Energy
Saving energy is simple.
We tell you how and where.
Always full of energy! The responsible use of energy is more important than ever. In energy-intensive companies and facilities, as well in households, a sustainable energy policy can significantly reduce consumption and costs. Vinçotte is the ideal partner for analysing your energy footprint and identifying potential for optimisation and savings.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
To better understand and optimise the energy performance of buildings.
The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a reference tool for assessing the energy performance of existing buildings. It provides a clear and objective overview of energy consumption and environmental impact.
In addition to meeting certain regulatory requirements, the EPC is a valuable decision-making tool for building owners, managers, and occupants.
What is an EPC?
The EPC assigns a building an energy rating, generally expressed on a scale from A+ to I, based on the following technical criteria:
- the building envelope;
- heating, ventilation, hot water production and lighting systems;
- overall energy consumption;
- CO₂ emissions.
This makes it possible to compare the energy performance of a building with that of other comparable buildings.
Why carry out an EPC?
Carrying out an EPC has several advantages:
- It provides a better understanding of the building’s energy performance.
- It identifies concrete and appropriate areas for improvement.
- It allows renovation or energy optimisation work to be planned in advance.
- It increases the value of the building, particularly when selling or renting it out.
- It meets regulatory requirements where applicable.
The EPC is therefore part of a comprehensive approach to the sustainable management of built heritage.
When should an EPC be carried out?
In Luxembourg, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required in several key situations related to a building’s life cycle.
An EPC must be obtained in the following cases:
- new construction;
- sale or rental of an existing building;
- building extension;
- substantial modification or conversion, with or without authorisation;
- building occupied or visited by the public with a surface area of more than 250 m².
Important condition: after renovation, the building must be functional at the time the EPC is obtained.
*An EPC is not required in the case of a sale intended for demolition, nor in certain specific situations relating to public sales or rentals.
EPCs for existing buildings
EPCs for existing buildings are based on an in-depth analysis of the building’s current condition.
It considers the current technical characteristics and enables the potential for improvement in terms of energy and the environment to be assessed.
This approach facilitates progressive, realistic, and prioritised renovation decisions in line with the building’s objectives.
Our expertise
Our energy audit experts are trained and certified to carry out EPCs for existing buildings in accordance with current methodologies and requirements.
Thanks to their field expertise, they support their clients with a rigorous, independent and pragmatic approach, from building analysis to presenting the results.
Electrical thermography: anticipation for better protection
Controlling electrical risks is now more important than ever.
With a focus on prevention and continuous improvement,infrared thermography has become an indispensable tool in our inspections.
This technology enables us to visualise component temperatures in real time and identify faults that are invisible to the naked eye in industrial facilities, businesses, local authorities and residential properties.
This is a proactive approach to preventing incidents.
Thermography is based on the simple idea of detecting problems before they become critical.
An abnormal rise in temperature can reveal issues such as insufficient tightening, overload, oxidation, phase imbalance or ageing components. If not addressed in time, all of these anomalies can cause outages, major breakdowns or even fires.
By taking action early on, we help our customers to enjoy continuity of operation and enhanced safety.
Concrete findings in the field
During recent inspections, several typical anomalies were identified and corrected immediately:
- Contactors overheating due to loose screws;
- busbars overloaded following an installation extension;
- fuses with asymmetrical heating, revealing an internal fault;
- Transformers were found to be exceeding their rated temperature.
These observations demonstrate the importance of thermal analysis in detecting issues that are not visible to the naked eye.
This is a practice in line with regulatory requirements.
Thermography is not only a matter of technical performance; it also fulfils the prevention obligations expected of companies.
It is fully in line with:
- periodic regulatory inspections;
- insurers’ recommendations and,
- and international standards such as EN 50110 and ISO 18434-1.
It is therefore a real guarantee of compliance and safety, particularly in industrial and tertiary environments.
An investment that creates value:
Thermography is fast, non-intrusive and can be carried out without power cuts.
It makes it possible to:
- avoid costly repairs;
- limit production downtime;
- extend the life of equipment;
- reduce the risk of fire.
Often, identifying just one anomaly makes the inspection worthwhile.
In conclusion, we are moving towards safer and more reliable installations.
By integrating thermography into our practices, we are demonstrating our commitment to enhanced safety, smarter maintenance, and ever-more reliable electrical installations.
Thermography is a modern, effective and indispensable tool for anticipating issues, providing protection and peace of mind for our customers.
Building thermography
Thermography.
For perfect building insulation.
Thermography shows how much energy a building is losing. It thus provides exact information on the quality of the insulation, makes thermal bridges visible and can provide confirmation that the specifications for thermal insulation and airtightness in passive houses have been achieved. Combined with an airtightness (blower door) test, such confirmation is mandatory in order to obtain the obligatory energy pass for buildings in Luxembourg.
Thermography involves taking pictures of a building on site – both outside and inside –, preferably between October and April to ensure the greatest possible difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures. In the second phase, our customers receive a comprehensive analysis of all problems found, with images as evidence.
A thermal imaging camera makes visible the surface temperature of walls and electrical conductors, and thus heat losses. Based on these images, our experts can detect thermal insulation problems – such as poor double glazing, window frames that are not airtight, cavities in walls, leaks in underfloor heating or in roofs.
A thermal imaging camera uses infrared technology to detect problems:
- Before and/or after renovation work is performed.
- When mould or condensation occurs.
- To locate thermal bridges.
- In the preventive detection of electrical overloads or when concerns exist with regard to electrical installations.
Blower-door, airtightness testing
Blower-door and airtightness testing.
Keeping cold air outside.
Airtightness is an important indicator of a building’s energy efficiency. When combined with infrared building thermography, airtightness testing can identify construction faults and reveal zones where insulation needs to be improved. A blower-door test shows how much cold air is flowing into a building and makes leaks visible. To perform the test, a fan is installed at the entrance to a building, sucking the air out of it. At the same time, the amount of air flowing through the fan is measured. An anemometer, fog generator or thermal imaging camera can subsequently be used to locate leaks: for example non-airtight windows and doors, leaks in the roof, wooden structures or the skirting boards.
As part of a building’s acceptance, the airtightness of the building envelope should be checked in accordance with EN 13829. This also applies before renovation work starts to determine insulation priorities. For wood-frame structures, the test provides information about the long-term behaviour of the structure and the climate inside the house. Buildings classified as energy class A or B with heat recovery ventilation systems must be approved using a blower-door test. Additional infrared thermography makes thermal bridges visible.
In accordance with the Luxembourg decree of 20 April 2009, an airtightness test is required for the certification of a low-energy or passive house. This decree also regulates subsidies in terms of promoting energy savings and the development of renewables.
Energy passport
The energy passport.
Your energy footprint in black and white.
Vinçotte issues energy passports for residential buildings. The energy passport provides an objective statement about a building’s overall energy efficiency, while at the same time suggesting possible improvements to the energy footprint – for example in terms of insulation, energy generation or other aspects. An energy passport is particularly helpful when selling, renting, renovating or converting a house. In addition, it is mandatory for certain buildings and on certain occasions. Ask our experts whether you need an energy passport!
When it comes to the energy efficiency of a house, it is not only its construction that plays a significant role. To see how a building is performing in terms of energy, its energy consumption must be analysed. Here, too, the energy passport provides information on a building’s energy-related quality. The calculation of its energy coefficient is based on the materials used, the insulation rating of the roof, windows, walls and doors, as well as the heating systems and hot water production.