The criteria for action and operation of energy certification platforms have evolved along with the standard itself.
Background
Based on the recent past of energy efficiency certification legislation:
- February 2012 First draft
ROYAL DECREE APPROVING THE BASIC PROCEDURE FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF EXISTING BUILDINGS
There is still talk of "existing buildings". It was considered as the transposition of Directive 2002/91 / CE and as the second part of RD 47/2007 on the certification of new buildings.
- June 2012 Second draft
DRAFT ROYAL DECREE APPROVING THE BASIC PROCEDURE FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILDINGS
- April 2013 Royal Decree
ROYAL DECREE 235/2013 OF APRIL 5. BY WHICH THE BASIC PROCEDURE FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILDINGS IS APPROVED.
It is finally contemplated as a recast of RD 47/2007, Directive 2010/31 EU (which derogates from 2002/91 / EC) and the basic procedure for the Certification of the energy efficiency of existing buildings, to create a single law.
Reaction
The launch of a mandatory regulation as of June 1, 2013, with a certain lack of clarity and somewhat "ambiguous" in some of its terms, the possible generation of an important job pool and the possible opening to different groups for its development has generated three phenomena:
- The appearance of an undetermined number of professionals specializing in Energy Efficiency. Architecture and Engineering degrees lose importance, to become "Energy Efficiency Certifiers".
- In parallel, the appearance of an also indeterminate number of companies and organizations, which carry out technical and commercial work, energy certification platforms, training schools, consultants.
- Finally, other types of organizations, exclusively commercial in nature, intervene: Banks, Appraisers, Realtors.
It is important to note that the behavior of any of the three groups cannot be generalized. Although it should be noted that after approval, the conditions in the three groups have gradually deteriorated.
Energy certification platforms
With different models of operation, although in general terms they are "comparators" of budgets. They come from different routes, Engineering, Architectures, Associations, Organizations, Appraisals … Databases of certifying technicians who mediate and put in contact with Promoters and Owners who require a Certification.
[vision_notification style = »success» font_size = »12px» closeable = »true»] What do you ask or ask, to register? [/ vision_notification]
The required data has been evolving since February 2012.
Complete details of the technician for billing (including bank account number)
Title:
Several cases:
- No qualification was requested, especially to take a complementary course)
- LOE: Architect, Technical Architect, Industrial Engineer, Industrial Technical Engineer.
- As of the final approval….“The qualification to carry out energy efficiency certificates for existing buildings is regulated in RD 235/2013 of April 5. " (As of final approval)
Membership, Professional College
They define it as non-mandatory or voluntary. In any case, the membership certificate avoids sending the title. Some case of mandatory requirement.
Certificate of being up to date with tax obligations.
Collaboration type:
Company, Freelance, Engineering, Real Estate, Property Administrator, Real Estate Asset Management, Bank, Insurers
After approval: Collaborating Technician or Assistant Technician "
SRC Voluntarily "in the event that any certification requires it"
Certification courses.
The "Master" in Energy efficiency are highly rewarded and the courses carried out with the simplified options are given priority, but they are not determined as mandatory.
What procedures do you handle? Mandatory in most cases, but with the possibility of taking a course managed or carried out by the platform itself
Do you want to take a course with us?
Zone, radius of action and time availability, province, city and distance in kilometers. Morning or afternoon shifts or both.
Number of monthly certifications… .Do you accept express certifications?
Languages:
Some cases although with increasing frequency:
Do you agree to act only as a technician to visit the property and collect data?
Do you accept fixed-price jobs for other organizations? Either this question is asked or different registration modalities are offered. Accepting work on packages for third parties requires a fixed monthly payment, or the warning that the fees will be lower and in any case it will be notified in advance.
[vision_notification style = »success» font_size = »12px» closeable = »true»] Courses [/ vision_notification]
Referred to Courses on simplified procedures CE3 and CE3X, recognized documents for the certification of existing buildings.
Approximately 60-70% of the platforms directly offer complementary courses on the management of the simplified Certification tools, either directly or through collaboration agreements with training schools. It should be noted that:
- It is not imposed in any case as mandatory for registration
- Those with payment for registration, or with different types of payment accounts, free those who take these courses from this.
- Remember that today there is no course that "enables" as an Energy Efficiency Certifier.
[vision_notification style = »success» font_size = »12px» closeable = »true»] How does the combination of Platform-Technical-Budget work? [/ vision_notification]
The certifying technician receives an offer to be budgeted, sends his budget and the platform provides the client with a list of technicians and offers. The client freely decides who to hire. Once the client selects the technician, the platform charges the entire budget -the platform pays the technician- or a percentage as a guarantee -the technician is responsible for collecting the rest from the client.
In other cases, it is the technician who bills the client and pays the platform.
Subsequently, the system evolves and some request that the technician prepare their budgets according to criteria of building typology, distance and surface. In this way, the owner or the platform itself decides who to choose based on the budgeted amounts and with this system they claim that time is saved. Others do precisely the opposite. They consider that the technician should not be "guided" when deciding his budget.
In some cases, the platforms dictate a series of broad standards on data collection - providing support files - and on the certification processes, also providing support.
Types:
- Technical estimated value = Budget.
- Fixed Technical Fee per Report + ¿?% Platform Profit = Budget
- Estimated Technical Value + ¿?% Platform Profit = Budget.
- Estimated Technical Value + ¿?% Platform Profit + Monthly Fee = Budget (Properties at closing price per Platform - “Real estate agent)
It is necessary to mention certain energy certification platforms that "do not charge" for services. The technicians appear "visible" directly by provinces. The intention is precisely to make it easier for technicians to "skip" the commissions received by other platforms and offer owners direct contact with technicians in their area.
[vision_notification style = »success» font_size = »12px» closeable = »true»] How much are technicians asking on the platforms? [/ vision_notification]
The scale is very diverse, from very low prices to very high prices, but we can obtain different reflections:
A.- The fork that exists today is too wide and confuses the owners.
B.- Very low rates generate distrust.
C.- The very low prices reported at the beginning of the approval of the Royal Decree have started a slight increase (€ 5-10) until today. They do not cover expenses and little by little they begin to realize that these extreme fees are leading nowhere. (We speak in a generalized way
As an example, two weeks before approval, the prices required by the technicians for a 100m² apartment in a block ranged from € 80-300. Two weeks later, between € 90-240.
[vision_notification style = »success» font_size = »12px» closeable = »true»] Inflection point. Platform, Appraisers, Banks, great offers and great Real Estate [/ vision_notification]
- E.1- The new competitors of the Platforms.
In anticipation of future benefits, direct and forceful competition from the certification platforms has appeared.
-. Appraisers.
On behalf of the Appraisers… “Our technicians can issue the certificate taking advantage of the visit to the property when they are going to carry out the appraisal. In this way, the final price of both the appraisal and the issuance of the certificate can be optimized, taking advantage of synergies "(From EL Confidencial)
At present they have been aware of the serious inconveniences of mixing and invoicing different concepts and they create parallel societies for certification.
-.Great offers from portals that offer significant discounts, direct discounts of up to 70% (Discounts based on what?).
- E.2- The relationship between the Platform, Banks and Large Real Estate Companies.
Appearance of a new product to be carried out by the Technician, reports with a closed price at low cost for the Certifying Technician, with specific conditions in time and other points.
- E.3 - Conclusions of the inflection point:
- Considerable reduction in the prices offered in the drafting of the Energy Certificates. Technician access also to “high volume” assignments often requires a monthly registration fee.
- The benefit of the Technician is considered by the volume of orders made. Causing an increase in work time and effort for the same performance.
- We repeatedly observe the very serious error of the mercantilist concept of "high-volume agreements" or "attractive packages". A technician can perform a limited number of certifications on a monthly basis. Increasing orders does not reduce execution time.
- A greater number of reports limited in delivery time, can only be a reflection of a lack of rigor in the preparation of the certificate.
- Less opportunity to certify properties for the "individual Certifying Technician" who does not assume the requirements of the certification platforms.
- Greater business opportunity for those real estate managers with large volumes that work together with the platforms, based on the exploitation of the Technicians. Report Cost = Low cost writing + Increased Profit Real estate manager.It is no longer the technician who offers the budget, but it is imposed on him. (50-120 €)
- The increase in the execution time of the certificates derived from the obligation of the Technician, of the Registry in certain CCAA, is not valued or awarded
- Prices offered to the client at a relatively lower cost, but ignoring the "benefit of the property manager" That is, the transparency of the fee process has been "lost"Technician = Cost of the certificate for the owner. We know what the technician charges but not what it costs the owner.
Written a year ago:
…. ”But for the creation of jobs with high added value, or at least to expand, renew and diversify work alternatives. Precisely a few days ago, a somewhat alarming news was published, both due to the compulsory membership or not, as well as the possible change that it may produce in professional attributions: "
"The objective set by the Executive is" to strengthen the principle of freedom of access and exercise in all professional activities. " It is intended to remove "unjustified and disproportionate barriers in the provision of professional services", which will favor competition and the provision of services at a better price. "
We are on our way to providing services at a lower price, but not so much in the costs for the owners and if in the technical fees. Besides, an immediate exhaustion, of what could have been a source of sustainable work.
Article prepared by Luis Ruiz de la Fuente Perera (Energy Manager Architect) for OVACEN
