Energy certification of buildings is mandatory from 1st January 2009 in Portugal , all buildings (new and used) will have to have an energy certificate, certificate which, in the case of housing, will be payable upon completion of the deed of sale or lease. This means that even if the building was licensed before the entry into force of this legislation, if your deed of sale is held after January 1, 2009, the dwelling in question will necessarily have a certificate of energy. As for building services, with more than 5000 m2, they will automatically be covered on Jan. 1, so that date must possess a certificate of energy and indoor air quality, posted in visible place.

The Energy certificate is the document that assigns a label for energy performance of buildings to housing and services; lists measures to improve the energy performance of buildings, boosting energy savings of 20 to 40 per cent and consequent reductions in CO2 emissions. The energy label allows the classification of fractions or residential services, on a scale of efficiency that ranges from A + (high efficiency) to G (low efficiency), similar to that for some appliances and equipment, allowing for easy reading and interpretation by the consumer. The new buildings can not have a rating less than B-.

The building sector is responsible for the consumption of approximately 40% of final energy in Europe. However, more than 50% of this consumption can be reduced through energy efficiency measures, which may represent an annual reduction of 400 million tonnes of CO2 - almost all of the EU's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol. To cope with this situation, Member States have been promoting a series of measures to promote the improvement of energy performance and comfort of the conditions of the buildings. It is against this background that appears to Directive No. 2002/91/EC of the European Council of December 16 on the energy performance of buildings. The objectives of the Directive No. 2002/91/EC pass through the general framework for a methodology for calculating the integrated energy performance of buildings, set minimum standards for the energy performance of new buildings and the large existing buildings that are subject to major works of renewal, energy certification of buildings and regular inspection of boilers and of air conditioning in buildings and in addition, the evaluation of the installation of heating when the boilers are more than 15 years. Highlight the need for the implementation of a certification scheme for energy in order to inform the public about the thermal quality of buildings, during the construction, selling or leasing them, allowing future users to obtain information on the consumption of energy potential (for new buildings), actual or measured for typical usage patterns (for existing buildings).

Are covered by the National Certification System Energy and Air Quality Inside the Buildings (SCE), whose entry into force will be established in Ordinance, the following buildings: The new buildings and existing subject to major rehabilitation interventions, ie an intervention in the environment or on the premises, or other energy, the building, whose cost is more than 25% of the value of the building, as detailed in the RCCTE, whether or not subject to licensing or authorization, and the authority to the licensing or authorization, if applicable; The buildings of existing services, subject to regular audits, as specified in RSECE; The existing buildings for housing and services, at the conclusion of contracts for the sale and lease, including the rental , Where the owner must provide the prospective buyer, lessee or tenant the certificate issued under the ESA. The following are excluded from the scope of the SCE military infrastructure and buildings used for the information system or the security forces are subject to rules of confidentiality and control.

The cost of issuing statements of Regulatory and Compliance Certificates of Energy by qualified experts does not have tariff values, varying with the type and complexity of the building. The recording of statements of Regulatory and Compliance Certificates of Energy is required to pay a variable rate, based on the purpose of the buildings, according to Decree No. 835/2007 of August 7. The amount of the fee for the registration of the certificate required by SCE on the buildings for housing is € 45.00 per tranche, plus the VAT rates in force. For buildings for services, the fees payable for the registration of the certificate required by SCE, is € 250.00 per instalment plus the VAT rates in force. The payment of the fees relating to records in Aden, during the licensing procedures for new or existing buildings subject to major rehabilitation interventions, listed in the preceding paragraph is staged as follows: 70% of the fees to recording the declaration of regulatory compliance of the project during the process of licensing or authorization for construction, 30% of the amount of the fee with the registration of the Certificate energy performance and air quality inside the buildings, at the request of issuing the license or authorization of use. The payment of the fees for existing buildings for housing or services, according to point c) of paragraph 1 of Article 3.'s SCE, is made in single act at the conclusion of contracts for the sale, lease or rent.