January 01 2009 marks a significant date for home-owners and potential buyers as that is the day the new Building Energy Rating for all existing buildings comes into effect. This marks the final stage of the BER Implementation and implication of the EU Directive 2002/91/EC which aims to promote improvements in the energy performance of buildings. However, most people are unaware of its introduction. From 1st January 2009, all homes offered for sale or rent will be required by law to have a Building Energy Certificate, with fines of up to €5,000 for non-compliance.
The idea behind the BER certificate is to encourage energy efficiency and, by spelling out the performance of a building, give potential purchasers or tenants an idea of how energy efficient the property is. Each BER service assessment will ascertain exactly how much energy and carbon a house will use or produce over a given year, and the performance will be rated from A to G. (A indicating the most energy efficient and G the least).
Valid for ten years from the date of issue, the BER service assessment will address space and water heating, ventilation lighting and insulation. Owners will be required to supply a Building Energy Rating Certificate when selling or renting a property. The sole exemptions will be properties that are listed or are of historic or architectural importance. Therefore, the law will affect the vast majority of Irish homeowners. Any house built since January 2007 already complies with the EU directive and has a BER certificate.
As part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive a Building Energy Rating Certificate, which is effectively an energy label, is required at the point of sale or rental of a building, or on completion of a new building. The BER certificate will be accompanied by a BER service "Advisory Report" setting out recommendations for cost-effective improvements to the energy performance of the building. There will be no legal obligation on vendors or prospective purchasers to carry out the recommended improvements.
Building Energy Rating Certificates will be published by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) on a public BER Register.
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Ireland has discovered the need to increase awareness of our carbon footprint and energy waste and the cost of this will now prepare us to re-think the construction of buildings and using the materials and knowledge available to us create not just an Enviromentally Friendly House but one that is comfortable and meets the needs of a modern Irish Family, which are cheaper to maintain and have a higher resale value.
By 2020 all houses in Ireland must be carbon neutral structure but there's no reason not to achieve it today.
