Energy Label
Energy labelling is a statutory classification of buildings on a scale from A to G that shows how energy efficient the building is, and how climate friendly its heating is. The scale has two parts: a letter rating (A best, G worst) for calculated delivered energy per square metre, and a colour rating (green to red) for the share of renewable heat. The scheme is managed by Enova on behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and has its legal basis in energimerkeforskriften (the energy labelling regulations, regulation 2009-12-18-1665).
The duty applies to the sale and letting of homes over 50 m² and of commercial buildings over 1,000 m². The duty rests with the seller or the landlord. If an energy performance certificate is missing from the listing and the contract, the buyer or tenant can order one at the seller's expense. Commercial buildings over 500 m² that are often visited by the public must also display a visible summary of the energy performance certificate for visitors, under energimerkeforskriften § 8a. New buildings must be energy labelled before a completion certificate or temporary permission to occupy is granted.
The calculation follows NS 3031 and is based on the UFA floor area, climate zone, building envelope, ventilation, heating system and hot water. It represents normalised energy use under standard conditions, not actual consumption in a given year. Two identical houses with different occupants can therefore have the same label but different electricity bills. Rating A corresponds roughly to passive house level, and the energy requirements in TEK17 are on a par with rating B for most building categories. Older homes from the 1970s and 1980s typically sit at E or F.
For homes under 1,000 m², the owner can register the energy performance certificate via Enova's self-service solution by entering information about the building. Commercial buildings, large residential buildings and homes where the owner does not have enough information require measurement and certification by a certified energy expert (energy adviser class 1 or 2 under NS-EN 16247 and NVE's certification scheme). The certificate lasts for ten years, but must be renewed after significant structural changes or a change of heating system.
The energy label matters financially beyond the duty itself. The label is used in screening for green loans at Norwegian banks (typically a requirement of rating A, B or C for a discounted mortgage) and in reporting under the EU taxonomy for commercial property. For BREEAM-NOR certification, the energy performance certificate counts towards the Energy category. In the valuation of commercial property, the rating is used more and more often as a risk factor: buildings with a poor energy label risk becoming "stranded assets" as tenants' taxonomy reporting drives demand for green space.
The reliability of the energy label varies. Self-registered residential certificates are of low quality and should not be used on their own as a basis for decisions in transactions. For commercial property where a certified expert has been involved, and especially where measured energy use deviates by less than 15% from the calculated figure, the certificate is a genuine diagnostic tool. In a condition report under the Sale of Property Act or a housing sale report, the energy performance certificate should be read together with actual energy consumption over the past three years. A large gap between calculated and measured consumption can indicate either errors in the registered building information or a pattern of use that differs significantly from standard conditions.
In Placepoint, the registered energy label is shown per building in the building panel, and you can filter the portfolio by label to find which buildings sit lowest in energy terms.
How the dataset appears on the map
The dataset is part of the map layer Buildings as Enova Energy Labelling:
From Placepoint's dictionary: Energy Label
More information: Enova: Energimerking, Lovdata: Energimerkeforskriften, Store norske leksikon: energimerking av bygninger
English: Energy labelling (mandatory A-G energy performance classification of buildings).
Frequently asked questions
When is energy labelling required?
On the sale and letting of homes over 50 m² and of commercial buildings over 1,000 m². Commercial buildings over 500 m² that are often visited by the public must also display a visible summary of the certificate for visitors.
How long is an energy performance certificate valid?
Ten years, unless the building undergoes significant changes or the heating system is replaced. A new certificate must then be registered.
Can I energy label my house myself?
Yes. For homes under 1,000 m², the owner can register the certificate themselves on Enova's website. Larger buildings and commercial buildings must be certified by a certified energy expert.
What do the letter rating and the colour mean?
The letter (A to G) shows calculated delivered energy per square metre. The colour (green to red) shows the share of renewable heating. The two are assessed separately.
What happens if the seller does not provide an energy performance certificate?
The buyer or tenant can order the certificate at the seller's expense. The omission can also form part of any price reduction under the Sale of Property Act.