A BER journey

Introduction

This is to my BER jouney to get a house built in 1964 to a B2 rating for the lowest possible cost, quickest payback period and largest reduction in overall running costs. This has been a much more difficult and complicated journey than expected, due to the  amount of knowledge you need to understand to make informed decisions and fully quantify  solutions. In addition, approved suppliers are in business to generate revenue and make a profit on the work they carry out. However, there can be large differences in costs from supplier to supplier.

What is a Building Energy Certificate (BER) and what does it measure

• https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/owning-a-home/home-owners/getting-a-building-energy-rating-for-your-home/#:~:text=A%20Building%20Energy%20Rating%20(BER,G%2Drated%20homes%20the%20least.

• The BER process is to measure C02 emissions 

Simplified BER rating 2026

• https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/press-releases/simplified-building-energy-ratings-ber-for-residential-properties-to-be-introduced-from-may-2026/

• https://www.seai.ie/ber/new-simplified-scale

How to prepare for a BER assessment 

• https://www.seai.ie/sites/default/files/publications/Preparing-Your-Client-for-a-BER-Assessment.pdf

It is key to understand the BER process and the DEAP methodology. The more you know the better the outcome for you.

• https://www.seai.ie/sites/default/files/publications/Introduction_to_DEAP_for_Professionals.pdf

• https://www.seai.ie/ber/support-for-ber-assessors/deap

• https://www.seai.ie/ber/understand-a-ber-rating

What are the minimum measures you can implement to get to a B2

• Insullation (wall, attick, floor)

• Windows

• Heating controls 

• Solar panels

• Low energy lightbulbs 

• Closing off a fireplace 

Issues that affect the viability of some measures

• How much cash can you raise 

• How much disruption can you handle 

• Does your house require re wiring or re plumbing 

Existing housing stock & current BER ratings 

• Approximatly 400 house built in the 60's to early 70's

• The lowest level of BER ratings in DLR

• Area now added as a decarbonising zone 

What is stopping people upgrade their houses and how could the RA help 

• Cannot take on any extra debt (people may earn an above average wage, but pay lots of tax and in a lots of cases lots of debt to service, thus less disposable income)

• Extra costs related to old houses e.g re wire and re plumb of a property could be 70k

• Even with the SEAI grants in a lot of cases the ability to raise the capital is out of reach 

• Advocate for significant increases in funding for older housing stock 

• Look into community based upgrade projects that could lower capital costs due to group purchasing 

• The creation of a community based not for profit retrofit company. Most of the existing SEAI approved one stop shops are just setup as a management entity that uses outsource providers to do all the upgrades, thus if a management entity makes 20% net profit a not for profit entity doing the same thing would be able to reduce overall costs by over 20% (This point would require a lot more analysis etc)

Changes to rental rules from 2026 onwards 

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2025-11-20/49/

https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland.pdf

• To rent out a property there will be a minimum you requirement of a BER D2 by end of 2026 and a BER B2 by 2030