Energy Performance Certificate Should Be Obtained for Existing Buildings Before 2 May 2017
What is an Energy Performance Certificate?
Energy Performance Certificate should be obtained for existing and new buildings pursuant to the Energy Efficiency Law numbered 5627 and the Regulation on Energy Performance in Buildings. Energy Performance Certificate is a document which includes information about the minimum energy requirement and energy consumption classification of the building, the insulation specifications and the efficiency of heating and/or cooling systems.
Which Buildings Are Required to Have Energy Performance Certificate?
An Energy Performance Certificate is issued for new and existing buildings. It will be prepared by the authorized institution which will have the authority to prepare this certificate. This document will be submitted to the relevant administration during the phase of obtaining an occupancy permit[1].
New buildings refer to buildings which obtained their building permits[2] after 1/1/2011 as per the Provisional Article 4 of the Regulation. Occupancy permits cannot be issued for these buildings by administrative authorities without obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate.
Existing buildings refer to buildings that are still being constructed and which have building permits issued before 1/1/2011 and that did not obtain an occupancy permit as per the Provisional Article 3 of the Regulation. An Energy Performance Certificate should be issued for these buildings within ten years following the date of entry of the Energy Efficiency Law which is 2 May 2017.
How to obtain and Energy Performance Certificate?
The certificate shall be issued by an Authorized Institution which is authorized by the relevant Ministry. These institutions may be engineers or architects that have obtained an authorization document for issuing an Energy Performance Certificate and that have acquired an Independent Consultant Engineer document or corporations which employ engineers or architects with the aforesaid qualifications.
The Authorized Institution shall be liable for the information contained within the Energy Performance Certificate and the accuracy of this information.
What Are the Consequences of Not Obtaining an Energy Performance Certificate?
Primarily, the relevant administrative authorities do not issue occupant permits to the buildings if this certificate is not provided. On the other hand, it is a condition to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate in order to undertake sale, transfer or lease of buildings or properties (i.e. flats). The owner of the owner is required to provide a copy of this certificate to the buyer or lessee during the sale or leasing procedures.
Also pursuant to the Law, administrative (monetary) fines may be imposed to building management or the Authorised Institutions if the Energy Performance Certificate is not issued or if it is incorrect.
How long will the Energy Performance Certificate be valid for?
The certificate shall be valid for 10 years from the date of issuing.
[1] A permit which is obtained as per the Zoning Law after the construction of the building is completed in compliance with building permit.
[2] A permit which is given as per the Zoning Law upon reviewing the construction project of the building.