Building Energy Rating - Are you ready?

At EIL we can advise customers on all forms of renewable heating technologies that will comply with the new Building Energy ratings. Please contact us to find out how we can help you achieve an 'A' rated building.

What is a BER?

A BER (Building Energy Rating) is a standard calculation of the energy performance of a building, produced by a qualified assessor (approved by SEI). It is rather like the mpg or I/km rating for a motorcar of the A to G rating for a household electrical appliance.

History

The Building Energy Rating (BER) is a requirement of the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (2002/91/EC of 16 December 2002), which has now been transposed in Ireland by the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 666 of 2006)

The Implementation Dates

The requirement to provide a BER is being introduced on a phased basis as follows:

• New dwellings: The regulations apply to new dwellings for which planning permission was applied for on or after 1st January 2007. Transitional BER exemptions will apply to new dwellings for which planning permission is applied on or before 31st December 2006, where the new dwellings involved are substantially completed on or before 30th June 2008.
• New Non-Domestic Buildings: The regulations apply to new non-domestic buildings for which planning permission was applied for on or after 1st July 2008. Transitional BER exemptions will apply to new non-domestic buildings for which planning permission is applied on or before 30th June 2008 provided the new non-domestic buildings involved are substantially completed by 30th June 2010.
• Existing Buildings (dwellings and other buildings) when offered for sale or letting on or after 1st January 2009.

What will happen if I do not obtain a BER for my dwelling as required by law?

If you do not comply with a BER requirement you will be liable, on conviction in the District Court, to a maximum fine of €5,000. Failure to secure a BER certificate at the proper time could hinder or delay the legal completion of a sale or letting or a future disposal of the relevant dwelling.

How much will it cost?

Currently a BER fee is expected not to exceed €300 for a new dwelling. For non domestic buildings, BER fees will vary according to whether new or existing, and according to building size and complexity, and so will be expected to range widely.

What can be done to improve a BER for an existing dwelling?

Building energy performance options might include measures such as:

•  insulating the hot water cylinder and pipe work;
•  increasing the insulation in the walls/ attic/floor;
•  installing advanced energy efficient glazing;
•  replacing an old or inefficient boiler with a more efficient boiler;
•  installing modern heating controls;
•  installing certain types of renewable energy heating systems.

For this reason, the advisory report will be a key document in relation to existing dwellings. It may be particularly useful to those who have just purchased an existing dwelling which they plan to improve or remodel in their early stages of occupation.

For further information on BER please visit the SEI site www.sei.ie

Please contact the offices of EIL and we can help answer any questions you many have in relation to the BER regulations.