What is an energy certificate?
An energy certificate is a tool for comparing the energy efficiency of buildings and for enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings that are sold or rented out. The certificate provides important and reliable information to support the purchasing decision, which, for most of us, is the greatest single purchase of our lives. In addition, the energy certificate includes energy saving tips by professionals, which further improve the energy efficiency.
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Markus Sommers/Image bank of the Environmental Administrator
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Energy certificate for buildings
Energy certificates have been used in Finland since 2008 in almost all new constructions, and since 2009, also when selling or renting out large buildings and new small residential buildings. In the future, an energy certificate will also be required when selling or renting out an old small residential building, as is the case with other buildings.
New energy certificates are adopted gradually. They are issued for almost all new buildings and for apartment houses and new small residential buildings that are sold or rented out, immediately after the law came into effect on 1 June 2013.
When is an energy certificate needed?
An energy certificate is not required for the selling or renting of small residential buildings built before 1980, until 1 July 2017. In addition, transition times are applied to a few other types of buildings: the new regulations have been applied to terraced or linked houses and business or office premises from 1 July 2014 onwards, and to health care buildings and assembly and teaching facilities from 1 July 2015 onwards.
If the value of the property is very low, the rent small or the building is not open to the public, the energy certificate can be drawn up with an existing form, as a so-called lenient process. An energy certificate is not required, for example, for leisure houses or buildings smaller than 50 m².
Are old energy certificates still valid?
The energy certificates pursuant to the old act are valid, in accordance with their validity period. Energy certificates included in the property manager's certificate, which constitute one of the most common types of certificates, were valid until the end of 2014.