Statistics and analysis on EPC EPB certificates in Brussels.
You will find on this page statistics and analyzes on the basis of 525 EPB certificates obtained between 23rd May 2011 and 21st June 2013 by CertiBru in Brussels.
The purpose of these statistics is to better understand certification in Energy Performance of Buildings.
For sellers to anticipate and assess the results of their house or apartment.
For prospective buyers or renters to assess and compare their future acquisition more objectively.
The results of the EPB Certificates vary widely between types of property (house, apartment, built year, heating system type, presence of insulation...). You can prefer the charm of a 1900 house or search for a home very effective in terms of energy. These two preferences are often incompatible.
Distribution by energy class of all EPB Certificates
None of the certificate made for the moment has received class: A++, A+, A, A-, B+, B, or B-. That is why these ratings do not appear in the graphs. Only ratings C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, E+, E, E-, F, and G are present.
Nine EPB Certificates were removed from the statistic because their corresponding housing did not have heating system during the visit of certifier (construction or renovation in progress). So they are not representative of the real estate market.
Distribution by energy class
of housing built before 1945 (1945 included)
Distribution by energy class
of housing built after 1945
These two graphs show the distribution of energy classes of homes built before and after 1945.
Even if there have been windows frame or glass replacement, it is quite normal for a house or an apartment built before 1945 (without insulation work on the roof and walls) to hardly receive more than G or F on the scale of energy classes set up for the EPB certification in Brussels Capital Region.
Distribution by energy class of all certified apartments
Distribution by energy class of all certified houses
These two graphs show the distribution of energy classes of certified apartments and houses.
Distribution by energy class
of apartments having a floor as a wall loss
This graph refers to the energy class of all apartments with a floor as wall loss. An apartment (most of the time on ground floor) can have a floor in contact with the ground, cellar, parking, or with the outside.
It is noted that this type of apartments are penalized in relation to all apartments certified.
Distribution by energy class
of apartments having a roof as a wall loss
This graph refers to the energy class of all apartments with a roof as wall loss. Some apartments may have a roof even without being on the top floor in case the apartment above has a terrace for example. The roof does not extend necessarily to the entire surface of the apartment.
It is noted that this type of apartments are penalized in relation to all apartments certified.
Distribution by energy class
of apartments having a collective heating system
Distribution by energy class
of apartments having an individual heating system
These two graphs show the distribution of energy classes of apartments with collective heating system or an individual heating system.
Distribution by energy class
of properties having a condensing heater (gaz or oil)
Distribution by energy class
of properties having an electric heater
Condensing heaters are water heaters whose design allows cooling of the combustion gases such way that the steam water that it contains, condenses to provide extra heat.
Electric heating system: EPC Standard considers that electricity requires 2.5 times more primary energy to produce the same amount of energy than would a gas or oil heating system. That is why the housing using electric heating system has an important handicap (even if these homes are equipped with modern accumulation electric heating system and sensor control).
Summary statistics and feedback from EPB certifiers:
- 38% of EPB certificates are in the category G.
- The calculation of the labels is based on today construction standards. It is therefore almost impossible to compete with these standards if you have a house or apartment that is more than 40 years.
- The insulation of houses and apartments appeared after the first oil shock (1973). It was from that moment we began to improve the energy performance of dwellings.
- The roof insulation can significantly improve the performance of a property.
- A ground floor apartment or top floor apartment provides more heat loss areas (floor, ceiling) compare to an apartment located between two floors.
- The number of exterior facades of a house influences a lot the result of the EPB certification. For example a house with 3 facades is less efficient than a house with only two facades (row house). The annexes are also a source of additional loss.
- The consumption of city water is not included in the EPB certificate, as well as equipments for recovering rainwater.
- A loss wall is a surface (floor, wall, ceiling or roof) that is in contact with an unheated part of the property (example: the exterior, a basement, a parking...). By default the EPB certificate protocol considers that a common areas in buildings, or party walls are always heated.