Curious about the true state of your (future) home? S-level, P-score, LEED certification…. What are these home scores, gauges and certifications? When is a score good? Does your home qualify? Check it out in this overview.
1. Energy home scores and gauges
1.1. BEN-score
The BEN or Near Energy Neutral score assesses whether your home is nearly energy neutral, meaning it produces nearly as much energy as it consumes. A low BEN score indicates that your home meets strict energy standards and uses energy-efficient technologies and materials.
- Scale: Between 0 and 100.
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The lower, the better.
1.2. EPC-score
The EPC score or Energy Performance Certificate score indicates how energy efficient your home is.
- Calculation: The amount of energy (in kilowatt-hours) you use per square meter of floor area per year to heat, cool, ventilate and provide hot water to your home.
- Scale: Between 0 and 700.
- Unit: kWh/m² per year.
- Good: The lower the better.
1.3. E-peil
The E-level or Energy Performance Level assesses the energy performance of your home. Normally, your home is only assigned an E-level if your home is a new construction or renovation project. It shows the extent to which your home meets the legal energy performance standards.
- Calculation: Based on the energy efficiency of your home.
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The lower the better.
1.4. K-peil
The K-level or Cold Bridge Level indicates the insulation quality in different areas of the building envelope, such as walls, doors, windows, roofs and floors.
- Calculation: The amount of heat loss through the envelope of your home.
- Scale: Between 0 and about 100.
- Unit: W/m²K (watts per square meter per Kelvin).
- Good: The lower the better.
1.5. S-peil
The S-level or Shell Level assesses the energy efficiency of your home’s building envelope, including insulation value of all components of the envelope and their airtightness.
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The lower the better.
2. Mobility home scores
2.1. Mobiscore
The Mobiscore indicates how mobility-friendly your home’s location is. It takes into account proximity to public transportation, amenities and accessibility without a car.
- Scale: Between 0 and 10.
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The higher, the better.
3. Flood susceptibility scores
The flood susceptibility score is an important score. The score assesses an area’s risk of flooding, taking into account factors such as location, elevation, soil conditions and water control measures.
Flood susceptibility can be seen on Potential Indicative Flood Maps, also called PIM maps. In addition, flood susceptibility is expressed by a P-score and G-score.
3.1. P-score
The P-score or Parcel score shows the flood probability per year for your parcel. The value shows how often your plot will flood on average per year.
- Calculation: One calculates this probability by collecting historical data and applying a mathematical function.
- Scale: Between A and E.
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The closer to the A, the better.
3.2. G-score
An almost identical value to the P-score, the G-score or Buildings-score shows the score for all buildings on your plot. It does not count any outbuildings. The value shows how often your building(s) will flood on average per year.
- Calculation: One calculates this probability by collecting historical data and applying a mathematical function.
- Scale: Between A and E.
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The closer to the A, the better.
4. Climate and environmental home scores
4.1. Groenblauwpeil
The Greenblue Level indicates how climate-proof your home, garden and plot are.
- Calculation: Based on plot information regarding afforestation and greenery, calculates the online tool of groenblauwpeil.be your green-blue level.
- Scale: Between A and F.
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The closer to the A, the better.
5. Sustainability home scores
5.1. BREEAM-certificering
BREEAM certification is an internationally recognized certification system. BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
BREEAM certification gives your home a housing score that assesses the sustainability of buildings, focusing on various aspects of sustainability and environmental impact. One looks at aspects such as water, innovation, comfort and ecology. BREEAM certification originated in the United Kingdom and is the most current international standard.
- Scale (low-high): Unsatisfactory, Pass, Good, Very good, Excellent
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The higher, the better.
5.2. LEED-certificering
LEED certification is the American counterpart to BREEAM certification. LEED in this case stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The property score in LEED certification reflects the sustainability of buildings based on various criteria, such as energy efficiency, water use and materials.
- Scale (low-high): Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
- Unit: No unit.
- Good: The higher, the better.
Now you know all the home scores and gauges and what they mean. Use this knowledge to make conscious choices that are not only good for the environment, but also good for your wallet in the long run. Together, we strive for a greener and more sustainable living environment for everyone.
Sources: Bobex, Constructionreno, Sustainable Business, Epc value, Lambda, Livios, Matexi, Mobiscore, Flemish Environmental Society & Flanders
Would you like to cite this article as a source? Then use:
Stiasteny, L. (2024, Nov. 15). How does your home score? All property scores and polls listed. Apartment.com. Accessed on (date XX/XX/202X), from https://www.appartement.be/een-overzicht-van-alle-woning-scores-en-peilen/
Related articles: