FAQ

The values of the I_eco12 indicator are provided for some commonly used insulation materials in Chapter 7.3 of the Annex to the Grand Ducal Regulation on the Certification of the Sustainability of Housing and can be reused.

In the event that other insulation materials are used, experts can calculate the I_eco12 indicator using the I_calc calculator, which can be viewed online 

The I_eco12 indicator is used to assess new insulation installed on an existing building and is taken into consideration in the following cases:

• in the case of sustainable energy retrofitting of elements of the thermal building envelope under the Klimabonus subsidy scheme;
• as part of the LENOZ certification of an existing retrofitted building.

The indicator I_eco12 represents the environmental impacts (I_env) and the impacts induced by the primary energy requirement (I_prim) of an insulation material, evaluated on an equivalent thickness of 12 cm. This results in an independent environmental assessment of the existing building, while taking into account the grey energy consumed by the insulation material.

To benefit from bonuses within the framework of aid for insulation measures in your home, the following criteria must be met:

• recycling of insulation materials: you can benefit from a 50% recycling bonus if at least 50% of your fossil or mineral insulation material is made from recycled raw materials. The 50% recycling bonus for fossil insulation materials is only valid until 31.12.2023.
• criteria for green insulation materials: you can receive a 50% FSC/PEFC/SFI bonus if your green insulation material is made from FSC/PEFC/SFI certified raw material

Since 1 January 2017 (date of the energy consultant's invoice), thermal insulation must meet energy efficiency and durability criteria. The energy efficiency criteria correspond in substance to those of the previous PRIMe House scheme and are expressed in four energy performance standards.

The durability criteria refer to the environmental quality and nature of the thermal insulation, as well as the way in which it is attached.

Environmental quality is defined by the environmental impact of insulation materials assessed using the environmental indicator I_eco12.

The approved energy adviser is responsible for:

• carrying out on-site energy consulting;
• drafting the "conclusive report" (a comprehensive inventory of the property in question, the content of which must include a description of the property, the date of the site visit, the energy performance certificate prior to the retrofit and an integral energy renovation concept);
• checking the conformity of the offers to the measures proposed in the above-mentioned energy retrofitting concept;
• checking the conformity of the implementation on site with the measures proposed in the energy retrofitting concept;
• drafting a final report that must be attached to the request for payment of financial aid; 
• completing the forms for the request for an agreement in principle and for the payment of financial aid.

The quality assurance system for approved energy advisers within the meaning of the Klimabonus subsidy scheme includes the following:

• verification of the basic qualifications of the energy adviser;
• verification of any additional qualifications of the energy adviser;
• checking and approval, prior to certification, of an energy consultation report for a retrofitting project;
• a timely and regular quality control system, including: 
  • quality control of the services provided by energy advisers;
  • checking compliance with the conditions associated with the ongoing training of energy advisers, and
  • implementation of a customer evaluation system.

Since January 2017, energy advisers have been able to obtain certification by submitting an approval application to the Environmental Administration. Approval is conditional on membership of the OAI (architect or engineer in accordance with the Law of 13 December 1989) or an authorisation in accordance with the Grand Ducal Regulation of 10 February 1999 on the approval of natural or legal persons, private or public, other than the State, for the performance of technical study and control tasks in the field of energy, as amended.

From 15 December 2018, approved energy advisers will have to join a quality assurance system in the field of energy and sustainability consultancy for residential buildings with a body contracted for this purpose by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure. 

Under the Klimabonus subsidy scheme, only energy advisers approved by the Minister for the Environment are able to draft reports relating to energy advice. An energy adviser must be approved by the Minister for the Environment in accordance with the Law of 21 April 1993.

(Law of 21 April 1993 on the approval of natural persons or legal entities, private or public, other than the State, for the performance of technical study and verification tasks in the environmental field).