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When looking for a dream property, it is advisable to check its "inner values". After all, you want to know whether the proverbial energy is right. The energy performance certificate provides more information on this, as it is the "sticker" of every house. But what exactly does an energy performance certificate say and why is it so important? You can find out all the details here.

What is an energy performance certificate? 

An energy performance certificate provides mandatory information about the thermal quality and therefore the energy consumption of a property. The characteristic values show how much energy is required per year for a comfortable indoor climate. This has the following advantages:

1. Transparency: Buyers and tenants receive a clear overview of the expected energy costs.

2. Comparability: Different properties can be compared more easily in terms of their energy efficiency.

3. Sustainability: Higher energy efficiency reduces energy consumption, conserves resources and reduces emissions.
 

What do the energy indicators say? 

What initially reads like technical gobbledygook has a direct impact on your future energy costs and living comfort.

The individual key figures of an energy performance certificate: 

• The energy index, also known as the specific heating requirement (HWB), is the most commonly used comparative value for the thermal quality of the building envelope. It indicates how many kilowatt hours (kWh) are required per square metre of living space per year. If you know the price per kWh, this can be used to calculate the annual energy costs.
   
• The specific heating requirement (location-related) indicates how much energy is required per year to heat a house. This value depends on the location of the property on the one hand, and on your individual usage behaviour on the other. Because energy-saving behaviour is naturally rewarded.
   
• The climate data takes into account the geographical location of a house, using long-term average values to calculate how many days a year heating is required. 
   
• The heating load indicates what output a boiler should have in order to heat the house optimally.
   
• The transmission heat loss records how much energy is lost through the building envelope, i.e. through walls, doors, windows and roofs.
   
• The ventilation loss describes the energy required to reheat the indoor air after ventilation.
   
• Internal gains refer to the sum of heat given off by people and appliances inside the building. 
   
• Solar gains quantify the heat that enters the building through solar radiation via windows and other glazed surfaces.
   
• The U-value measures the heat loss of a building component (e.g. wall or window) per square metre and degree of temperature difference between inside and outside. A low U-value means better insulation - so the lower the better. 
  
   

Who issues the energy certificate? 

The energy certificate may only be issued by qualified experts: qualified architects, master builders, civil engineers, building services engineers, plumbers for heating, air conditioning and ventilation technology and state-certified technicians from the construction industry.
 

Energy certificates from Glorit 

We focus on sustainability and energy efficiency and therefore ensure that your new home is energy-optimised right from the planning stage. All Glorit projects are therefore classified as low-energy homes. This means that the heating requirement is a maximum of 50 kWh per square metre per year - a value that is even lower in all Glorit properties. How do we do that?
 

• Very good thermal insulation of the building envelope reduces energy loss and keeps the heat inside the house.
• Avoiding thermal bridges minimises places where heat can be lost.
• Standard-compliant airtightness ensures that no unwanted air enters or escapes the house.
• Thermal insulation glazing keeps the heat inside in winter and outside in summer.
• Efficient building services with modern heating and ventilation systems ensure low energy consumption.
   

While passive houses offer even lower energy values, they sacrifice design. At Glorit, we consciously focus on a balance between energy efficiency and living comfort. With large windows and plenty of daylight, we create an extremely pleasant living environment with a low energy standard.