Energetic certificate

What is the Energy Certificate?

It is a document that classifies the energy performance of a property on a scale that goes from A+ to F (class A+ corresponds to a very efficient building, and class F to a less efficient building).

This document is issued by authorized technicians from ADENE-Autoridade para a Energia and aims to inform the potential buyer of the property about:

• The overall energy performance of the building , classifying it so that the potential buyer can have a degree of comparison when choosing between properties and at the same time can be aware of the energy consumption that awaits them;
• Improvement measures that increase energy efficiency, comfort and the eventual reduction of energy consumption, such as: installing double glazing or reinforcing insulation, among others;
• The energy consumption characteristics relating to air conditioning and sanitary hot water, identifying the various building components, their technical systems, and their respective energy performance.

This document is valid for 10 years for residential buildings and small commercial and service buildings.In the case of large commercial and service buildings, the deadline is:

• 6 years for SCE certificates issued before April 30, 2015;
• 8 years for SCE certificates issued after April 30, 2015.

Who should request it

The responsibility for energy certification lies with the property owner and it is mandatory to indicate the energy class of the building or fraction in all advertisements published with a view to its sale or rental.

If it is a lease or rental, the responsibility for requesting energy certification for the property lies with the owner. It is mandatory to make the Energy Certificate available for consultation before signing the contract.

Which properties are covered?

The properties covered by the National Energy Certification System (SCE) are:

• All new buildings ;
• All existing residential or service buildings, whenever there is a commercial transaction , whether sale, rental or rental and before it is advertised, regardless of the medium;
• All existing buildings subject to major rehabilitation interventions , that is, interventions in the building's surroundings or technical installations, the cost of which exceeds 25% of the value of the building , under the conditions defined in specific regulations;
• Existing commercial and service buildings with a usable interior floor area equal to or greater than 1000 m2, or 500 m2 in the case of shopping centers, hypermarkets, supermarkets and indoor swimming pools;
• Buildings that are owned by a public entity and have a usable interior floor area occupied by a public entity and frequently visited by the public greater than 500 m2.

How to obtain an Energy Certificate

Firstly, it is necessary to choose the Qualified Expert certified by ADENE. If you wish, you can consult me as KW-Keller Williams has vast knowledge and experience in the area, and I can suggest one of the technicians duly accredited for this purpose, with whom we have more favorable agreements and help you with the processing of the entire process. You can also consult the ADENE database by geographic area, where you will find all experts operating in the national territory.

ADENE has a document with 10 steps to help you in this process, of which we highlight:

• Gather all the documentation that was requested from you before the expert visited the property: copy of the property plan, urban property booklet, registration certificate at the registry office and technical data sheet of the dwelling;
• During the expert's visit, facilitate access to all spaces of the property (including attics, cellars, engine rooms, roofs, balconies, etc.) and question him, especially in terms of possible improvement measures;
• After the expert's visit, you can request a preliminary version of the certificate - without legal validity - so that you can validate whether the certificate contains any incorrect information.
• If you are not satisfied with the expert's performance, you can lodge a complaint with the ADENE Customer Service Center.

The deadline to handle the entire process can take 2 to 3 days.

If your home already has an Energy Certificate but it has been lost, you can call ADENE or access this page to consult the respective document: https://www.sce.pt/pesquisa-certificados

How much does the Energy Certificate cost

The cost of energy certification is divided into two parts:

1. The Qualified Expert's fees do not follow a fixed table and depend on the type and complexity of the building, the number of certificates to be contracted, among other factors. This is the portion that weighs most in the total cost of the CE.
2. The legal fees, charged by ADENE , relating to the issuance of Energy Pre-Certificates (PCE) and Energy Certificates (CE).
   • For residential buildings, these values depend on the type of property and are tabulated as follows:
     • €28.00 - Types T0 and T1;
     • €40.50 - Types T2 and T3;
     • €55.00 - Types T4 and T5;
     • €65.00 - Types T6 or higher.
   • For commercial and service buildings, the registration fee depends on the useful floor area of the property:
     • €135.00 - Area equal to or less than 250 m2;
     • €350.00 - Area greater than 250 m2 and equal to or less than 500 m2;
     • €750.00 - Area greater than 500 m2 and equal to or less than 5000 m2;
     • €950.00 - Area greater than 5000 m2.
   • VAT is added to these values at the current rate.

You may be exempt from fees if the building has an energy certificate that is less than 10 years old, and the measures suggested there have been implemented and obtained a minimum rating of B-.

If you want to take advantage of the EDP Comercial campaign (unregulated market), if you are already a customer or request to join, you can pay the Energy certificate in 12 months, interest-free, on your energy bill .

Buildings exempt from issuing an Energy Certificate

There are some buildings that may be exempt from issuing an Energy Certificate, of which we highlight:

• Buildings in ruins, through the issuance of a Declaration of Ruin, by the respective City Council services ;
• Industrial, agricultural or livestock facilities ;
• Buildings used as places of worship or for religious activities;
• Buildings or fractions exclusively intended for warehouses, parking, workshops and the like ;
• Single-family buildings with a useful area equal to or less than 50 m2 ;
• Vacant commercial and service buildings, until its sale or lease;
• Monuments and buildings individually classified or in the process of being classified, or which have a special architectural or historical value .