Energy Performance Certificates for New and Existing Buildings; Information

The energy performance certificate provides information about a building’s energy efficiency. It is intended to create greater transparency in the real estate market and provide additional incentives to more fully realize the significant energy-saving potential that exists in the existing building stock. Energy-efficiency upgrades and renovations can not only significantly reduce heating costs but also make a major contribution to climate protection. The Building Energy Act (GEG; formerly the Energy Conservation Ordinance, EnEV) generally provides for two types of energy performance certificates for existing buildings: the demand-based certificate and the consumption-based certificate. Which one must be issued depends on the size, use, age, and energy efficiency of the building. Listed historic buildings are exempt from the requirement to provide an energy performance certificate upon sale, rental, lease, or leasing.

Energy performance certificates must be registered with the German Institute for Building Technology and are valid for 10 years. After that, they must be reissued. Energy performance certificates also lose their validity if a building undergoes major modernization or expansion and the total primary energy demand is documented as part of the process.

In accordance with Section 88(1) of the Energy Performance Certificate Act (GEG) (formerly Section 21(1) of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV)), energy performance certificates for new and existing buildings may only be issued—in conjunction with training or continuing education (Section 88(2) GEG)—by a person who

• has earned a professionally qualifying university degree
  in one of the following fields: architecture, structural engineering, civil engineering, building services engineering, physics, building physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or another technical or scientific field with a focus on the aforementioned areas.
• Meets the requirements for registration in the Trade Register
  for a construction, finishing, or building services trade requiring a license, or for the chimney sweep trade, as well as a person who has earned a master craftsman’s certificate for a trade in these fields that does not require a license, and a person who, based on their training, is authorized to independently practice a trade in these fields that requires a license without holding a master craftsman’s certificate,
• is a state-recognized or certified technician,
  whose training also focuses on the assessment of the building envelope, the assessment of heating and hot water systems, or the assessment of ventilation and air conditioning systems.

An additional requirement for authorization to issue certificates is an additional qualification pursuant to Section 88(2) of the GEG (formerly Section 21(2) of the EnEV):

• a major of study or at least 2 years of professional experience in the field of energy-efficient construction,
• training in the field of energy-efficient construction in accordance with Annex 11 of the GEG. The distinction between authorizations for residential buildings and non-residential buildings is now determined by the scope of the training or continuing education required under Section 88(2) of the GEG (Section 88(3) of the GEG). If the content of the additional training under § 88(2)(2) GEG was limited solely to residential buildings, the individual is authorized only to issue energy performance certificates for residential buildings,
• or to hold a public appointment as a sworn expert.

Irrespective of this, authorization to submit building plans or provide energy performance documentation for new buildings under state law also entitles the holder to issue energy performance certificates within the scope of the respective building plan submission authorization (Art. 61 of the Bavarian Building Code – BayBO). An additional qualification is no longer required for this purpose. In addition, transitional provisions regarding the authorization to issue certificates under Section 113 of the GEG (formerly Sections 29(4), (5), and (6) of the EnEV) apply to certain individuals. No separate official authorization or registration is required for the authorization to issue certificates.

You can find more information about the energy performance certificate under “Further Links.”

The district administrative authorities in Bavaria answer general questions regarding energy-efficient renovations and certified energy consultants in the local area.