Everything you need to know about your home’s energy label

What is an energy label?

Under European regulations, an energy label is mandatory when selling all kinds of products. From cars to washing machines and from lightbulbs to homes. The label tells the buyer how much energy a product saves.

Does my home need to have an energy label?

If you want to sell your home or build or let a residential property, you need to be able to produce an energy label. Since 1 January 2022, you even need to include the label in all advertisements offering your home for sale — not just on Funda, but also for example on Facebook. You must be able to hand the buyer the energy label when you transfer the property. If you don’t, you risk incurring a fine. You’re also entitled to an energy label if you’re going to rent a property.

What is the advantage of an energy label?

The energy label for a home enables buyers or tenants to see at a glance how energy-efficient a property is. An energy-efficient property means lower energy bills, more comfort, and a smaller environmental impact. Moreover, a good energy label increases the value of your home and enables you to sell it more quickly. In most cases, it can make a difference of several thousand euros to the sale price. On average, homes with a higher environmental score sell for 2 percent more than comparable properties with a lower label — roughly €10,000 for the average house price.

How is the energy label determined?

The label is determined by estimating the amount of (fossil) fuel in kWh required to heat (or cool) the property per square metre and to heat water annually. The energy consumption of domestic appliances is excluded from this calculation. The energy label for homes shows how energy-efficient a property is compared to similar homes. The label classification ranges from A++++ (the most energy-efficient class, green) to G (extremely inefficient, red).

How can I improve my home’s energy label?

You can do this in a variety of ways. If you live in an older property, you probably don’t have any façade or floor insulation. This is your first step to improving your label. Replacing single glazing with triple or HR++ glazing will also help. You can also install solar panels on your roof and make your heating more energy-efficient, for instance with a (hybrid) heat pump.

Alterations that can affect your energy label include:

Installing insulation (cavity wall, floor and roof insulation, etc.)
Replacing windows
Replacing the central heating boiler
Installing or replacing ventilation/air conditioning systems
Installing solar panels or a heat pump (also when the homeowners’ association (VvE) does this!)

Even the smallest alteration can have a huge impact on the label and, as mentioned before, a better energy label can easily yield several thousand euros more when you sell.

If you have any questions regarding your home’s energy label, feel free to contact one of our sales agents.

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