how well the owner knows the building. For commercial buildings, large residential buildings and homes over 1,000 m², measurement and certification by a certified energy adviser is required (class 1 or 2 under NVE's certification scheme, with requirements set out in NS-EN 16247). The professional certificate is of higher quality and is often used as a diagnostic tool alongside a condition report and before refurbishment.
The certificate must be renewed after significant structural changes, after a change of heat source or after ten years. For new builds, the certificate must be in place before the completion certificate or temporary permit to occupy. If the certificate is missing from the sales prospectus, the buyer can order it at the seller's expense, and the omission can amount to a defect under the Norwegian Property Sales Act.
The difference from a do-it-yourself power consumption account is that the certificate calculates normalised energy use under standard conditions in line with NS 3031. It is comparable between buildings, but it does not tell you what the electricity bill will be. How a family uses the house often affects the electricity bill more than the grade itself.
In the banking and finance market, the energy performance certificate is used as documentation for green mortgages (usually with a requirement for grade A, B or C) and in EU taxonomy assessments of commercial property. For BREEAM-NOR, the certificate counts as documentation in the Energy category. When letting to companies with taxonomy reporting duties, the grade on the certificate has a direct bearing on which tenants the building can attract.
In Placepoint, registered energy performance certificates are linked to the individual building and shown in the building panel, so the grade and the latest registration date sit alongside the other building data. In portfolio analysis, you can filter on energy label and find which buildings rank lowest, a natural starting point for prioritising measures.
How this looks in Placepoint
In Placepoint, you find this in Building panel:
From Placepoint's dictionary: Energy performance certificate
More information: Enova: Energimerking og energiattest, Lovdata: Energimerkeforskriften, Store norske leksikon: energimerking av bygninger
English: Energy performance certificate.
Common questions
How long does an energy performance certificate last?
Ten years. It must still be renewed earlier if the heating system is changed, after major refurbishment or after other changes that significantly affect energy use.
Can I produce the certificate myself?
For a home under 1,000 m², the owner can self-register through the service from Enova SF. Larger buildings, commercial buildings and buildings without sufficient information must be certified by a certified energy expert.
What does a professional certificate cost?
It varies with the size and complexity of the building. For a detached house with an expert site visit, the level is typically 8,000 to 15,000 kroner, and far higher for larger commercial buildings.
Are the measures in the certificate mandatory?
No. The list of measures is a set of recommendations with an indication of cost effectiveness. The owner decides whether and when to carry them out.
Must the certificate be shown in the advert?
Yes. The letter and colour of the energy label must be visible in sales and rental adverts, and the certificate must be attached to the contract.