Initiative Chance for Buildings fights for energy labels

Prague - The Chance for Buildings initiative wants to change a proposed law that is meant to limit the introduction of energy labels and allow them to be replaced with energy billing records. According to the initiative, the proposal, which is set to be discussed by MPs at the June meeting, threatens the possibility of drawing funds from European funds for the years 2014 to 2020 for energy efficiency. Today, this was stated at a press conference by the director of the initiative, Petr Holub.
    The system of energy performance certificates, so-called energy labels, was introduced by a European Union directive in 2010, and under Czech law, the law has been in effect since the beginning of this year. According to Holub, however, the proposed law contradicts the directive's text.
    "Full transposition and implementation of the directive on the energy performance of buildings, and specifically the articles concerning the introduction of energy performance certificates to the real estate market, is a preliminary condition for drawing European funds in the field of energy efficiency for the years 2014 to 2020," Holub warned.
    Chance for Buildings proposes that a label should not be required in the case of a building that has not been significantly renovated since 1947, and that the buyer and seller agree that they do not require a label. In such cases, the buildings would automatically be formally classified as the worst class G. According to Holub, this concerns approximately one-third of properties on the market.
    "Our proposal is not in conflict with the directive, which was confirmed by my consultation with the European Commission," Holub stated. "It does not threaten the drawing of tens of billions from European funds in the next period," he added, noting that a similar norm applies in Slovakia.
    According to the proposal by ODS MPs František Dědič and Jan Bauer, it should not be necessary to present an energy performance certificate when selling a building or renting an apartment; it would suffice to present heating, gas, and electricity bills for the last three years. The Legislative Council of the Government warned that European law does not allow such simplification, but the cabinet supported the amendment.
    The law has also received support from representatives of ČSSD. Lawmakers are considering the possibility of approving the amendment in an expedited manner in the first reading. However, Holub stated that he has signals that the proposed law will be properly discussed, which would allow for adjustments before final approval.
    The parliamentary proposal, which replaces energy labels with energy billing, is intended to relieve the real estate market of the administrative burden associated with labels. According to the proponents, the goal is to eliminate a sudden increase in the demand for energy specialists as well as the number of issued certificates. It is also supposed to remove possible time and financial barriers in sales and leases, for example, by reducing costs for poorer individuals.
    However, Chance for Buildings criticizes the proposal to eliminate the labels. "Invoices largely depend on the way the property is used," said Holub. Labels, on the other hand, according to him, reflect the energy quality of the building itself and allow buyers to gain a better overview of the market offerings.
    The Chance for Buildings initiative brings together the Passive House Centre, the Czech Council for Green Buildings, the Association of Mineral Insulation Manufacturers, and the EPS Association. It represents about two hundred companies in the construction and renovation field.