EPBD in Austria

Link: www.esv.or.at (in German language)

Target:

The main aim of the Energy Performance Building Directive EPBD (EU 2002/91/EG) is an increase in energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings.
The EPBD should significantly influence the real estate marked due to the strong connection of the energy performance of buildings with their market value. Additionally, the resulting demand for refurbishment should beneficially influence the development of the building sector.

Product/service group:

The Austrian “Energieausweisvorlagegesetz” (implementation of the Directive EU 2002/91/EG) foresees that an energy certificate ("Energieausweis") has to be issued for every new building, for an extension or a modification of buildings and also if a building is let, leased or sold. For buildings with a useful area of more than 1,000 m2 the energy certificate is also obligatory if the building is retrofitted. In order to increase public sensitivity, the certificates of large buildings (> 1,000 m2) open to the public have to be displayed in clearly visible locations.

The content of the Austrian building energy certificate differs for every federal state and depends also on the function of the building (e.g. residential building, office building, school etc). However, the heart of the energy certificate is the energy performance indicator which expresses the annual heating demand per m² (useful energy per gross floor area).

Awarding Institution & criteria:

Only qualified persons or institutes (construction companies, civil engineers etc.) are allowed to issue the building energy certificate.

According to the energy performance indicator the building is assigned to an energy efficiency class ranging from A++ to G (see figure above).

Control mechanisms:

The energy performance indicator has to meet at least the standards according to the building legislation of each federal state.

Charges:

Estimations of costs for energy performance certificates:

• about 300 to 500 € for single-family houses or semi-detached houses
• 1 € per m2 useful area for buildings with an area of more than 1,000 m2

Relevance on the market:

The energy certificate is a legal obligation for example for every new building and for major renovation in Upper Austria and therefore very relevant. In addition, if a building (flat) s sold or rented, an energy certificate has to be provided.