EPC (Energy Performance Coefficient)

A Legacy of Efficiency Standards

EPC is the common acronym for energieprestatiecoëfficiënt, the energy performance coefficient that was the cornerstone of Dutch energy efficiency policy for new construction for more than 25 years. Every new building permit application had to be accompanied by an EPC calculation, a theoretical assessment of the building's energy consumption based on its design. The result was a single number; a lower EPC meant a better-performing building. The government mandated a maximum allowable EPC, a figure that was systematically lowered every few years, pushing developers to continuously improve insulation, install more efficient heating systems, and eventually integrate renewable energy sources like solar panels.

The Shift to a New System

Although the EPC was successful in driving innovation, it was ultimately phased out in favor of a more detailed system. The primary criticism was that a single, dimensionless number was not intuitive for consumers and did not accurately reflect the different facets of a building's energy performance. On January 1, 2021, the EPC requirement was superseded by the BENG-eisen (Nearly Energy-Neutral Building requirements). BENG uses three distinct indicators that separately assess a building's insulation, its fossil fuel consumption, and its use of renewable energy. For anyone living in or looking to rent a home built before 2021, the EPC value listed in the property's documents remains a useful, albeit historical, indicator of its designed energy efficiency.