Building energy performance certificates
Would you like to certify your property’s efficiency with an energy performance certificate?
Benefit from our know-how for an accurate assessment of energy quality and cost-effective, future-oriented renovations to your property.
Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important, both for environmental protection and reducing operating costs. Energy performance certificates play a key role in this, as they rate a building’s energy quality from A (very efficient) to G or H (inefficient), depending on the country. This classification enables owners, tenants, and buyers to assess the actual energy consumption and/or modeled energy demand accurately. It also helps them make informed decisions when buying, selling, or renting properties and planning measures to improve energy efficiency.
Your advantages
Qualified energy assessment
Get a precise analysis of your building’s energy label to determine its condition.
Renovation scenario analysis
Use our expertise to develop an effective plan for increasing the energy efficiency of your property, with detailed renovation proposals and profitability analyses.
Interdisciplinary team of experts
Access a team of accredited experts with extensive experience assessing and advising on building energy efficiency.
Advice on subsidies
We can help you identify the subsidies available for energy-efficient refurbishment.
Portfolio analysis
In addition to individual assessments, we specialize in efficiently preparing energy performance certificates for entire property portfolios.
Building energy performance certificates
The Wüest Partner Group provides advice and support for the following building energy performance certificates in Switzerland, Germany, and France:
Switzerland: Cantonal building energy performance certificate (GEAK) – A concept with three variants
GEAK is Switzerland’s official evaluation method for objectively assessing a property’s energy efficiency. It analyzes and classifies buildings throughout Switzerland according to their energy requirements and CO₂ emissions on a scale from A (very efficient) to G (less efficient). Only certified experts can issue one. In some cantons, the GEAK is mandatory when changing ownership or replacing a heating system. Our team has in-depth knowledge and experience to ensure that every GEAK is accurate and trustworthy, providing property owners with sound insights into their buildings’ energy performance and serving as a basis for targeted renovations and improvements.
The standard GEAK product
The standard GEAK product is a four-page energy performance certificate that assesses your building’s current energy status. It classifies buildings into three main energy efficiency categories:
- Building envelope efficiency
As a key factor for heat demand, the building envelope encompasses all aspects that contribute to thermal insulation – from the insulation of the walls, roof, and floors to windows, thermal bridges, and the shape of the building. - Overall energy efficiency
This holistic assessment includes heating requirements and the efficiency of the building’s technical installations, including heat production and hot water needs. Electricity consumption and self-production are also considered, with the use of renewable energy sources leading to a higher rating. - Direct CO₂ emissions
Based on the energy sources used and installation efficiency, the amount of CO₂ emitted by your building for heating and hot water production is recorded (roughly comparable to Scope 1 emissions according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol [GHGP]). A building that causes no direct CO₂ emissions achieves the top score (A). Upstream emissions, such as electricity generation and district heating, are not taken into account in the classification.
GEAK Plus
GEAK Plus is an in-depth analysis for owners planning energy-related building improvements. This comprehensive report supplements the standard GEAK with an assessment of different renovation options, considering both the impact on energy consumption and cost-effectiveness. GEAK Plus prioritizes and coordinates structural measures, offers an overview of costs, and provides information on possible subsidies and available energy sources on site. In many cantons, the preparation of the GEAK Plus is financially subsidized, as it is often necessary when applying for energy-related renovation subsidies.
GEAK Neubau (new building)
GEAK Neubau is a key planning tool that sets energy efficiency targets for new buildings based on planning values, thus contributing to optimized operation and improved use. It remains provisional until officially accepted by certified GEAK experts. After completion, the energy class achieved is recorded and published in a GEAK report.
Further information can be found on the GEAK homepage.
Your path to a GEAK, GEAK Neubau, or GEAK Plus energy certificate
Step 1: Documentation
Compile all the necessary documentation for the property to be analyzed, including complete construction plans and energy consumption data from the last three years.
Step 2: Contact us
Get in touch with us to start the process. Our certified GEAK experts will discuss your individual requirements and schedule an inspection of your property.
Step 3: Professional inspection
An accredited GEAK expert inspects your property.
Step 4: Analysis
We use the data obtained to analyze your property’s energy efficiency and prepare the GEAK certificate.
Step 5: Advice on GEAK Plus
If you choose GEAK Plus, we discuss the various renovation options and their impact on your building.
Step 6: Finalization
We compile and provide the final GEAK documents for you.
France: Energy performance certificates for buildings
In France, energy performance certificates are required by law to classify the energy consumption and efficiency of buildings and make them available to potential buyers or tenants.
Since the 2021 reforms, the French DPE has included comprehensive climate protection aspects. It also provides a concise overview of energy consumption and offers recommendations for improvement.
Germany: Two types of building energy performance certificates
In Germany, an energy performance certificate is used not only to assess energy efficiency but also EU taxonomy conformity. Since the introduction of the Energy Saving Ordinance (in German: Energieeinsparverordnung or EnEV), it has been legally required for selling, renting, or leasing properties. A missing or incomplete energy performance certificate can result in legal consequences and fines.
When drawing up an energy performance certificate, a distinction is made between an energy demand certificate (in German: Bedarfsausweis) and an energy consumption certificate (in German: Verbauchsausweis) based on the Building Energy Act of 1/1/2024 (in German: GEG or Gebäudeenergiegesetz). To identify which calculation method applies, the differentiation between residential and non-residential buildings as well as existing and new buildings is crucial, as the illustration below shows:
Demand certificate
- Basis: Technical analysis of the building, its insulation, window quality, and heating system.
- Advantage: Independent of user behavior, and thus offers an objective and comparable energy efficiency assessment.
- Disadvantage: More complex to draw up, requiring detailed calculations and a building inspection.
Consumption certificate
- Basis: Actual energy consumption data from the last three years.
- Advantage: No detailed building analysis required.
- Disadvantage: Consumption data depends on individual user behavior and provides little information about the structural and technical condition of the building. As a result, future tenants or owners can draw few conclusions about its renovation needs.
Our services in Germany
Issuing energy certificates
We draw up both consumption and demand certificates for residential and non-residential buildings. Our experts perform the necessary calculations and analyses to provide you with a relevant energy certificate.
Detailed advice on energy efficiency
Our energy consultants analyze your building and give detailed recommendations for improving its energy efficiency. For example, measures such as insulation, window replacement, heating optimization, and the use of renewable energies.
Justification and compliance with legal requirements
We help you comply with all legal requirements and regulations relating to energy certification. This also includes updating and renewing existing energy certificates.
