Case Study: EED Consumption Notifications Make a Difference
Do consumption notifications really lead to energy savings?The EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) requires landlords to inform residents of their monthly energy consumption. But do these so-called EED consumption notifications actually make a difference? According to property management company Ekona, the answer is a clear “Yes!”“There’s no doubt that EED works. I can clearly see in the consumption reports that tenants using Brunata Online consume less energy,” says Søren Møller-Nielsen, CEO of Ekona.
About Ekona
Ekona is a family-owned property company renting private apartments across several Danish cities. The company manages approximately 340 apartments across 38 sites and has been a Brunata customer since 2016.
EED – A Step Toward a Greener Future
To encourage more efficient energy use, the EU Energy Efficiency Directive requires landlords to provide residents with access to monthly energy consumption data. Since January 2022, landlords have been legally obligated to deliver this information each month during the heating season.
Tenants Adjust Their Energy Use
“We started sending EED consumption notifications in 2022, primarily to comply with the law,” explains Søren.
“I didn’t expect many tenants to react, but the reality surprised me. Up to two-thirds of our tenants now actively check their consumption on Brunata Online. That’s significantly more than I anticipated,” he adds.
Easier and Cheaper for Landlords
Initially, Ekona sent notifications manually by email and postal mail, which was time-consuming and difficult to manage, especially with bounced emails.
“Now that we use Brunata’s EED service, notifications are sent automatically. It costs us nothing as landlords,” says Søren.
From January 1, 2024, a change in rental legislation in Denmark allows all costs for EED notifications to be included in consumption accounting. This makes it free for housing associations and property managers to provide monthly consumption information.
“Continuing manual notifications would have been a waste of time. With Brunata’s service, tenants cover the cost by law, so we save both time and money.”
Better Communication
Previously, tenants received standard emails asking them to check their usage, which annoyed some residents.
“With the new service, tenants receive a PDF with their current consumption data, making the notification more relevant and less irritating,” says Søren.
For tenants without an email address, physical letters are still required. Brunata generates these letters, leaving Ekona to simply print and mail them.
Driving Toward a Sustainable Future
The ultimate goal of EED consumption notifications is to help tenants reduce energy use and contribute to a more sustainable future.
“I can see the effect in the consumption reports. Our tenants have reduced energy use by an estimated 10–15%. The EED goal is a 20% reduction, so we’re moving in the right direction,” Søren concludes with a smile.
EED in practice – making compliance simple
If you manage or rent out properties the EED applies to you as well.
Get a clear overview and a straightforward way to meet the directive.