Building Energy Rating (BER) and Home Energy Economy

Building Energy Rating is your way of knowing how your building is faring energy wise. If you follow the guide lines of the advisory report that accompany the BER you can make the dwelling energy efficient as well.

What is BER?

A BER is an energy label for a dwelling whether domestic or non-domestic. It is similar to the electrical appliance energy labeling found in, for example in your fridge. The label has a colour coded scale of A to G with 15 sub divisions in between. A- rated homes are the most energy efficient and G the least efficient. The BER in addition gives you an indication how “ green ” your building is, through an estimated annual CO 2 emission per unit house area figure.

Who needs it?

From the 1st of January 2009 a BER certificate is compulsory for all dwellings being sold or rented in Ireland . If you are buying or renting a new house or apartment now, you are entitled to a BER .The seller, landlord or in their absence their agent is legally bound to provide this to you. Why? Because your future energy bills will depend on the dwellings energy performance and BER will highlight it. If you build it new for your own use, still you will have to obtain and retain a BER certification according to the new regulations.

Who assesses a BER?

BER assessment has to be carried out by specialized personnel qualified, competent and trained in the job. They have to be duly registered with the SEI, the ultimate authority responsible for managing and maintaining the scheme.

The basis of BER computation

The Irish official procedure for calculating and assessing the energy performance of buildings is the DEAP or Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure. The DEAP takes in to account the energy required for Space Heating, Ventilation, Water Heating, Lighting, less savings from the energy generation technologies. For standardized occupancy it calculates annual primary energy consumption, delivered energy consumption and CO 2 emissions (both totals and per unit floor area of the building).Both software based and Excel format based calculation procedures are practiced.

The factors considered for DEAP based BER

• Size, geometry and exposure of the building
• Materials used for the construction of the building
• Thermal insulation of the different elements of the building shell
• Ventilation characteristics of the building and the ventilation equipment
• Efficiency, responsiveness and control characteristics of the heating system
• Solar gains through glazed openings of the dwelling
• Thermal Storage capacity (building mass) of the dwelling
• The fuel used for space heating and water heating, ventilation and lighting
• Renewable and alternative energy generation technologies incorporated in the building.

Standardized factors

If you are thinking of improving the energy efficiency of your building and have a higher BER all aspects of the energy rating should be taken in to account. Standardized assumptions of occupancy, levels and duration of Heating, usage of domestic electrical appliances etc. used is thus not influencing the BER computations though the actual individual behavioral patterns may vary.

A BER certificate and the advisory report more or less will be alike an energy consultant in your home (though at a basic level). When your energy bills seem to drain your earnings a look at the BER and the advisory report may help you to plug it.