A Building Energy Rating (BER) is a standardized report that evaluates the energy efficiency of your home. The BER provides a rating on a scale from A1 (most efficient) to G (least efficient), reflecting the building’s calculated annual energy use for heating, hot water, ventilation, and lighting, expressed in kilowatt-hours per square meter per year.
Key Aspects of a BER Report in Ireland
Purpose
- The BER Report informs homeowners, buyers, or renters about a building’s energy performance.
- It’s mandatory for all homes and buildings offered for sale or rent, as well as new constructions since 2007 (for homes) and 2008 (for non-residential buildings)
- It helps Homeology identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
Process- A registered BER assessor conducts an on-site inspection, examining elements like insulation, heating systems (e.g., boilers, heat pumps), windows, ventilation, and renewable energy sources (if any).
- The assessor uses software (e.g., Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure [DEAP] for homes) to calculate the rating.
- The resulting BER certificate is valid for 10 years unless significant changes (e.g., renovations) alter the building’s energy performance.
Accompanying Advisory Report- Alongside the BER certificate, an advisory report suggests practical upgrades, such as improving insulation, switching to renewable heating systems (like heat pumps), or installing energy-efficient lighting. Once the BER rating is received Homeology can provide you with advice and options on how to achieve your energy upgrades.
Trends
- Retrofitting: Ireland’s Climate Action Plan aims to retrofit 500,000 homes to a B2 rating or better by 2030.
- Energy Use: Homes account for about 25% of Ireland’s energy consumption and 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, driving policies like banning oil boilers in new homes (since 2022) and gas boilers (planned for 2025).
At Homeology Retrofit once we have your BER rating we can begin to develop a custom retrofit plan to help you achieve a minimum of B2 and the home of your dreams.
Call our expert team to start your retrofitting journey today.
