The impact of certifiers on EPCs

In recent years, global warming has become a growing concern, leading governments to commit themselves to finding appropriate solutions.. In this context there are a great variety of causes, but among these, one of the most impacting elements are buildings, which are responsible for more than 40% of the world’s resource and energy consumption and around 33% of the total CO2 emissions. In 2024, approximately 35% of buildings in the EU are over 50 years old, and nearly 75% are energy inefficient. As if that wasn’t enough, the rate of renovation is just around 1%. As a consequence, energy efficiency enhances the attention of the government and international institutions. In March 2024 the EU Parliament approved the revised Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) whose objective is to decrease the environmental impact of Europe’s building stock, with targets for zero-emission new residential buildings by 2030 and climate neutrality for all buildings by 2050. Recently, research was conducted on the elements that have great impact on energy efficiency , but no one investigated before if the title of the certifier could impact the energy performance certificates of the building. The results of this research are strongly impactful because they could influence: independence from the profession, the focus on specific training, opportunities for different professionals, the confidence in the certification system, regulations and can be used as a reference for future research. The reliability of energy certifications can be affected by various factors, like the background and expertise of the certifiers responsible for these assessments (represented by “certificate title” variable) and if the certifier is qualified to order (represented by “certificate order” feature). However, it’s unclear if the educational background of the certifier impacts the accuracy and consistency of these classifications. This uncertainty could negatively influence the reliability of energy performance classifications, which are critical factors for policy-making, energy efficiency improvements and customer trust.