Home Energy Rating (HER)
Since 1st January this year all new homes for which planning permission is applied for must have a Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate before they can be offered for sale or for rent.
HER (Home Energy Rating Ltd.) is a newly launched company set up to carry out these Building Energy Ratings in Ireland. Based in Dublin, the company will initially focus on counties Dublin, Meath, Louth, Kildare and Wicklow.
This new legislation will apply to all non-domestic buildings for which planning permission is applied for from July 2008, and from January 2009 it will apply to all buildings, new or otherwise, when offered for sale or for letting. There will be no onus on owners of existing buildings to upgrade them, however, it is expected that the BER rating may have an effect on the value of properties in the future.
Background to the legislation
The Kyoto Protocol, adopted by 154 nations to date, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Arising out of this protocol, the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) seeks to ensure that the energy efficiency of every building will be known and recorded. It also encourages the construction of more energy efficient buildings with the resultant reduction of demand on diminishing stocks of fossil fuels as well as the reduction of detrimental CO2 emissions.
Buildings have been identified as being the largest users of energy in the EU representing 40% of our total energy consumption; however, with the dedication of citizens Europe-wide, it is anticipated that we can reduce this figure by approximately 20% by 2010.*
*B P Ó Gallachóir et al., Using Indicators to profile energy consumption and to inform energy policy in a University – A case study in Ireland, Energy & Buildings (2006), doi 10.1016/j.enbuild.2006.11.005
The BER Certificate
The BER Certificate is an energy label for buildings similar to that used on electrical appliances.
The scale runs from red to green with a score in the red zone representing homes that consume the most energy. Over the years, building standards have improved significantly in terms of their heat retention. For example houses built in the 1970s were frequently built with cavity blocks. Recent legislation insists that all new homes carry a minimum C1 rating.
About HER
HER was founded by Vincent Fogarty, MRICS, ASCS, AMIEI, ACIBSE who has over twenty five years experience of the construction industry in Ireland and the UK. Partners Seamus O’Doherty, BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying Dip. Con. Tech., Dip. Con. Law, ACIArb, Operations Director, has over 15 years’ of similar experience and Ann Sheehy, BA(Hons) Marketing, MMII, MIPFMA, Marketing Director has over 20 years experience in the property/construction sector. The company is supported by Dr. Ken Beattie , C.Eng., MIMechE, MCIBSE author of numerous papers on the subject of energy management which he has presented at World Congress events. Dr. Beattie is a lecturer in the Dublin Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Bolton Street.
The training of assessors and their required qualifications
Sustainable Energy Ireland is responsible for the registration of BER Assessors and ongoing supervision of the BER assessment scheme. Training is currently being provided by a number of different centres details of which are available on the SEI website.
HER assessors have completed SEI recognised training and are registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland.
How homes are likely to rate
All new homes must comply with the current building regulations including Part L and as such will achieve a minimum rating of C1. Houses of 5 years are likely to achieve a C3 rating, however it is expected that many older homes may achieve significantly lower ratings.
The House of Tomorrow
The so-called “House of Tomorrow” achieves a rating of B1 and upwards through the use of energy efficient construction methods both in the design of the individual homes and the design of the development. For example attention will have been paid to the orientation of the buildings to minimise wind-chill and optimise passive solar heat gain. Pedestrian and cycle lanes may have been provided within the estate or provision for waste recycling . Heating and ventilation systems may be provided from renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines or micro combined heat and power systems. A heat recovery system may have been installed and significant attention will most likely have been paid to air-tightness. Such homes often offer water efficient systems such as economy flush-toilets, mixer taps and rain-water collection systems where the water collected can be used for flushing toilets, washing cars or watering the garden. Appliances included with the new home are likely to be particularly energy efficient while some developments may even claim to be allergy and asthma friendly.
Under the House of Tomorrow Programme, grants of up to €8,000 can be applied for from SEI for new homes/apartments which achieve a BER rating of B1 or better i.e. 100 kWh/m2 or less and a Carbon Dioxide Emission rating (CDER) of no more than 70% of the Maximum permissible.
How Assessments will be carried out
In the case of new homes, assessments are carried out from the plans and specifications and it is advisable that that this is done before construction commences in order to incorporate any recommendations provided in the Advisory Report.
In the case of an existing home, the assessor will focus on elements such as
- the size of the house
- the year of construction
- the method of construction
- levels of insulation/lagging
- type of heating system
- water heating systems
- the number and type of windows and doors
and any other elements that would have an impact on the energy usage of the home.
The data is entered into the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) software system in order to calculate the rating of the dwelling. The visit should take no more than one hour. The BER Certificate and Advisory Report is subsequently issued by post.
The Advisory Report is a valuable document which will give owners useful pointers in relation to improving the rating of their dwelling. HER assessors can provide more in-depth reports should these be required.
No onus on existing home-owners to upgrade
Although all new homes must comply with EU directives in relation to insulation and energy performance (C1 standard), there will be no obligation on owners to upgrade existing homes in the event that their home fails to achieve a good rating.
It is expected, however, that homes with higher ratings, and therefore lower running costs, will be in greater demand and are likely to command higher prices on the open market.
Ann Sheehy, Marketing Director
HER (Home Energy Rating Ltd.)
Unit 6A, KCR Estate, Ravensdale Park, Kimmage, Dublin 12
T +353 1 492 5353
F +353 1 490 6436
E info@her.ie
W www.her.ie