2023 is a determining year for owners of office buildings in the Netherlands. As of January 1, 2023, all office buildings and other commercial buildings larger than 100 m2 must have an energy label C or higher. According to government estimates, only 55% of the office buildings in the Netherlands currently comply with the new legislation. 10% of the office buildings have a D or lower label, and 35% do not have an energy label at all. With the threat of high financial fines or even closure, there is a great urgency for landlords to obtain an Energy Label C as soon as possible. This article explains what Energy Label C is and for which cases this obligation applies. It will also discuss the risks of having a non-compliant label and which steps you can take to comply with the legislation.
What is Energy Label C?
To gain insight into the energy efficiency of every building in the Netherlands, the government has introduced Energy Labels. These Labels range from A to G. A being the most energy-efficient and G being the least. To obtain Energy Label C, your building must have a primary fossil energy use of no more than 225 kWh per m2 per year. As of January 1st 2023, all office buildings in the Netherlands must meet this requirement. To obtain an energy label, your facility must be assessed by a certified energy advisor.
You are exempted from the energy label C requirement if:
- Less than 50% of your building area is used for office space.
- Your used office space is less than 100 m2.
- Your office building is a recognized historical monument.
- Your office building will be demolished, renovated or expropriated within 2 years.
What are the risks if I do not comply with the requirement?
Not complying with the energy label C requirement can have far-reaching consequences. The municipality where your office building is located is responsible for the control and enforcement of the law and can use extensive means to force building owners to make their buildings more sustainable. If you do not meet the requirements on a structural basis, the municipality can impose a penalty payment on you. This penalty can add up quickly, surpassing ten thousand euros in a matter of weeks. There’s even a risk of forcible closure of your office building to enforce measures. The consequences can therefore be significant if you don’t take action.
What should I do if I do not have an energy label?
The logical step would be to hire an energy advisor to provide your building with an Energy Label. However, it is wise to first get a clear picture of your energy consumption before having an advisor assess your building. This prevents you from unpleasant surprises and avoids the risk of incurring costs for hiring an advisor and still receiving Energy Label D or lower. Rhino offers a complete solution to get the best insight into the energy consumption of your building. With a combination of hardware and software, Rhino provides a platform where you can measure real-time energy data accurately, giving you a clear and concise overview of your energy consumption. This not only gives you insight into the total usage of your building but also helps you to identify where sustainability measures are needed and where investments will yield the most results. This way, you can make the right choices to prepare your building for a sustainable future.
What should I do if my energy label is too low?
If your energy label is lower than the C requirement, your building consumes more energy than legally allowed. This means that you will have to make sustainable investments and subsequently request a new Energy Label assessment for your building. Rhino can help you get a clear picture of your energy consumption and help you analyze where your energy consumption is going and which investments will have the most effect on the energy efficiency of your building. This way, you can make your building comply with the energy label C requirement as soon as possible.
Take the first step towards energy label C and contact sales@rhino.energy
