Watch out, bluff package: Energy pass at dumping prices
But the pass should be acquired with great caution: some companies are now offering passes at dumping prices to attract unsuspecting customers, who are happy about special offers and supposed bargains at first. But the rude awakening is inevitable.
"Only € 9.90!", "You're in with € 18!" – in this way, many providers are selling their energy pass for buildings. Owners often need to do nothing but fill out an Internet questionnaire about the energy consumption over the past three years – and shortly after, the finished energy pass can be fetched from the mailbox. No on-site inspection, no double-checking of entered values, no real expense – but also no valid energy pass.
For often energy passes ordered online are incomplete, as Deutsche Energie-Agentur (Dena) criticises. And that can get expensive: landlords may have to pay up to 15,000 euros fine should the pass fail to comply with the requirements of the energy-saving regulation that was recently approved by the federal cabinet. This could be the case, should recommendations for modernisation be missing: this is because the energy pass needs to contain individual recommendations for modernisation – regardless whether it is based on measured consumption values or the calculated energy requirement. In addition, the pass issuer should check the existing heating technology and the quality of walls and windows on site. Should the pass lack the renovation tips, it is invalid.
The same goes for the building details: in fact, the, building size and energy consumption may be measured by the owner and transferred to the issuer of the energy pass. However, the issuer is legally obliged to check whether these details are plausible. But in the case of transferral via an Internet form, this check can hardly be assured. Therefore, Deutsche Energie-Agentur generally recommends an inspection by the issuer before the energy pass is issued. Accordingly, the building data and the construction state of the building are registered properly and the recommendations for modernisation can be precisely evaluated.
The energy pass can be issued by architects, engineers and qualified craftsmen; there is no uniform certification of the providers for quality check purposes. Those who want to be on the safe side can obtain a list of suitable providers at Dena (www.dena-energieausweis.de). This is to avoid any rude awakenings and ensure that the usual 40 to 60 euros for the simplest version of the energy pass will not change.
PS
Source Image of energy pass: Deutsche Energie-Agentur, Thermal images of house: Flir Systems
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