Technical assessment.
Clear reporting.
We prepare the SCE certificate your transaction requires — and deliver the advisory report that helps you understand what it means.
What a complete assessment covers
When a technician visits your property, the assessment is structured to capture all the elements that determine energy performance — not just the obvious ones. Here is what we examine.
Thermal Envelope & Insulation
We examine the walls, roof, floor slab and any other building elements that form the boundary between conditioned and unconditioned space. For older Portuguese buildings, this often means assessing uninsulated masonry walls, poorly detailed roof spaces, and ground floors without any insulation layer.
We document the construction type, estimate thermal resistance values, and identify where heat is being lost most significantly — including thermal bridges at junctions and structural elements.
Glazing & Window Systems
Windows are among the most significant sources of heat loss in older buildings. We assess the glazing type (single, double, or triple pane), frame material and condition, orientation, shading, and any existing solar control measures.
Single-glazed timber windows — common in pre-1980s Portuguese buildings — can account for a disproportionate share of winter heat loss. We document this accurately so the certificate reflects the actual situation, and so the report can explain the improvement potential clearly.
Heating & Cooling Systems (HVAC)
We assess whatever heating and cooling systems are present — central boilers, split units, heat pumps, electric panel heaters, or the absence of any mechanical system. The age, type, estimated efficiency, and condition of each system is documented.
An outdated gas boiler from the 1990s, for example, operates at a significantly lower efficiency than a modern condensing unit — and this difference has a direct bearing on both the certificate rating and the annual energy cost calculation.
Hot Water Production
Domestic hot water is a major component of residential energy consumption. We assess the type of hot water system — electric immersion, gas boiler, solar thermal, heat pump water heater — along with its age, efficiency rating, and any solar contribution.
In many older Portuguese properties, hot water is produced by an aging electric storage heater or a standalone gas unit. These are often the most cost-effective element to upgrade, and we document this clearly in the advisory report.
Renewable Energy Systems
Where solar panels, solar thermal collectors, or other renewable systems are present, we assess and document their contribution to the building's energy balance. If none are present, we note whether the building's orientation and roof configuration would support future installation — information that can be useful context for prospective buyers or tenants.
Two documents. One complete picture.
The Official SCE Certificate
The registered energy performance certificate, issued through the Portuguese SCE system, carrying the official energy rating from A+ to F. This is the document required by law before any sale or rental of the property can proceed.
The Advisory Report
Our written report explains what the rating means for your specific building — which elements are performing well, which are limiting the rating, and what each potential upgrade would mean for the rating and for annual energy costs. Written in plain language, without jargon, so you can use it to make informed decisions about any improvements you choose to pursue.
What we do not do
We are a technical assessment and reporting service. Being clear about what falls outside our scope is part of how we maintain the independence that makes our assessments useful.
Equipment sales
We do not sell insulation, windows, boilers, heat pumps, or any other building product. Our report may describe what type of upgrade would help — but we have no commercial interest in which product or brand you choose.
Installation services
We do not install anything. Our technicians visit to measure, assess, and document — not to carry out works. You engage contractors of your own choosing for any improvements you decide to make.
Project management
We do not manage upgrade projects or act as a procurement intermediary. Our role ends when we deliver the certificate and report. What you do with the information is entirely your decision.
Arrange a technical assessment for your property
Contact us to discuss your property and what the assessment process involves.