For homeowners · BRUXELLES
Why your PEB rating differs from your energy bill
Understand calculated energy performance, actual consumption and energy costs: a clear guide to PEB certificates for homes in Brussels.
“I use very little heating, so why is my PEB rating poor?” To answer that question, separate three things: the home’s calculated performance, the energy actually used and the amount paid to the supplier. They provide complementary information, but they cannot be compared directly.
PEB assesses the home under reference conditions
The calculation uses standard assumptions so that homes can be compared. It considers the building and its systems. It also expresses a result in primary energy, which is not simply the energy units shown on your meter. Brussels Environment’s explanatory guide sets out this distinction.
Your bill also reflects your habits
Being away for long periods, keeping a lower indoor temperature or using fewer rooms can change your consumption. The amount charged also depends on the tariff and billing period. Treat a comparison between a bill in euros and a PEB indicator per square metre with care: they measure different things.
What should you ask the assessor?
- Do the recorded characteristics match the home?
- Which documents and observations were used?
- Which features still have default values?
- How should you understand the order of the recommendations?
If you find an invoice for earlier work or discover new information, send it to the professional for review. Avoid predicting a rating from your consumption alone: the result depends on the full calculation.
Use both sources of information when deciding
Keep your bills to understand spending, and use the certificate to discuss the property’s energy characteristics. Before commissioning work, ask the relevant professionals to clarify feasibility, cost and practical constraints. Neither a rating letter nor a simulation alone guarantees a specific saving in euros for your household. The linked official guide is in French.
Further reading: Brussels Environment’s explanation of PEB calculations and certificates (French).
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Discuss my home during a PEB visit