Almost every real estate in Serbia will soon have to have a new document - an energy passport. What does this document represent and what is its significance
Soon, every real estate in Serbia will have to have an energy passport. That is a good thing, writes Dr. Bojana Zeković for the portal Climate 101 from the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade, because it will enable us to plan investments in the space in which we live in the best way.
The energy passport is a document that defines the characteristics of the real estate in terms of the energy required for its functioning throughout the year.
According to the new Law on Planning and Construction, it is mandatory that not only new, but all properties have an energy passport.
The energy passport enables us to plan the improvement of the condition of our buildings in the best way.
The basic category contained in the energy passport is the well-known energy class, which we have long been accustomed to in white goods - real estate must have labels from "A" to "G".
The cost of creating a passport is around 100 euros for ordinary houses, or between 1 and 4 euros per square meter for buildings, depending on the complexity of the assessment.
The energy passport becomes an obligation for all properties in Serbia
Pay attention to any shop window or website of real estate agencies in any of the European countries and you will see something that in Serbia is reserved only for technology: comparative graphs with a scale of energy classes for all types of real estate, it says Air conditioning 101.
According to the recently adopted Law on Planning and Construction, this should soon become a reality in Serbia as well: energy passports, which were already an obligation for new construction, now become an obligation for all real estate in the country.
Energy passport, or certificate on the energy properties of buildings, is a document that defines the characteristics of a building in terms of energy needed for its functioning throughout the year.
According to the adopted calculation and certification methodology, buildings are categorized into energy classes - from "A" to "G". By themselves, the class designations may not mean much to us, but the total amount of energy that a building needs on an annual basis it is directly correlated with the money needed for electricity and heating bills.
In other words, the energy passport should offer us clear answers to everyday questions - about the state of the space we live in, the reasons behind the amount we pay for electricity and heating, as well as the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the renovation measures we plan.
An energy passport will be required for each property
Obtaining an energy passport should not be seen as just another formality to be fulfilled: it is a process through which all characteristics of the building that affect its energy (in)efficiency will be looked at, and the answer to the question of what is the best way to improve the situation will be found.
Namely, in addition to a detailed picture of the current situation, a mandatory part of the energy passport is also a list of energy efficiency improvement measures, with an assessment of their profitability and expected repayment period, which for existing buildings can be a valuable landmark for planning future renovation activities.
"The deadlines for obtaining energy passports differ depending on the type of building, so for public buildings the deadline is 3 years, for commercial buildings 5 years and for residential buildings 10 years. Once issued, the energy passport is valid for 10 years," says Dr. Zeković.
For years, the energy passport has been a requirement for new buildings, as well as for buildings that are being reconstructed in Serbia. In the case of reconstruction or rehabilitation, it is necessary to prove that the planned interventions improve the building's energy class by at least one level. For new buildings, it is necessary that the building achieves at least energy class "C".
But the most recent Amendments to the Law on Planning and Construction, from 2023, contain provisions that provide for the obligation to issue energy passports not only for new buildings and buildings that are being reconstructed, i.e. energetically rehabilitated, but for all buildings.
This means that in the coming years, we should all at least find out the energy class of the space we live in - of course, if the provisions of this law are properly implemented.
Deadlines for obtaining energy passports differ depending on the type of building, so for public buildings the deadline is 3 years, for commercial buildings 5 years and for residential buildings 10 years. Once issued, the energy passport is valid for 10 years.
What does the creation of an energy passport entail and how much does it cost?
The basis for creating an energy passport is the creation of the so-called a study on the energy efficiency of the building, which is prepared by a specially licensed engineer, and on the basis of which an authorized organization - which can be a company or another legal entity - issues an energy passport.
In order to properly prepare an essay on energy efficiency, it is necessary to look at and evaluate the entire building in detail: not only in terms of geometric and material characteristics, but also in terms of the characteristics of technical systems, modes of use, energy sources... It is necessary to calculate the energy required for heating, based on the energy balance of heat losses and gains.
Certification is carried out according to the specific annual energy required for heating, expressed in kilowatt-hours per square meter (kWh / m2) useful heated surface area.
After calculating the energy balance of heat losses and gains, it is necessary to analyze the applied heating system and determine its level of efficiency, and then look at the characteristics of the energy source, in order to determine the final, i.e. primary energy and CO emission2.
"You can expect to pay at least around 100 euros for the production of a passport, if it is the simplest building (house), while for more complex and larger buildings the price ranges from 1 to 4 euros per square meter," says Zeković.
In short, it is something like a real estate health record, with diagnoses and treatment suggestions. It should inform and empower us to make better decisions about the maintenance and improvement of the spaces in which we live.
Just as the process itself differs depending on the property, so does its price. You can expect to pay at least around 100 euros for the creation of a passport, if it is the simplest building (house), while for more complex and larger buildings the price ranges from 1 to 4 euros per square meter.
This should be understood as a rough guideline, because the actual price depends on the specific case, the availability of documentation, the need for additional measurements, the existence of complex technical systems...
The first step towards obtaining energy passports is hiring a licensed engineer for the energy efficiency of buildings who will assess the complexity of the building itself and form a price for making the necessary calculations and issuing certificates.
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