ᐅ New Construction: Verifying Energy Efficiency Certificates / Energy Performance Certificates, Checking Costs

Hello,

I have a question regarding the required energy certificates needed for new constructions. Do you only need the standard 5-page energy certificate, or are additional documents necessary? Our architect also gave us a 53-page energy saving report for our house. Until now, I thought only the energy certificate was required, or is this 53-page document part of the actual certificate, essentially the calculation basis?

The architect had these certificates prepared without discussing it with us first, so I wanted to ask what the usual cost for this would be. We do trust our architect, but I like to double-check these things to make sure everything is within a reasonable range.

Thank you

Orschel

Hello,

Orschel schrieb:
... Our architect also gave us a 53-page energy efficiency certificate for our house.

For the application, only the condensed certificate is required.
However, the complete calculation is a very valuable document, for example in case of later claims (excessive energy costs).
It is not uncommon for such certificates to be "adjusted" to look better, and in practical implementation and execution, very little of this remains.
In a possible necessary legal evidence procedure, I as an expert can refer to these documents, which would be much more difficult and expensive for the builder if they are not available.
You may end up being grateful to your architect for this act.
Hopefully, he is just as thorough with the heating system planning and makes sure to involve an MEP engineer instead of blindly trusting a general contractor.

Best regards

€uro schrieb:
Hello,
For the application, only the summarized proof is required.
However, the complete calculation is a very valuable document, for example in case of later claims (excessive consumption costs).
It is not uncommon for such proofs to be "beautified," and in practical implementation and execution, very little of it remains.
In a possibly necessary evidence preservation procedure, I as an expert can refer to these documents, which becomes much more difficult and expensive for the homeowner if they are not available.
You might even thank your architect for this action later.
Hopefully, he is just as thorough with the heating system planning and strives to involve an MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) specialist rather than blindly relying on a general contractor.

Best regards.

Thank you very much for this information! Since this was done before the actual construction and some changes have been made since then, does this mean it needs to be recalculated or adjusted after the build?
We are meeting with our architect again this afternoon, and we want to ask about the cost for this. I would have expected him to discuss this with us beforehand. Are there any reference figures on what such a calculation should cost?

Orschel schrieb:
Since this was done before the actual construction and some changes have been made since then, it would have to be recalculated or adjusted after the construction, right?

Absolutely correct!

Orschel schrieb:
...We are meeting with our architect again this afternoon, where we also want to ask about the costs. I would have expected him to discuss this with us beforehand. Are there any benchmark figures for what something like this should cost?

Without proof of compliance with energy-saving regulations, there is no building permit / planning permission! Therefore, in my opinion, this is one of the core planning tasks and should be covered by the architect’s fee. However, I am not familiar with your architect contract.
Hopefully, the heating system, domestic hot water supply, and ventilation have also been precisely sized and planned to avoid any unpleasant surprises later on.

Best regards.

€uro schrieb:
Absolutely right!
Without proof of compliance with the energy-saving regulations, there is no building permit / planning permission! Therefore, in my opinion, this is one of the architect’s core planning responsibilities and should be covered by the architect’s fee. However, I am not familiar with your architect contract.
Hopefully, the heating system, domestic hot water preparation, and ventilation were also precisely sized and planned to avoid any unpleasant surprises later on.

Best regards.

That would of course be ideal if it were included in the architect contract and would also explain why he did not coordinate it with us, if it is necessary anyway... That would be great!
Otherwise, we know that the heating system was planned based on the required documentation.

Orschel schrieb:
...Otherwise, we know that the heating system was designed based on the verification.

What does that mean? It is not permissible to size heating systems based on the Energy Saving Ordinance results. The same applies to quantitative statements about actual demand or consumption.

Best regards