BER Certification
Building Energy Rating
A Building Energy Rating is an objective scale of comparison for he energy performance of a building ranging from A1 to G. BER certificates are not compulsory for the majority of new homes. From 1st January 2009, a BER Certificate will be required when buying or renting all homes, new or old.
The official method for carrying out a BER for a dwelling is the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP). It consists of step by step calculations within a series of individual modules. The modules deal with ventilation (including air tightness), heat losses, domestic hot water, internal heat gains, solar heat gains, mean internal temperature, space heat use, space heating requirements, total energy use and fuel costs, energy emissions and costs.
The calculations emerging from these modules are combined to produce and overall calculation of annual energy demand and CO2 emissions. The dwelling is then given a rating o a scale of A1 (best) to G (worst).
Air Tightness Testing
Specific details on house construction details have just been published by the Department of the Environment. This is available of the Department of Environment website. Adhering to these details will allow a construction company to prove the application of "Best Practice" in relation to energy conservation.
The contractor must ensure conformity with these or equivalent. This will impact on training of tradesmen an other operatives, snagging and internal audits to ensure conformity.