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Energy Perfomance Certification using CE3
A long while ago, as part of my graduation project for a class that I had for my Higher Diploma in Building Projects (Grado Superior en Proyectos de Edfificación, in Spanish, something like a minor degree), I had to write a manual on using a software named “CE3” for Energy Performance Certification of buildings (Certificado de Eficiencia Energetica de viviendas). It was based on the work of my professor, architect Ildefonso Bermejos Berenguer “CE3, Certificación Energética de Edificios Existentes (Residencial y PMT)”.
What is CE3 (CE3X)?
CE3 -> Calificación Energética de Edificios Existentes
It’s a software distributed for free by the Spanish government and used here for EPC of buildings. It’s the official tool of the IDAE and was developed in collaboration with CENER. EPCs are necessary for all new constructions and renovations, and also for selling or renting any property.
The manual
It was wriitten in 2024. The manual consists of basic intructions on how to make an EPC of a residential building. It explains the regulatory context, details the specific “By Plans” (Por planos) methodology using CAD architectural drawings (.dxf files), and provides a step-by-step walkthrough of entering administrative, constructive, and systemic data into the program. Finally, it breaks down how the software calculates energy demands, final/primary energy consumption, and emissions to generate an official Energy Performance Certificate and Label. It’s written in Spanish, and I won’t be translating it into English, since it’s not used outside of Spain and doing so makes no sense.
Key points:
- Regulatory Compliance: According to Spain’s Technical Building Code (CTE DB-HE) and Royal Decree 390/2021.
- Purpose: This specific method is used for complex buildings that generate self-shadowing or have intricate geometries.
- Process: Technicians map out the building using polylines in CAD software (such as AutoCAD) to define different climate-controlled zones based on usage and orientation, then export it as a .dxf file to load into CE3
- Advantages: It offers exact geometric definitions, precise calculations, accounts for self-shading, and yields highly reliable certification results.
- Step-by-Step Data Input in CE3.
- Technical Calculations & Results: The software processes the input data to calculate the Global Energy Efficiency Index (IEE Global). It evaluates: Energy Demand, Final vs. Primary Energy Consumption, Emissions, Air Renovation & Ventilation.
- Gives the Energy Certificate & Label.