Energy Performance Certification

Certification of energy performance for buildings

The certification of energy performance is now a legal requirement in Spain (RD 47/2007) for all new buildings and for older buildings after reforms that affect more than 1,000 m2 of their surface area and where more than 25% of their enclosures are modified.

The Royal Decree requires all new buildings (residential or service) to be classified and issued with a certificate that will show purchasers its energy efficiency. The aim is to ensure that every building receives an energy performance certificate showing the estimated energy demand and the associated CO2 emissions.

Objectives of energy certification

• To encourage the construction of more energy efficient buildings.
• To ensure that building renovation is carried out making energy efficiency a top priority.
• To introduce a scientific calculation method into the certification process.

Tools necessary for energy certification

The following are used to assess a building's energy rating:

• Theoretical modelling of the building's energy demand using LIDER software.
• Once the energy demand has been calculated its Energy Performance is calculated using two alternative CALENER software tools:
• CALENER VyP, for residences and small services.
• CALENER GT, aimed at large tertiary instalations.
• A consultation process on how to improve the energy performance certification.