If you’re considering selling your house in Menorca, you’ll know that having the Energy Efficiency Certificate is necessary. This document is not only a mandatory legal requirement but can also make a difference in the selling process. In this article, we’ll explore what the Energy Efficiency Certificate is, why it’s important, how you can obtain it, and other specific considerations about the EEC in Menorca.
Obtaining the energy certificate is essential for any homeowner looking to sell or rent a property in Spain. This document, required by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, is not only mandatory but also significantly influences the real estate market. Discover how to obtain it, its importance, and other useful information you need to know.
What is the Energy Efficiency Certificate?
The energy certificate is a document that evaluates the energy demand of a property under occupancy conditions, taking into account systems such as ventilation, lighting, heating, and cooling. This measure, established by Law 8/2013, is crucial for the sale or rental of any property in Spain, and not having it can result in fines for the advertiser.
Importance and Utility of the Energy Efficiency Certificate
The energy certificate provides a reference for the energy consumption of the property, allowing future owners or tenants to estimate costs associated with services such as electricity and gas. Classifying efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), this document provides valuable information for making informed decisions about the property.
How to Obtain the Energy Efficiency Certificate in Menorca?
To obtain the energy certificate, the owner must contact an authorized technician, who will gather information about the property and perform the necessary calculations to issue the certificate. It’s important to choose a specialized technician and request prior quotes to compare prices and services.
At Portal Menorca, we collaborate with several expert technicians in this field and work closely with them to assist our clients and expedite the sale of their properties. For this article, we have relied on the opinions of both Miguel Gonzalez from MG Ingenieria and Damaso De la Cruz from DCruzPons.com, with whom we have spoken and who have shared information that you will surely find very useful. Do not hesitate to contact us to request any of their services.
Cost and other Important Considerations:
The price of the energy certificate varies depending on the type and size of the property, as well as its location. It is advisable to request prior quotes and verify the technician’s experience before proceeding with the process.
In Menorca, there are proportionally more properties in tourist areas that have an energy certificate than properties in the city centers, for the following reasons:
- It is mandatory to market them as tourist apartments.
- There are more property transactions in tourist areas than in the historic downtown or inland areas.
Another interesting fact is that, on average, the energy rating of tourist areas is higher than that of historic centers for the following reasons:
- Many properties in historic centers are much older than those in tourist areas, which affects their rating.
- Many tourist areas are more modern, with more recent buildings, so they have thermal insulation and double-glazed windows.
- Most newly constructed properties are located in tourist areas and already have energy certification of A or B.
The energy rating of properties located in residential areas on the outskirts of towns is usually higher than those in historic centers for the following reasons:
- Most photovoltaic installations carried out in recent years are found in these types of properties.
- Being larger in size, the energy rating is inherently more favorable than for a smaller property.
- They are usually properties built with better quality and more care, both in terms of insulation, windows, and more modern and efficient thermal installations.
It is important to note that the energy rating of a property only refers to the energy consumption of thermal installations: heating, cooling, and hot water production. It does not take into account other electrical consumptions, such as lighting, swimming pools, appliances, etc., which means that a property with an energy rating of A has very low consumption in terms of thermal installations, but the consumption of appliances is not taken into account.
How to Improve the Energy Rating of my Property?
Let’s now see what the preferred option is for homeowners who want to improve the energy efficiency of their home:
- The preferred option for owners of apartments and small properties to improve energy efficiency is to replace the electric water heater with a compact aerothermal unit.
- However, in single-family homes, the most requested energy improvement, which also allows for a greater increase in the energy rating (at the same cost), is the installation of photovoltaic solar panels.
- In apartment blocks, one of the best alternatives is the installation of communal photovoltaic solar panels, which not only allow for an improvement in energy efficiency but also significant savings on the electricity bill.
Improvements based on installations (photovoltaic solar panels, biomass boilers, high-efficiency aerothermal systems) represent a superior energy improvement, at the same cost, compared to those based on improving the building envelope (thermal insulation and double-glazed windows).
Here on the island, most properties have a higher energy demand for heating than for cooling, so those that receive more sun throughout the year, and those that are protected from the «tramontana» wind, benefit. In the same apartment block, properties facing south will generally have a better energy rating than those facing north.
It is very common to find single-family homes and even communities of owners with diesel boilers for heating and hot water. A very good option when these boilers break down is to replace them with high-efficiency aerothermals, and complement them with photovoltaic solar panels.
And that’s all for today’s article on the energy efficiency certificate. With it, we have aimed to offer a comprehensive view of the energy certificate, from its importance to the steps to obtain it and how to improve the energy efficiency of your property. Do not underestimate the power of this document in the real estate market and remember to contact us if you have any doubts or need help with any aspect related to the sale of your property!