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Energy Performance

The Energy Performance calculation determines the Energy Performance indicators for new constructions (in accordance with the BENG requirements).

A provisional energy label for an environmental permit application, a definitive energy label on final acceptance of the building. For existing buildings, the energy label is determined on the basis of the EP2, the primary fossil energy consumption. The Energy Performance calculation determines the Energy Performance indicators (BENG).

In the Netherlands, these energy indicators for new constructions are determined in three requirements:

EP1, the maximum energy requirement in kWh/m² usable area per year
EP2, the maximum primary fossil energy consumption in kWh/m² usable area per year
EP3, the minimum share of renewable energy in percent

Talk to our experts

Marco Nekeman

Coördinator Energy Transition Built Environment

marco@invent.nl +31 593 541045

For existing buildings, the energy label is determined on the basis of the EP2, the primary fossil energy consumption. For new constructions, a risk indicator is also calculated for overheating (summer comfort), called the TO-juli. A limit value has been set for this overheating indicator. If a home does not meet it, measures must be taken to prevent the home from overheating.

To be permitted to register Energy Performance calculations, a consultant must be qualified and the company certified in accordance with BRL-9500 W (homes and residential buildings) and/or U (utility buildings). The Energy Performance must be determined at different times. For new constructions this is when an environmental permit is applied for (provisional energy label) and on final acceptance (definitive energy label). For existing buildings this is when they are sold or let. Within the regulations for housing and utility buildings, the basic survey (B for existing buildings) and detailed survey (D for environmental permits for new construction and final acceptance and large-scale renovation) have different requirements for the consultant carrying out the survey. SOCOTEC is certified for the EP-WD/B and EP-UD/B in accordance with BRL9500.

Energy Performance of Homes (BRL9500-W) and Utilities (BRL9500-U)

The Energy Performance of homes, detailed survey (EP-W/D), or utilities, detailed survey (EP-U/D) test whether the design meets the requirements sets in the Building Code or higher, private requirements. This is done during the design phase for the application of the environmental permit. On final acceptance, the home must be awarded a valid energy label. The calculation that was drawn up for the application of the environmental permit then has to be tested to see whether construction effectively occurred in accordance with those principles. After that, the definitive energy label is determined.

It is important that during the construction, evidence is recorded in a project file, that shows that the home is built to design and the predetermined quality. In addition, a visual inspection is also always carried out to check visible elements.

For new buildings and very energy-efficient buildings (completely renovated), this detailed information about the building is already available in full or in part.

The detailed survey must in any case be carried out for:

All buildings to be constructed, newly constructed and fully renovated for which the energy performance is determined after 01/01/2021 on the basis of NTA 8800 in connection with applying for a permit
All homes and buildings for which the energy performance is determined or must be determined in connection with applying for the EPV (energy performance remuneration), on acceptance of an EPV, or to prove that an improvement leads to primary fossil energy consumption in accordance with the BENG requirement or better (EP 2)

The energy label is determined for existing buildings with the energy performance of homes (EP-W/B) and of utility buildings (EP-U/B). Both the inside and outside of the building is inspected, after which the information is processed in the software which determines the energy label.

For existing homes and utility buildings that are renovated, the degree of energy improvement and/or the renovation permit requirements determines whether the basic or the detailed method should be applied.

As of 1 January 2023, all buildings with an office function must at least meet the requirements of label C (EP2 <225 kWh/m²). If the building does not meet the requirements, it may no longer be used as offices as of 1 January 2023.

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Our advice

A custom recommendation offers insight into improvement measures to save energy with regard to the construction and installations. The recommendation must be drawn up by a company that is certified in accordance with BRL9500-02. It indicates which measures for your home will achieve energy savings, improve the indoor climate and increase comfort. Independent advice is also given about generating renewable energy, for example with a heat pump, solar boiler or photovoltaic panels.

The custom recommendation can be drawn up for private home owners, but also for owners’ associations. There are special conditions for owners’ associations. You can then contact a specialised company to implement measures.

A custom recommendation offers insight into improvement measures to save energy with regard to the construction and installations. The quality of this energy recommendation is guaranteed and it can only be drawn up by a company that is certified in accordance with BRL9500-04.

A custom recommendation offers you:

Clear insight into the current energy performance of your commercial building
Insight in improvement measures relating to the structure and installations
Insight in the costs, benefits and recovery times of these measures
Insight in the CO2 reduction as a result of carrying out savings measures
A good basis for consulting with the local council within the framework of the Dutch Environmental Management Act

A better energy performance leads to a lower energy bill, a more comfortable building and a healthier indoor climate.

In the coming years, an increasing number of homes will be built or renovated to be highly energy-efficient. Owners or builders of these homes can have the energy performance assessed in a professional and objective manner. This assessment method is currently outlined in the BRL 9500-W according to the detailed methodology, based on the NTA 8800 calculation method.

Legislation states that if a home is highly energy-efficient (or has been made highly energy-efficient), it is possible for landlords and tenants to agree on an Energy Performance Allowance (EPV). This pertains to very energy-efficient homes, such as ‘net-zero’ homes.

The amount of the EPV is linked to the net heat demand of the home (kWh/m²); a lower value allows for a higher energy performance allowance. SOCOTEC can assess the homes during construction and upon completion according to the guidelines and corresponding recording protocol.

SOCOTEC energieprestatieberekening advies

Management and Maintenance of Energy Labels

Do you manage homes or buildings and do you want your property to always be up to date with regard to its energy label? Then ‘management and maintenance’ of the energy labels is the right choice for you. Your buildings with an energy label can be included in a database, Vabi Assets Energy. We can manage this database for you and update it if there are changes or improvements or measures have to be taken. In this way you have a complete and up-to-date overview of your property and you can see whether all the homes or buildings have a valid energy label and when they will expire. This will also provide you with input for implementing a sustainability policy.

Improvement Scenarios

On the basis of the data available from the energy labels we can offer you support at policy level. Using energy plans, we can calculate what the consequences would be of applying (sets of) measures for your housing stock. A detailed calculation at complex level can be carried out if you want an in-depth examination.

Subsidy

To accelerate increasing the sustainability of property in the Netherlands, the government regularly makes subsidies available. You should therefore always check whether there is some kind of subsidy available so that the right improvement measures can be taken. You can look this up yourself on the website of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) or contact us so that we can point you in the right direction.