Building Energy Rating IrelandThe EU Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD)Building energy rating Ireland - This EU initiative has been brought into Ireland as a method to reduce CO2 emissions created in the construction sector. This applies to all domestic buildings built from 1 July 2008 and all existing domestic buildings when offered for sale from 1 January 2009. This also applies to all non domestic buildings built from 30 June 2010. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) initiated the directive across Ireland on behalf of the Irish Government.
The requirement is for the building owner to pay for a registered Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor who provides the prospective property buyer or tenant with a BER Certificate. A BER Certificate provides a reference point from the energy performance of the building, which is taken into consideration by the prospective property buyer or tenant. This means the new occupant how efficient the building will be to heat.
Homes with low ratings will cost less to heat and so will be more valuable to the prospective occupant – saving them money on their utility bills in the long run. Poor energy rated homes will be less attractive and will literally cost more money to keep heated.
Another encouraging perspective is that low energy rated homes will reduce the amount of carbon emissions created by the use of energy. This helps lessen the damage on the surrounding natural environment and lowers the risk to human health in the long term from exposure to air pollution.
Here are some of the areas that can improve/lessen your BER rating:
♦ Construction materials
View Sustainable Energy Ireland's website for more details on Building energy rating Ireland.
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