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As with electronic appliances, homes and buildings are also rated on the amount of energy consumed. An alphabetical system is used from energy rating G, as the lowest, to energy rating A, as the highest.
That our home or property has the G energy rating means that, on an annual basis, it consumes a greater amount of energy compared to the national average. The validity of the energy label in this case is 5 years, compared to the other ratings, which are 10 years. Homes with a good energy efficiency rating are better able to withstand both high and low temperatures throughout the year, as well as not having a high economic cost compared to homes with a G energy consumption.
In case of obtaining the energy efficiency type G, it is the owner of the building or house who is responsible for requesting an energy re-evaluation. It will be a qualified professional, such as an engineer or architect, expert, who will perform this inspection and evaluate various factors of the property and what are the behaviors that lead to poor energy management.
Causes of a poor energy rating
In Spain, there was a great growth in construction 50 years ago. Before, the right measures were not implemented, taking into account the energy consumption of the house, so many of these houses can get today the energy consumption certificate G if they have not been taken care of or made any kind of energy reform. The most current homes do not usually have this type of problem.
If your home has received a poor rating, it is for these reasons:
- Part of the non-habitable surface or in contact with the outside : We refer to a property with a lot of facades. A large part of the surface is in contact with the outside, transmitting the cold to the inside. This cause-effect means that to maintain the interior at a normal temperature requires more energy resources.
- Poor thermal insulation in the home : An effective thermal insulation in the walls is one of the best ways to maintain the interior temperature without resorting to energy sources. Older houses did not have this technology that is common today.
- Old or inefficient windows : Windows are an important part of thermal insulation and also have a major influence on energy efficiency. If your windows are of poor quality or inefficient in insulating the cold from the outside, you will need more energy resources to keep your home warm. They can leave gaps for air to enter the interior of the building, causing the heating costs to be wasted, wasting more energy and obtaining an energy class G.
- Inefficient heating system : Although the above points are effective, the root comes from the efficiency and effectiveness of the heating system. The system may not be of the best quality and need more energy to operate, increasing CO₂ emissions, and your home gets the G emissions certificate.
Consequences of obtaining the energy certificate G
Since 2013, it is mandatory to have to present the energy certification for the construction, sale, purchase or even rental of an apartment. Obtaining a G energy certificate means that a large amount of your home’s annual energy is being wasted.
Obtaining an energy certificate G does not imply having to reform the house of obligatory form, neither to pay sanctions. Nowadays, it is only necessary that the houses have the energy efficiency certificate, in addition to other documents related to the house, as the certificate of habitability. These documents always have to be presented at the time of the purchase of houses, the sale of apartments or the renting of the property.
Poor energy efficiency management means that temperature changes affect your home more. With colder winters and warmer summers. As well as poor ventilation, which leads to problems of dampness or filtration problems, etc.
Obtaining an energy certificate G, also has annual economic consequences of around 1,000 euros to 1,500 euros, between all the systems that consume energy in your home.
If you want to sell or rent a property, you will not be entitled if you have the G emissions certification. According to the energy efficiency regulations of the European Union, it is necessary to have at least a D rating.
Summary of the consequences of the G emissions certificate:
- Savings on electricity bills
- Comfort in the home
- Reduced appliance noise
- Stable temperature throughout the year
- Better indoor air quality
How to make your home more energy efficient
To improve your energy certificate G, you must improve the energy efficiency of your home. There are different actions you can take on a daily basis that can have a big impact on your energy consumption:
Detect inefficient energy systems
Many of the electronic items in your home should be turned off when not in use, such as TVs, stereos, consoles, etc. When they are in standby mode, they still consume some energy and continue to function in some way. This will prolong their useful life.
Use eco-efficient systems
Try to use the latest generation of eco-efficient equipment. These equipments usually have the energy saving option, which is implemented in office equipment when they are not used for a period of time.
Regulating the temperature of the refrigerator
The appliances that consume the most energy are refrigerators and freezers, with a total of between 25 and 30% of the monthly energy consumption. Regulating their temperature can help you reduce your electricity consumption.
Review of the electrical installation
In our home, the first thing we can do is to check the state of the electrical installation or the electrical bulletin. Apart from unnecessary expenses, it is a question of security, overloads can lead to a serious fire.
Maintenance of electrical appliances
The air conditioners inside your home also have a great influence on the consumption and saving of electrical energy consumption and savings. If the motors work overloaded, they consume more and reduce their useful life.
Thermal insulation of the home
Thermal insulation is often a great ally to improve energy efficiency in an apartment. For walls, doors and windows, it is essential to optimize the interior temperature of the home and reduce the energy consumed.
Appropriate temperature
Set a suitable temperature for your home, it is not necessary to have temperatures very contrary to cold or heat. An indoor temperature between 17 °C and 27 °C is more than enough.
Controlled lighting
Control the lighting in your home, try to use only the necessary and essential lighting where you are. Nowadays, it is one of the most important elements in energy consumption.
Benefits of home energy improvement
Energy certificate G not only impacts negatively on home comfort and bills, but also limits selling or renting options. The lower the rating, the fewer people or real estate agencies are interested in the property because it reflects high consumption and inefficient management of energy resources.
Although there are alternatives as we have seen in the article to improve energy efficiency and get a better score. Regulating economic savings in the long term and reduce the environmental impact as well as the value of the property. In case you need help, you can contact our experts by writing to us, and we will answer you as soon as possible.
