What is an energy label and how can you get one? How much does it cost, and what will you use an energy performance certificate for? Why is it good to have up-to-date information and to use the terms correctly? We will help you with all of this in a moment.
Energy label or energy class?
When we hear “energy label”, most of us connect the term with a house’s energy label. However, there is also the term energy class, which is given for household appliances. Let’s look at both terms so that we use them correctly.
Read about average electricity consumption in a flat.
Appliance energy label
This figure tells us how much electrical power a particular appliance uses and how economical it is (or is not) for our household. Manufacturers must show it on automatic washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, televisions, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners and water heaters, for example.
The classes range from A to G, with A being the best and G the worst. In 2021, the “plus” classes, i.e. A+++, A++ and A+, were abolished. Appliances that had these classes were “relabelled” downwards.
Energy performance certificates for buildings
An energy performance certificate (průkaz energetické náročnosti budovy, PENB) is essentially an assessment of a particular building’s energy consumption. It should show us the costs of running the building. The assessment of energy performance covers heating, water heating and lighting.
The PENB also includes the energy class mentioned in the paragraphs above. The energy class is one of the most important pieces of information, together with details about the building’s floor area, windows, doors and so on.
All new buildings have had to have a new energy label since 2013
Validity and price
A PENB is valid for 10 years from the date it is issued. The price can vary and always depends on who issues your PENB. If you arrange everything online and try to save money, you can expect to pay around 2,000 CZK (about 92 USD).
Documents needed to issue a PENB:
- Report on the building’s technical equipment
- Information on the building’s orientation (points of the compass)
- Project documentation
- Information on how the building is operated
- Technical report
- Floor plans of each storey
- Views of the building from all sides
- Cross-section of the building
You must have a PENB if you are undertaking a major renovation. A renovation quite logically changes the layout of rooms and of the whole house, or perhaps the number of windows, the type of heating and so on. If you are planning to sell or rent out your property and do not yet have an energy label, you will need to get one.
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USD amounts are approximate, converted at the Czech National Bank rate of 21.83 CZK per USD on 27 October 2026.
