Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1491153
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 JANUARY 2023 14 COMMERICAL BUILDING energy certifica- tion is a crucial policy tool for reducing energy consumption and enhancing energy efficien- cy of both new and existing structures. Policy makers be- lieve that giving owners and occupants of buildings a certif- icate indicating the building's energy efficiency performance will transform the real estate market. Building owners would be more motivated to improve a building's energy efficiency if potential buyers and tenants start to value an energy certifi- cate when taking a decision. Energy performance certifi- cation offers a way to rate the effectiveness of structures vis- a-vis the amount of energy re- quired to provide users with the desired levels of comfort and functionality in residential, commercial, and public build- ings. The degree of energy effi- ciency depends on a number of factors including local climate, the design of the building, con- struction methods and materi- als, systems installed for cool- ing and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and sanitary water, as well as the appliances and equipment needed to sup- port the functions of the build- ing and its tenants. In Malta, EPCs became com- pulsory for all dwellings and non-dwellings being sold or rented as from 2009. Hence, if one buys or rents a property, he or she is entitled to receive an EPC by the seller/landlord or his/her agent for the respective building. An EPC must be car- ried out by an independent En- ergy Performance of Buildings (EPB) assessor who is registered with the Building and Con- struction Authority (BCA). A list of registered EPB Assessors is available on the Authority's website www.bca.org.mt. The EPC for dwellings sets out the energy efficiency of a prop- erty on a traffic light system ba- sis. It has two scale bars show- ing the rating of one's dwelling and its carbon emissions, with zero being the most energy effi- cient and the other extreme be- ing the least efficient. The EPC for non-dwellings has a vertical A to G scale bar, with A being the most energy efficient and G being the least efficient. The as- sessment of the energy perfor- mance of a building by the com- petent assessor may include in some cases recommendations on possible improvements like- ly to bear energy savings. Once an EPC is registered with the BCA, it is valid for 10 years, unless major renovations or alterations to the building take place. A registration fee of Eur75.00 applies for both dwell- ing and non-dwelling EPCs. This fee does not include asses- sors' professional fees. The value of these EPCs ex- tends to all parties involved in the building industry. They of- fer a way for potential buyers and tenants to evaluate the en- ergy ratings of several buildings that are similar to one another or the energy efficiency of vari- ous buildings. When a consumer is decid- ing on whether to buy or rent a new or existing building, EPCs are considered as an important source of information. Certi- fications are also beneficial for property sellers and owners. Certification reassures con- sumers that their property is cost-effective in terms of energy consumption when buying or renting. In Malta, the construction in- dustry is gearing towards more energy efficient design, better construction practices, the in- tegration of energy efficient components, and renewable technologies. What is the importance of energy certification in buildings? Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are a potential policy tool for boosting the real estate's energy efficiency