It provides a comprehensive overview of EPC schemes and databases for residential and non-residential buildings across Europe and identifies good practices to make EPC data reliable and accessible. It builds on the findings to elaborate policy recommendations and concludes that data gaps, low reliability due to a lack of quality control and limited access to data are preventing Member States from exploiting the full potential of the schemes.

Several maps enrich the report, presenting the diversity of implementation measures in Member States in terms of design and methodologies, quality assurance, experts training, control systems, etc.

EPCs were introduced for the first time in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in 2002, and in 2010 the EPBD recast added a set of new requirements to improve the quality, usability and public acceptance of EPCs. To date, all 28 MS formally implemented the EPBD requirements in their national legislations.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), an integral part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), are an important instrument to enhance the energy performance of buildings. By informing owners, occupiers and real estate actors about the energy consumption level of a building, EPCs can be a powerful market tool to create demand for energy efficiency in buildings.

In some Member States where the EPC schemes have a long tradition, a positive impact on the real estate market has been recorded. Access to EPC data repositories has shown a positive impact on the market value of energy efficiency improvements, contributing to the market transformation the EPBD aims at. The report concludes by highlighting the need to strengthen the role of EPCs in national legislations and to increase the monitoring of the EPC scheme compliance both at Member States and European levels. The European Commission should provide guidance for the development of centralised EPC registries, not only to support independent control systems, but most importantly as a tool to map and monitor the national building stock. Finally, comprehensive evaluations of the EPC effectiveness should be done by independent third-parties.

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