What is an energy label?

An energy label is a building’s official product declaration—standardized documentation of how energy-efficient a property is in its current condition. The label ranks the building on a scale from A2020 to G, is calculated by a certified energy consultant, and is registered with the Danish Energy Agency. It is required by law for rentals lasting more than 4 weeks, for sales, and for new construction—and for your business, it provides a clear indication of the property’s operating costs before you sign the lease agreement.

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The Energy Efficiency Rating Scale: From A2020 to G

The scale consists of nine levels. At the top is A2020, which is the standard for new construction in accordance with the current energy requirements in the Building Regulations (BR18). Below that are A2015 and A2010, which represent low-energy construction from the respective periods, followed by B, C, D, E, F, and G.

The practical difference is significant. An office building of 1,000 m² with an A energy rating uses an estimated 20 kWh/m²/year for heating. A comparable property with an E energy rating uses up to 200 kWh/m²/year. That’s a difference of approximately 60,000 kr. and 600,000 kr. in annual heating costs—money that, in commercial leases, is typically billed as common area expenses on top of the base rent.

In other words, the energy label isn't just some abstract letter. It's a direct indicator of what it actually costs to live in your rental unit.

When is an energy label required by law?

According to the Danish Energy Agency, energy labeling is required in three situations: when renting out a property (for more than 4 weeks), when selling a property, and for new construction.

As a tenant of a commercial property, you are entitled to be shown a valid energy efficiency label. This is the landlord’s responsibility and at the landlord’s expense. The label must be available both when the property is first rented out and when there is a change of tenant.

Certain types of buildings are exempt: historic buildings, buildings smaller than 60 m², temporary buildings intended for use for less than two years, and certain industrial and agricultural buildings.

In addition, for commercial properties larger than 500 m², the energy label must be issued by an energy consultant with specialized additional training; not all companies are certified to do this.

Energy Labeling at Stensdal

At Stensdal, we view the energy label as an active management tool, not an administrative checklist. We work systematically to improve energy labels across our property portfolio because we believe that energy-efficient buildings are better buildings: for tenants, for operational efficiency, and for the climate.

In practice, this means that we continuously prioritize energy renovations based on the improvement lists from our energy performance reports, and that we set specific goals for which properties are to move up an energy class in the coming years.

View our commercial properties or read about our approach to property management.

Frequently Asked Questions