PENB - energy performance certificate (EPC)

A PENB (průkaz energetické náročnosti budovy) is the Czech energy performance certificate. It assesses how much energy a building needs for heating, cooling, ventilation, humidity control, hot water and lighting. People often call it an energy label. The calculation is based on typical use of the building, not on actual energy bills, so that buildings can be compared. Only an energy specialist licensed by the ministry may prepare it.

When a certificate is required

Act No. 406/2000 Coll. on Energy Management requires a certificate, among other cases, when a new building is constructed, when a completed building undergoes a major change (affecting more than 25% of the building envelope) and when a building or a self-contained part of it is sold or rented. When selling, the owner must show it to prospective buyers before the contract is concluded and hand it over at the latest when the purchase contract is signed. For a new building, the certificate is one of the documents needed for occupancy approval.

A flat owner requests the certificate from the owners' association or the building manager. If it is not provided after a written request, the owner may use the flat's electricity, gas and heat bills for the last 3 years instead.

The class in listings

Listings and marketing materials must show the class for non-renewable primary energy, in the same font size as the price; text-only ads give it as text. If the agent does not receive the graphic part of the certificate from the seller, the law requires the worst class, G, to be shown.

Validity and exemptions

• A certificate is valid for 10 years from its issue, or until a major change to the building or a change of the heating, cooling or hot water system.
• A certificate for the whole building also covers a flat within it.
• Exemptions include buildings with a total energy reference area under 50 m², listed monuments and buildings in a heritage reserve, and holiday homes used only part of the year with estimated consumption below 25% of year-round use.
• For a building constructed and last substantially altered before 1 January 1947, the parties can agree in writing that no certificate is needed for the sale or rental.

What to watch out for

Check the issue date and whether the certificate reflects the building as it is today: it stops being valid after extensive insulation work or a change of heating system. The certificate includes recommended measures to cut energy use, which are useful when planning improvements.