Energy Certificates in Austria: Understanding the HWB, New Classes 2026

Updated: 2026-08-02 · Reading time: 8 min · ImmoLens editorial team

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This guide was written by the ImmoLens editorial team and last reviewed on 2026-08-02. The information is for orientation and does not replace legal, tax or financial advice.

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The Austrian energy certificate works differently from the German one, and mixing up the metrics can make a house look two classes better than it is. The central figure is the HWB (Heizwärmebedarf, heating demand), not the German final energy demand. And since 1 July 2026 new rules apply: listings must state the HWB, the final energy demand and the efficiency class, and new certificates carry a new A to G scale.

What the HWB actually measures

The HWB states how much heat the rooms of a building need per square meter and year, i.e. the quality of the building envelope. Losses of the heating system are not included. That is why an Austrian HWB of 100 is not comparable to a German final energy demand of 100: the German figure includes the heating technology, the Austrian one does not. The better match for the German figure is the EEB (final energy demand), which must also appear in listings since the amendment. The certificate additionally states primary energy demand (PEB) and CO2 emissions; the formerly common overall efficiency factor (fGEE) was abolished with the 2025 edition of OIB guideline 6.

ℹ️ Austrian energy certificates are always calculated using the OIB methodology. The German dualism of demand versus consumption certificates, where frugal previous occupants can make a poor building look good, does not exist. An Austrian certificate describes the building, not the heating habits.

Two scales in circulation: old and new

With the 2025 edition of OIB guideline 6 the scale changed to A to G (implementing the EU buildings directive). In addition, a building with a fossil heating system can no longer reach class A. Existing certificates issued under the 2019 edition with the A++ to G scale remain valid for up to ten years, and the states adopt the new edition into their building codes at different speeds. When comparing two listings you therefore need to know which scale the class refers to:

New scale (OIB guideline 6, 2025 edition)

Class	HWB in kWh/m²a
A	up to 40
B	over 40 to 60
C	over 60 to 75
D	over 75 to 85
E	over 85 to 100
F	over 100 to 120
G	over 120

Old scale (2019 edition, existing certificates)

Class	HWB in kWh/m²a
A++	up to 10
A+	up to 15
A	up to 25
B	up to 50
C	up to 100
D	up to 150
E	up to 200
F	up to 250
G	over 250

An HWB of 110 is a middling class D on the old scale but a poor F on the new one. Same number, very different message. Never rely on the class letter alone; always look at the HWB value itself.

Your rights as a buyer: disclosure duties and fines

The Energy Certificate Disclosure Act (EAVG 2012) obliges sellers and landlords to present the certificate in good time before you sign and to hand it over within 14 days of concluding the contract. Since July 2026, listings must already state the HWB, the EEB and the class. If the figures are missing, sellers and agents face administrative fines of up to 1,450 euros. A certificate is valid for at most ten years.

⚠️ Achtung: Unlike in Germany, heritage protection does not exempt a property from the disclosure duty in Austria. Only a few cases are exempt, such as buildings slated for demolition, seasonally used holiday homes, buildings used for religious purposes or free-standing buildings under 50 sqm. Do not let anyone talk you out of the certificate for a normal home by pointing to the building's age.

Who issues it and what does it cost?

Certificates may be issued by civil engineers of the relevant disciplines, master builders, engineering offices and qualified tradespeople; for existing residential buildings also by chimney sweeps. The details are set by the states' building codes. Since the 2025 edition an on-site inspection is mandatory. Fees are freely negotiable; market rates are roughly 100 to 200 euros for an apartment and 250 to 600 euros for a single-family house, with no official tariff.

💡 Tipp: For Austrian properties, the ImmoLens analysis recognises the HWB and applies the Austrian class logic instead of forcing German bands onto the value. An explicitly stated class always takes precedence. Simply upload the energy certificate as a PDF and the exact value flows into condition, renovation scenarios and price assessment.

Sources

As of 2 Aug 2026. All information without guarantee; the EAVG, OIB guideline 6 and the state building codes are authoritative.

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