Building Energy Ratings Accessor

What is a Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate?
A BER certificate is an objective scale of comparison of the energy performance of a building. The BER ranges from A1 to G - similar to the ratings on electrical appliances. The BER determines the Energy requirements and CO2 emissions of a particular building.

Who can Complete a BER?
All BER assessors must be qualified and registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) in order to complete and issue a BER. Hayes Higgins Partnership is fully registered with SEI for Domestic BER certification.

What Information does a BER Certificate Contain?

The building’s energy rating category from A1 to G with A1 being the best result attainable.
The primary energy usage in kilowatt-hours per square meter floor area per year (kWh/m2/yr)
The CO2 emissions of the dwelling
Date of issue, assessor details, building owner/address etc.

What Factors Determine the BER Achieved?
The BER will determine the overall energy cost of heating the building and hot water. This will be determined by numerous factors including:

Floor area & volume of the building and Year of construction
Fabric U-Values (walls, floors, roofs, windows)
Ventilation (chimneys, vents, fans, sheltering)
Heating System (type, age, efficiency)
Heating Distribution (radiators, underfloor, storage heating)
Heating Controls - (thermostats, timers etc.)
Hot Water (cylinder size, insulation, immersion, controls)
Renewable Energies (Heatpumps, Solar Panels etc.)
External Doors & Windows (U-Value as determined by frame & glass type/thickness, orientation, sizes etc.)
Fuels (gas, oil, electricity, solid fuel, wood pellet etc.)

Who requires a BER?
From 1st January 2009 a BER will be legally required by anybody who is:

Constructing a New Building (whether for sale or own use)
Selling a Building (new or existing)
Renting/Leasing a Building (new or existing)
Applies to Domestic & Non-Domestic Buildings

Note, for new Dwellings, a Provisional BER is required before construction commences and must be updated upon completion.

What are the benefits of a BER for me?
Apart from being a legal requirement, a BER allows:

Persons building their own home optimise the building design, heating system and insulation levels to optimise the BER achievable.
Owners of existing dwellings determine energy wastage and where practical improvements can be made.
Prospective buyers and tenants evaluate the energy rating/efficiency of a building before purchasing/renting.
Developers/auctioneers market dwellings with high BER ratings as being low cost - energy efficient.
The BER rating of a dwelling will soon be a major factor influencing sale prices.

How long will a BER certificate last?
10 years from date of issue, unless there are material changes to building affecting its energy performance.

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