BER Services
Here at Progressive Energy we offer a wide range of BER services. All of our services are listed along the left menu. If you have an enquiry about any of our services or if you require a free quotation then please dont hesitate to contact us on 085-1698761 or through our contact page
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) grants are now available for the following areas:
|
MEASURE |
CATEGORY |
GRANT |
|
Roof |
Roof Insulation |
€250 |
|
Wall |
Cavity wall insulation |
€400 |
|
Internal Wall Dry-Lining |
€2,500 |
|
|
External wall insulation |
€4,000 |
|
|
Heating Controls |
High Efficiency Gas or Oil fired Boiler with Heating Controls Upgrade |
€700 |
|
Heating Controls Upgrade |
€500 |
|
|
BER Assessment |
A Before works and an After works BER assessment |
€200 |
*Terms and conditions apply.
Further grants available from SEI
Greener Homes Scheme
This scheme has been set up to provide assistance to homeowners seeking to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for new/existing homes
The following are the maximum amounts available:
|
Solar Thermal Space and or Hot water heating (Evacuated Tube) |
€300 per m2(to max.6m2 ) |
|
Solar Thermal Space and or Hot water heating (Flat Plate) |
€250 per m2 (to max.6m2 ) |
|
Heat Pump - Horizontal ground collector |
€2,500 |
|
Heat Pump - Vertical ground collector |
€3,500 |
|
Heat Pump - Water (well) to water |
€2,500 |
|
Heat Pump - Air source |
€2,000 |
|
Wood Chip/Pellet Stove |
€1,100 |
|
Biomass / Wood pellet Stove with integral boiler |
€1,800 |
|
Wood Chip/Pellet Boiler |
€3,000 |
Please see further information on the SEI website, call 1850 734 734 or email greenerhomes@sei.ie
Warmer Homes Scheme
Available for lower income households, this scheme covers:
- attic insulation
- draught proofing
- lagging jackets
- energy efficient lighting
- cavity wall insulation
- energy advice.
The programme is aimed at assisting occupiers of private rented and privately owned homes. Further details are available by contacting Ruth Buggie in SEI on +353 1 808 2048.
House of Tomorrow Programme
This programme is currently suspended however the SEI advise that should this scheme re-commence, it is likely that homes will have to surpass current performance standards by at least 60% to qualify for grants.
Renewable Heat Deployment Programme (ReHeat)
Grants are available under this programme for the deployment of renewable heating systems in industrial, commercial, public and community premises in Ireland. The scheme was expanded in 2007 and now includes:
Please see the SEI website for further information, application forms and feasibility study forms.
SEI Grants - Commercial
Launched in March 2007, the Renewable Heat (ReHeat) Deployment Programme provides assistance for the deployment of renewable heating systems in industrial, commercial, public and community premises in Ireland. The programme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and is an expansion of the previous Bioheat Boiler Deployment Programme which supported Wood Chip or Wood Pellet boilers only.
The Renewable Heat Deployment Programme aims to:
- Increase the deployment of renewable heating systems in commercial, industrial, public and community premises
- Achieve carbon emission savings and fossil fuel displacement
- Increase customer awareness and confidence in heating from renewable sources.
Financial support will be provided to assist new renewable energy based heating systems in the following categories: - Wood Chip or Pellet Boilers
- Solar Hot Water Heating Systems
- Heat Pumps
- Ground Source (Horizontal collector)
- Ground Source (Vertical collector - Borehole)
- Water Source (Well)
- Air Source
Under the ReHeat Programme, support of up to 30% of eligible costs is available for Capital Investment projects and support of up to 40% of eligible costs is available for Feasibility Study projects.
Energy Audits & Ratings
The focus on efficient use of energy has increased significantly in both the residential and commercial markets in Ireland and the UK over the last number of years on account of sharply rising costs in the traditional fuel sources; oil, gas, coal etc. At the same time, Governments across the EU have moved to meet the challenge by providing grant assistance to citizens and businesses that take on green technology solutions and creating legislative frameworks that actively promote/mandate the design of more energy efficient buildings.
Home and business owners who are looking to take a step into the Green Energy space are typically faced with the first question - 'where do I start?' The answer in all cases should be an assessment of projected or measured energy demand - how much am I or will I use? The assessment should include an examination of energy supply options - what is/are the best option(s) to meet my demand profile? Assessments typically take the form of an Energy Audit or a Building Energy Rating (BER).
What is an Energy Audit?
An energy audit is an assessment of the energy performance of a building or to put it simply, an 'energy health check'. It can highlight areas that require more attention and show which options are best suited to a particular building design and location. Starting from initial plans, the Audit Report investigates a number of different scenarios and shows how they can affect a building's energy performance.
What is a BER?: A building energy rating (BER) is simply an official certificate which indicates your home's measured or expected energy performance and carbon footprint. Your home is put on an A-B-C-D-E type scale similar to the ratings on fridges and washing machines, giving you a clear idea of the running costs you can expect to pay. An official BER can only be issued by a trained assessor who is registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).
BER - the Legal Requirements: In Ireland, an official Building Energy Rating (BER) is required by law if you are buying a new house for which the application for planning permission was submitted on or after 1st January 2007. Developers selling homes from plans are also required to provide a Provisional BER to buyers. Owner/occupiers will need a Final BER before moving in to the new dwelling. These BERs will be officially logged with the SEI. Some Local Authorities request a provisional BER upon application for planning permission.
Grants
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is promoting the wider use of Green Energy solutions in the Commercial market via a range of grants available through the Renewable Heat (ReHeat) Deployment Programme. A key requirement of a ReHeat grant approval is that an initial project feasibility study is undertaken. This study is the equivalent of a commercial energy audit and is intended to comprehensively assess the energy saving potential and overall project costs of the proposed green initiatives being considered by the commercial entity. Grant assistance is available for feasibility study. Currently, there is no grant assistance available to home owners for an energy audit or survey.
The Recommended Process: Energy audits and surveys are the best first step in assessing your home/building energy needs. Enerfina recommends an audit or survey to all customers contemplating a significant change to their home/building. The simple 3-step process involves:
1. Measuring your heating demand (kW/m2)
2. Assessing energy supply options (Solar, Geothermal, Wood Pellet, Wind Turbine etc.) and finally
3. Calculating the delivery costs and payback periods
WHAT IS A BER CERTIFICATE ?
The BER Certificate is an energy label for buildings similar to that used on domestic electrical appliances. The scale runs from red to green with a score in the red zone representing homes that consume the most energy. Over the years, building standards have improved significantly in terms of their heat retention and associated running costs. For example houses built in the 1970s were frequently built with cavity blocks and no insulation. Recent legislation insists that all new homes carry a minimum C1 rating.
WHAT BER RATING WOULD MY HOME HAVE ?
Every home is different. A BER assessment will rate your home taking into consideration the amount of energy used to run your home, the more energy used the lower the rating. You can reduce your energy consumption by installing more energy efficient heating systems, installing double or even triple glazed windows, dry lining walls to retain heat, replace normal lights with energy efficient ones etc. All new homes that comply with Building Regulations will have a minimum energy rating of C1. A B rating can be easily achieved if a C1 house installs or increases its area of solar panels. Costs of these panels have come down considerably and SEI offer considerable grant aid for such upgrades, as renewable energy installations
WHO NEEDS A BER CERT ?
From 1 January 2007 all new homes must comply with EU directives in relation to insulation and energy performance (C1 standard), however, there will be no obligation on owners to upgrade existing homes in the event that their home fails to achieve a good rating. It is expected however that homes with higher ratings will be easier to dispose of and they are likely to command higher prices on the open market. Naturally an A rated home will be much more attractive to buy than an E or D rated home. Indeed an A rated home will also be worth considerably more than inefficient houses with E, F and G ratings which would need considerable upgrades to improve its efficiency to a C for example but of course such an investment would make the house more comfortable and economic to live in and will pay for itself over coming years.
All new homes for which planning permission is applied for on or after 1st January 2007 must have a Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate before they can be offered for sale or for rent. From July 2008 the legislation will apply to non-domestic buildings for which planning permission is applied. And finally the legislation will apply to all buildings, new or otherwise, when offered for sale or for letting, after January 2009.