Energy performance certificate for a building

Since 28 April 2023, under a new act, Polish law requires property owners to hold an energy performance certificate for the building. But what is this document and who is obliged to have it? Read on and find out why the energy performance certificate is so important for every property owner.

What is an energy performance certificate?

An energy performance certificate, also known as an energy certificate, is a document containing information on the energy demand for heating, ventilation, cooling and preparing domestic hot water in the whole property or part of it. This assessment is expressed as an energy consumption indicator, given in kilowatt-hours per square metre per year (kWh/m²/year). The lower the indicator, the more energy-efficient the building.

Who must have an energy performance certificate?

Owners of various types of property must hold an energy performance certificate. Here are the main groups that are obliged to obtain an energy certificate.

1. Owners of flats and houses

If you are planning to sell or rent out a flat or house, you will need to obtain an energy performance certificate. This is important for potential buyers or tenants, who will be able to assess the property's energy efficiency.

• Newly built properties

Newly built buildings must obtain an energy performance certificate before they are put into use. This is part of the process of approving the building project.

• Buildings undergoing major renovation

If you are carrying out a renovation that concerns thermal insulation, the heating system or other elements affecting the building's energy efficiency, you are obliged to obtain a new energy performance certificate.

How to obtain an energy performance certificate?

An energy performance certificate must be prepared by authorised entities. The full list of authorised persons can be found on the list compiled by the Ministry of Development and Technology, which is available in the Central Register of the Energy Performance of Buildings. To obtain an energy certificate, you must submit, among other things, documents such as:

• the architectural and construction design with a technical description;
• documents describing any later changes made to the design;
• the plumbing design;
• if the building has air conditioning, documentation of the cooling system;
• documentation of the ventilation system, if the ventilation is mechanical;
• technical data or documents describing the devices and systems installed in the building, such as a heat recovery unit, a ground heat exchanger, a solar collector or an additional heating system.

An energy performance certificate is valid for 10 years, but it must be updated if significant changes are made to the building.

Summary

A building's energy performance certificate is an important document that provides information on the energy efficiency of a property. Various groups of property owners are obliged to hold the certificate, including those selling, renting out, building new properties, and those carrying out major renovations.

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