Building Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) could play a huge role in driving demand for more efficient offices and other structures, but public acceptance and market uptake remains low across Europe.
That is the conclusion of a new report by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), which highlights that a local of quality control and limited access to data are preventing member states from exploiting the full potential of EPC schemes.
EPCs form an integral part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), informing building owners, occupiers, and potential purchasers or tenants about its energy consumption.
Buildings are responsible for 38 per cent of total EU energy demand and the European Commission's proposal for a 30 per cent energy efficiency target for 2030 earlier this year identified EPCs as crucial for measuring and achieving the full benefits of energy efficiency achievements.
However, despite the potential of EPCs, BPIE says that although all 28 EU member states have formally implemented a requirement for all buildings sold or rented to have a certificate, they remain a relatively underused tool.
BPIE lays the blame for low take-up on the wide variety of certification processes across Europe that run contrary to the aim of providing consistent and reliable data on buildings' energy performance. Mandatory training for certifiers is required in only half of EU member states, while just 12 reserve an option to penalise non-compliance. In addition, some states do not require on-site inspection of the buildings, further reducing data accuracy.
Combined with a lack of data transparency - only 12 member states grant public access to their data - these issues have resulted in low credibility and use of certificates to date.
BPIE insist that if property owners are to invest in improving energy efficiency, they need objective information to compare performance, arguing that countries with long-standing EPC schemes have recorded a positive impact on the real estate market.
Importantly, with two recasts of the EPBD and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) approaching, the BPIE notes that the European Commission has an opportunity to strengthen the EPC scheme. Whether it will take the chance to address compliance and quality issues remains to be seen.
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