Energy Performance Certificates

While it is not compulsory under the EPBD to set up a central/regional EPC register, almost all Member States have moved further than the obligations and implemented a system to collect EPC data. In 11 out of 28 Member States, in order to issue an EPC, it must be uploaded to the central database to be officially approved (BPIE, 2014).

These EPC registers are the primary source of information regarding certified buildings. The share of buildings registers in the EPC database varies across Europe.

The figures below show information on the EPC distribution per energy label (based on the analysis of the national registers). Please note that the information may not be representative for the entire building stock.

All buildings registered in EPC databases (cumulative)

According to the results of the EPBD compliance study (ICF 2015), the compliance level of EPCs applied to newly constructed and sold building is generally higher than for buildings that are being rented out. 

According to the EPBD, an EPC shall include information on the energy performance of a building and the reference values. It shall also include recommendations on the cost-optimal, or cost-effective, improvements of the energy performance of a building or dwelling. It is up to the Member States to decide on the performance rating of the representation (i.e. energy level vs. continuous scale) as well as the type of recommendations (i.e. standardised vs. tailor-made).

The EPBD requires Member States to establish an independent control system and verify a random selection of at least a statistically significant percentage of all the energy performance certificates issued annually.

Figure 3 shows that Denmark and Ireland are the only countries where the share of non-residential buildings with EPCs exceeds 15%.

Figure 4: Public EPC registers