How to Improve Your BER Energy Rating
Since 2009, a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate and advisory report is required when selling or letting a property. The rating is on a simple A to G scale, with the highest-rated homes tending to have to lowest energy bills.
A BER makes the energy performance of a home visible to prospective buyers and tenants allowing them to take energy performance into consideration when buying or renting.
The advisory report identifies potential energy performance improvements that could lead to better comfort levels and reduced energy costs. The certificate is valid for 10 years, provided there is no material change to the property that could affect the energy performance.
In 2015, an interesting study was carried out by the ERSI and Ronan Lyons, Associate Professor of Economics at Trinity College. The study measured the price effect of BER ratings in the Dublin Residential Market between 2009 and 2015.
The study found that a one-point improvement on the BER rating scale reflected a 1% improvement on the sold price.
Investing in improvements to make a property more energy efficient can be costly and not feasible if the property is being sold.
However, there are some cost-effective ways to improve the BER rating and a multiple of this spend should be reflected in the sold price.
Below are some suggestions:
- Lower-energy light bulbs can use as little as 10% of the energy a regular light bulb uses, making a significant saving.
- A chimney is a significant source of heat loss in any property and a chimney balloon can easily be fitted to minimise this.
- By using a lagging jacket greater than 80mm in thickness can reduce hot water storage heat loss by up to 75%.
- Air vents are a requirement in modern homes and controllable vent covers can provide ventilation and serve to reduce heat loss.
- Draught stripping gaps between window frames and external doors is a cost-effective way of reducing air infiltration.
- Having adequate attic insulation can prevent up to 30% heat loss from a property. Any insulation product used should have a low U value.
- A hot water cylinder should have a timer and thermostat regulating temperature and reducing heat loss. The ideal temperature cut-off point is 60 degrees Celsius.
- Adequate heating controls, namely thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s) and room thermostats regulate heat output and minimise waste.