Energy Costs.
Energy Costs.
Embedded Files
What is a Building Energy Certificate (BER) and what does it measure
The BER process is to measure C02 emissions
How to prepare for a BER assessment
https://www.seai.ie/sites/default/files/publications/Preparing-Your-Client-for-a-BER-Assessment.pdf
If a BER assessor cannot verify the R or U value or energy usage of boilers, appliance lightbulbs etc they have to use default values, so being able to provide any document, invoice, energy rating document, 60 years old architectural plans, and plans for extensions etc. Carrying out a full BTU assessment and challenging any default value and asking how or what do we need to verify the correct value and not default. You are always trying to get to the lowest U value for any building element
Simplified BER ratings 2026
What are the cheapest measures you can implement in an old house to move from BER E1 - BER B2 or below without bankrupting yourself
External wall insulation 100mm
internal wall insulation 40mm (if you can and have some extra cash)
Attick insulation 300mm
Gas central heating and a reduction in the amount of Kwh the boiler produces because more insulation less heat power required, ensure the boiler is sized correctly, condensing and over 90% efficient
Heating controls installation, seperate radiators from hot water
upgrade your radiators to K22 and correct sizes heat the area with all the extra insulation (you can buy 16 K22 rads from screwfix + valves for €1100 euros or spend 10k somewhere else...search for the deal)
https://www.stelrad.com/advice-hub/heat-loss-programmes/
Upgrade all glass windows and doors minimum U value 1.2 for double glazed or 0.8 for triple glazed (search for the cheapest deal, the cost difference is massive, buy from poland etc)
Stick some solar panel on the roof (does not have to be a big solution to lower your BER)
Replace every light bulb with high performing LED's very cheap and they last for ever
Ensure all your major appliances are low energy rated. A 20 year old fridge can use 20% or more electricity vs a new cheap one for a few hundred euros. You do not have to spend thousands unless you like fancy looking appliances, but if the are all behind kitchen doors who cares
Note: 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/understand-a-ber-rating
Energy costs in Ireland are some of the highest in the EU.
The majority of the housing stock of 325 houses in Beech Park / South Park were built between 1962 and 1964 and used the building technologies of the time, concrete block construction, single glazed windows, oil central heating and minimal insulation.
The difference in energy related running costs for a 4 or 5 bedroom house built in the 1960's with a low BER rating and not upgraded to comply with the enhanced building regulations for houses built post year 2000 with higher BER rating could easily equate to an extra €5000 per year in running costs.
There are many ways and associated supports available to to reduce the energy consumption of a house and reduce its runnings costs and provides the householder with a more comfortable living environment and in most cases a property that has increased in value.
There are many residents in our area who have already carried out the different types of upgrades to their houses and those residents could help to provide advice and guidance to other residents who may want to embark on the same journey.
Starting an energy upgrade journey can be quite daunting for some people as there are many differenet solutions, many different suppliers, costs per solution can vary wildly, grant related information and supports can be confusing and finding accurate information regarding the relevant solution performance and cost benefit can be a steep learning curve that some residents do not have the ability to undertake. Thus residents who have already built up this knowledge are a valuable resource to the residents to help them through this process.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are the primary resource for homeowners and related grant supports.
https://www.seai.ie/plan-your-energy-journey/for-your-home
However, there are other grants in place for wider community based initiatives like the implementation of a Sustainable Energy Community (SEC).
There are many SEC projects already in place in Dublin and quite a few SEC's already funded by DLRCC.
The implementation of an SEC through a residents association could help to develop an overall community energy plan for the residents of the association and if the relevant solutions were validated by the association community an implementation plan could be developed.
There could be some benefits to the community if this occured:
Specific solutions validated that work for the housing stock in the association area.
The identification of reliable vendors of relevant solutions.
Knowledge transfer amongst residents and removing the requirement for all residents to become technical experts in the evaluation, cost benefit and payback times related to relevant solutions.
Help and advice related to some energy solutions that do not work in the main type of housing stock within the area without significant building fabric upgrades and information to there cost benefit e.g is a particular solution worth the initial cost.
Help and advice related to Building Energy Ratings (BER) and the mechanism used by the BER assessor uses to calculate your BER. There are quite a few areas within this assesment process that can affect your overall BER rating final result in a positive or a negative way.
Community related buying power e.g a number of residents acting together to purchase a relevant solution from a vendor and any related diccounts that you may be able to achieve through a group based purchase.
The Beech Park residents association could represent 365 housholds within our community and could avail of community based grants to develop community based energy solutions
Why would you do this
The housing stock within our community is mostly from the 1960's
The housing stock is mostly not energy efficient thus running costs for these homes are above national averages
Leverage the size of the community to negotiate with suppliers and reduce solution upgrade costs
Analyze household income levels and support homeowners that may not be availing of relevant home energy upgrades that they could be entitled to e.g Elderly residents, Residents asset rich but cash poor etc
Generate community expertise and help to upgrade all the related housing stock at the lowest capital costs to residents
Help redidents to understand retufn in investment on energy upgraded, payback time and increase in property value.
Reduce house running costs and increase house value
Increase the value of old hosing stock. i.e 2 house with similar layouts e.g 2 x 4 bed detached within our area with 2 BER rating of E1 and A3 would have a estimated difference in value of more than €100K due to running costs and preferential mortage rates for A rated homes. Low rated houses are worth less and cost more to run and buyers and the banks are aware of these facts
Home owners of housing stock with a BER rating of E1 and between D2 & B2 and rental requlation changes from 2026 to 2030
There are a lot of regulatory changes related to the renting of properties and associated BER ratings
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
So to be able to rent out a property you need to be at a BER D2 by end of 2026 and a BER B2 by 2030, thus a substantial amount of housing units in our area could not be rented out legally as they are BER E1. Now ask the question how will this affect the value of your house in the future
The housing crisis, multi generational housing & and the implementation of overflow housing units within an existing household
There are a number of changes the goverment are considering that will come into effect within the next number of years that will have an effect on our area within the next number of years
The addition of 45 sqare meter housing units (1 or 2 bedroom units) usually in back gardens to facilitate grown up children, older family members or new housing stock e.g rental units in some cases
There are many other ways a community can work together to implement solutions that benefit the community and support the overall climate action plan for Ireland.
Google Sites
Report abuse