Building Energy Rating (BER)
Domestic BER Ratings by Period of Construction
Central Statistics Office (2020)
Central Statistics Office (2020)
A BER is a measure of how energy efficient a building is. It takes into account the annual consumption of energy for space heating, water heating, ventilation, lighting and associated fans and pumps. The BER scale runs from A-G. For example, an A-rated house is the most energy efficient, while a G-rated house is the least energy efficient. All dwellings that received planning permission since January 1st 2007 must have a BER Certificate, and all new homes must have a certificate before they are occupied. Any other dwellings or buildings that are for sale or letting since January 1st 2009 also require a BER certificate.
If you need to get a BER certificate for your home, you can find a list of assessors that have been registered with SEAI on the SEAI website.
Domestic Buildings BER Ratings 1700 - 2020
The cumulative total of BER audits conducted on domestic buildings from 2009 to September 2020 is over 1 million (Central Statistics Office, 2020). Unsurprisingly, buildings constructed prior to 2009 had lower BER performance compared with those constructed after this date (see image). In this context, all new buildings occupied after the 31st December 2020 are required to meet Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards. For Public Sector bodies, the standard applies to all new buildings owned and occupied at the 31st December 2018. NZEB means a building that has a very high energy performance. The nearly zero or minimal levels of energy required should be met to a very large extent by energy from renewable sources, including renewable sources produced on-site or nearby (SEAI, n.d.). This NZEB requirement equates to an A3 Building Energy Rating (BER). The improvement in BER performance is therefore a factor of EU and national legislation mandating improvements in energy efficiency.
For further information on BER performance for 2020, please go to the Central Statistics Office website here.
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