In Germany, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive has mainly been implemented via the Buildings Energy Act (Gebäudeenergiegesetz or GEG). The GEG sets out the requirements for energy performance certificates for buildings. It contains formal requirements for the certificates and stipulates the minimum information that must be provided. Energy performance certificates exclusively serve to provide information about the energy characteristics of a building and are intended to enable a rough comparison of buildings.

There are two types of certificates — one is based on a building's energy demand and the other on the building's energy consumption. Energy performance certificates must be presented by the seller or landlord to the potential buyer or tenant before the sale or renting of a building or apartment. Furthermore, where a building is open for a high level of public traffic, an energy performance certificate must be displayed by the owner in a place visible to the public. In principle, the obligated party can choose to either fulfil this obligation by means of an energy performance certificate based on the building's energy demand or its energy consumption. In two cases, however, this obligation can only be fulfilled by means of a certificate based on the building's energy demand: for (i) all constellations regarding new buildings and (ii) when residential buildings that have fewer than five apartments and for which the application for a construction permit was submitted after 1 November 1977 are sold.