With the approval of the new European “green homes” directive, the Energy Performance Certificate (APE) is destined to undergo significant changes. In fact, they will be introduced new energy classes. Additionally, the EPA will include more information related to overall energy performance, a renovation passport to guide energy improvement interventions and data onintelligence of buildingsthus promoting greater transparency and awareness regarding theenergy efficiency of buildings.
The energy performance certificate (APE): what is it?
The energy performance certificate (APE) is a document which shows the value resulting from the calculation of energy performance of a building or real estate unit carried out in accordance with a methodology which to date must be based on a common general framework at European level.
Energy performance indicates, in particular, the quantity of energy, calculated or measured, necessary to satisfy the energy requirements connected to normal use of the building, including energy used for heating, cooling, ventilation, domestic hot water production and lighting. Energy demand is the energy that must be supplied or extracted from a conditioned environment to maintain the desired environmental conditions (cold in summer and warm in winter).
When is the APE necessary?
This is a necessary document for all buildings or real estate units in the event of sale, transfer of properties free of charge or new rental. This is a document to be made available at the start of the respective negotiations and to be delivered at the end of the same.
The certificate will then be attached to the contract, excluding the rental of individual real estate units. For the new buildings and those undergoing major renovations are provided with an energy performance certificate before issuing the certificate of usability.
The entry into force of the directive “Green Houses”
The reference regulatory framework is destined to change as a result of the entry into force of the EU “Green Homes” directive. The directive constitutes a systematization and recasting of the previous one Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.
The aim of the European legislator is to promote the improvement of energy performance of buildings and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissionsa from buildings within the Union to achieve a zero-emission building stock by 2050taking into account local conditions, external climate conditions, indoor quality requirements and cost-effectiveness.
Member States will thus have to establish a national restructuring plan of buildings to ensure the renovation of the national stock of residential and non-residential buildings, both public and private, in order to achieve a decarbonised and energy-efficient building stock by 2050, with the aim of transforming existing buildings into zero-emission buildings.
The entry into force of the directive “Green Houses”: what changes for the APE?
The directive is based on the circumstance that there are discrepancies between the various national systems in the use of different scales and formats which make comparability at a European level difficult.
Reason why a common scale of energy performance classes and a common model at European level is introduced.
The indication of the directive is what the energy performance certificate contains correct data on the energy performance of the building e practical advice to improve it further.
The energy performance certificate should also contain information on primary and final energy consumption, energy needs, renewable energy production, greenhouse gas emissions, life cycle GWP, if available, and, optionally, on sensors or quality controls of the building’s internal environments. The energy performance certificate should contain recommendations for improving the energy performance of the building.
In particular, by May 29, 2026, the energy performance certificate must comply with the model established by the European Union and indicate the energy performance classes of the building on a closed scale that uses only the letters from A to G where the letter A corresponds to zero-emission buildings and the letter G corresponds to the buildings with the worst performance. The remaining energy performance classes (from B to F) must have an adequate distribution of energy performance indicators.
The indications of the “new” APE according to the directive “Green homes”
As mentioned, the energy performance certificate must comply with the model established by the European Union.
Among the elements that must be indicated, the European Union provides on the first page:
- there energy performance class;
- The Yearly consumption of energy (primary and final), expressed in kWh/(m2.a);
- the percentage of renewable energy produced;
- the greenhouse gas emissions (kgCO2/(m2.a) and life cycle GWP value, if available.
For example, the energy performance certificate must also indicate the energy needsan indication of the building’s ability to react to external signals and adjust energy consumption as well as the ability of the heat distribution system within the building to operate at lower or more efficient temperatures.
The case of the Lazio Region
With Delib.GR 6 December 2017, n. 824 the Lazio Region started a Informative system for the management of Energy Performance Certificates for buildings in the Lazio Region (so-called APE Lazio Information System: https://www.apelazio.enea.it) and established a regional list of subjects authorized to issue the performance certificate energy.
It is a tool that allows certifying entities enableyou to upload and send the Energy Performance Certificates, produced according to current national legislation.
This IT system will also allow citizens to consult and view the APEs relating to the properties owned and Notaries to consult and view the APEs covered by the deeds under their competence, thus simplifying the preparatory activities for the contractual activities.
