Authority requirements
Regulatory Requirements for Measurement in Properties
For property owners (of commercial or other non-private buildings) to meet the requirements from The Swedish Energy Agency regarding energy, climate, and media reporting, a structured and accurate collection, processing, and reporting of relevant data is required.
Overview of Laws and Requirements
Larger companies (non-SMEs*) are required to conduct energy mappings every four years. These should provide an overview of the company's total energy use and suggest measures for energy efficiency. For property owners, this means analyzing buildings' energy use and proposing energy-efficient measures for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, etc. The Environmental Code and related regulations:
*[SME]: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Buildings must be managed in such a way that environmental impact is minimized. This includes reducing climate impact from energy consumption and meeting energy goals.
Reporting of Energy Declarations: All buildings (with certain exceptions) must have an energy declaration according to requirements from the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning. The energy declaration must contain information about the building's energy use and suggestions for improvements.
Energy Reporting
The Swedish Energy Agency requires a detailed account of the property's energy use. This includes:
Collection of Energy Data: Information on electricity consumption, district heating, gas, fuels, solar energy, or other energy sources. Breakdown by system: lighting, ventilation, heating, cooling, and operation of machines or systems. Measurement and monitoring:
Installation of energy meters that can separate energy use by function (e.g., heating, cooling, lighting) and building parts. with requirements for monthly or quarterly energy statistics reports.
Reporting of Key Figures:
- Specific energy use per square meter (kWh/m²).
- The share of renewable energy in the energy mix.
- Energy savings achieved through efficiency measures.
Climate Reporting
Climate reporting should be linked to the building's energy use and aims to map climate impact. Focus areas include:
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Emissions from the use of fossil fuels, e.g., oil heating. Indirect emissions from purchased electricity and district heating (calculated based on emission factors).
Environmental Impact of Materials and Operations: Reporting of climate impact from building maintenance and material choices.
Action Plans to Reduce Climate Impact:
- Investments in energy efficiency.
- Transition to renewable energy sources such as solar panels or low climate impact district heating.
Media Reporting and Disclosure
It is important that certain parts of the energy work are transparent and accessible to authorities and other stakeholders:
Energy Declaration: The energy declaration must be registered and published via the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning's energy declaration register. It should be easily accessible to tenants and stakeholders.
Reporting to the Swedish Energy Agency: Includes annual reporting for companies covered by EKL. Includes information on measures taken, energy use, and annual progress.
Internal and External Communication: Property owners are required to:
- communicate energy savings and climate measures in annual reports and sustainability reports.
- Facilitate information sharing with tenants to promote energy efficiency.
Digital Tools and System Support
To ensure accurate reporting and follow-up, property owners should use an Energy Management System (EMS), an automated system that collects, analyzes, and visualizes energy data.
Programs for Climate Calculations: The Swedish Energy Agency recommends property owners use standardized tools that help calculate carbon footprints and analyze efficiency potential.
Property Systems and IoT: Connecting the building's systems to IoT devices to obtain real-time data and optimize energy use.
Follow-Up and Improvements
Regular follow-up is crucial:
Audit of Energy Mappings: Property owners are required to follow up on proposed measures from the energy mapping and report results.
Quality Controls: Property owners are required to ensure that energy declarations and reports are current and accurate.
Training and Awareness: Property owners should educate property managers and technical staff in energy-efficient operation and maintenance.
As a property owner, one is obligated to maintain a systematic and transparent approach to meet the Swedish Energy Agency's requirements. This includes detailed energy reporting, climate impact calculations, disclosure of energy declarations, and regular follow-up. A combination of technical solutions and strategic work is required to ensure compliance and contribute to sustainable energy goals.
Enkey Building Insight® enables near real-time collection, storage, and sharing of energy and climate data. Enkey Building Insight® is a cost-effective tool that facilitates analysis and optimization, as measurement data is collected and visualized automatically.