Placepoint

Energiklass

Energiklass is the letter scale from A to G that shows how energy efficient a building is, stated in a Swedish energideklaration. A is the lowest energy use, G is the highest. The scale replaced the earlier energy levels on 01/01/2014, and from 25/05/2026 an eighth class, A0, was added for zero-emission buildings.

The class is not worked out from a fixed number, but relatively: Boverket requires the declaration to state both the building's calculated energy performance and the requirement that would apply to a new building of the same type, both expressed as primärenergital, see lagen (2006:985) om energideklaration för byggnader, section 9. Class C is calibrated to roughly the level a new building must meet under Boverkets byggregler. Buildings with lower energy use than the new-build requirement land in class A or B, buildings with higher use in D to G. Older homes from the 1970s and 1980s often land in E or F.

The primärenergital is the actual measure behind the class. It is calculated by multiplying the building's energy use for heating, hot water, comfort cooling and property electricity (not household electricity) by a weighting factor per energy carrier: electricity weighs the most with a factor of 1.8, district heating the least with a factor of 0.7, precisely because saving different types of energy matters to different degrees. The result is adjusted geographically and divided by the heated floor area, known as Atemp. Boverkets byggregler, table 9:2a, sets the maximum permitted primärenergital for new buildings, differentiated by whether it is a småhus, flerbostadshus or lokal, and by the size of the småhus.

The A0 class arrived in two steps. On 25/05/2026 Boverket introduced the class through BFS 2026:2, an amendment to the original energy declaration regulation (BFS 2007:4), with a temporary definition of nollutsläppsbyggnad in order to meet the EU implementation deadline of 29/05/2026. From 01/10/2026 the definition changes again, and at the same time the whole unit of measurement is switched: energy performance will then be expressed as energiprestandatal instead of primärenergital, as part of the overall reform of Boverkets byggregler.

The duty to state the energy class is not merely informative. Under lagen (2006:985) section 13, the owner, or the seller when a share is sold, must make sure that the building's energy performance appears in the listing when the building or part of it is offered for sale or rent, in any medium. The exception is if no valid declaration exists at the time of advertising.

The Norwegian counterpart is energimerking, which also uses the A to G scale, but Norway additionally has a separate colour rating from green to red showing the share of renewable heating, independent of the letter rating. Sweden has no equivalent second scale. Instead, the choice of heating source is built into the primärenergital itself, through the weighting factors per energy carrier. The register also sits with different authorities: Enova in Norway, Boverket in Sweden.

From Placepoint's glossary: Energiklass

More information: Boverket: Energideklarationens innehåll, Boverket: Primärenergital och byggnadens energiprestanda, Boverket: Annonsering

English: Energy performance class (the A to G rating shown on a Swedish energy performance certificate).

Common questions we come across

What is energiklass in Sweden?

The scale from A to G, and since 25/05/2026 also A0, which shows how energy efficient a building is. It is derived from the building's primärenergital and stated in the energideklaration.

How is the energy class calculated?

By comparing the building's primärenergital with the requirement that would apply to a new building of the same type. Class C corresponds roughly to the new-build requirement. Lower energy use gives A or B, higher gives D to G.

What is the A0 class?

A new class for nollutsläppsbyggnader, introduced in two steps: on 25/05/2026 with a temporary definition, and from 01/10/2026 with an adjusted definition as part of the reform of Boverkets byggregler.

Must the energy class be stated in property listings?

Yes. Under lagen (2006:985) section 13, the owner or the seller must make sure that the building's energy performance appears in the listing when the property is sold or rented out, unless no valid declaration exists yet.

What is the difference between the Swedish energiklass and Norwegian energimerking?

Both use the A to G scale. Norway additionally has a separate colour rating for the share of renewable heating, which Sweden does not have. There, the choice of energy carrier is instead built into the primärenergital itself.