Buildings & Energy
Building Regulations I
The built environment is to contribute more than two-thirds of projected energy savings in the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP). The savings are to be made by energy conservation requirements for residential and non-residential buildings and through energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2005 empowered the Minister for the Environment to make building regulations for the conservation of fuel and energy in relation to buildings and to transpose Directive 2002/91.
Standards in this Directive are also ther implemented by the Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2006 requiring Building Energy Ratings (BER) certificate for dwellings in accordance with the Directive.
The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2008 require that non-domestic buildings offered for sale or letting should have BER certificate. The Building (Part L Amendment) Regulations 2008 introduced a new methodology to measure the energy demand and CO2 emissions of new non-domestic buildings.
Building Regulations II
The Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2007 require that the design and construction of dwellings ensure that the energy performance of the dwelling limits the amount of energy required for the operation of the dwelling and the CO2 emissions associated with this energy use, insofar as is reasonably practicable.
The Building Regulations 2008 specify efficiency standards of 86 per cent for new and replaced oil and gas-fired boilers.
In the Building Regulations 2010, a target of a 60 per cent improvement in the energy performance of dwellings on 2002 standards has been set with an objective to have all new dwellings carbon neutral by 2013 and all other buildings carbon neutral by 2016. The 2010 Regulations also require a 30 per cent improvement in energy performance in non-domestic buildings compared to the standards in 2005 Regulations. A pilot programme to install smart meters in every home commenced in 2008.
Departmental Schemes
The Departments of the Environment and Energy administer grant schemes to retrofit houses for energy conservation. It is estimated that 25 per cent of existing energy use could be saved through existing technologies. Over €130 million raised from carbon taxes was to be applied to these purposes in 2010.
The Department of the Environment established a scheme, Towards Carbon Neutral, to support projects exceeding the current standards, which have minimum A2 BER in social housing in 2009 and 2010. There are about 145,000 social housing units involved. The Department aimed to grant €40 million in 2010 retrofitting social housing to meet BER C1 standards. The Department of Energy announced in 2011 that 30 million would be available for retrofitting homes in 2011.
The Greener Homes Scheme administered by SEAI offers financial incentives for installing renewable heating technologies to over25,000 homes since 2006. Â It administers energy agreement programmes with industries under which it partners with them in working towards the energy management standard.
Thermal standards for these buildings are prescribed in the Building Regulations 2002-10. Finance Act 2008 provide 100 per cent accelerated capital allowances for infrastructure software solutions, catering and hospitality equipment, refrigeration and cooling systems and electro-mechanical systems to encourage businesses to purchase plants and machinery, which is more energy efficient and reduces greenhouse gases.
BER Cert
The European Union (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2012 implement parts of the Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings. A person who commissions the construction of a building must examine the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of installing highly efficient alternative energy systems at the design stage. This applies to all new buildings for which planning permission is applied for after 2012.
A BER Certificate is required when a new or existing building is offered for sale or letting after 2012. When it is offered for sale from plans a provisional BER Certificate is issued which must be replaced by a final BER Certificate upon completion of construction. The BER rating of the building must be indicated in advertisements relating to the sale or letting of the property.
Buildings over 500 m² frequented by the public must display either a BER cert or display energy certificate in a common place visible to members of the public. This is extended to buildings over 250 m² after July 2015.
SEAI Administration
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is responsible for the administration of the BER system. The legislation provides for the registration of BER assessors
- Issue of BER Certificates
- maintenance of records
- databases documents
- quality assurance
- fees and levies
- codes of practice for assessors
- training providers.
There are provisions for enforcement of the legislation by authorised officers. Breach of the legislation attracts a penalty. SEAI may take steps to promote and advise the use of heating and air conditioning systems in accordance with the alternative approach set out in the regulations.
2018 Directive
Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EU) 2018/844 seeks to create a path to zero-emission buildings by 2020 based on national plans to decarbonise buildings. It encourages the use of information and communications technology and smart technologies to ensure that buildings operate efficiently, including automation and control systems.
Energy Performance
The European Union Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012 requires that the economic, technical and environmental feasibility of providing high efficiency, alternative energy systems, must be examined at the design stage in new building projects. Assessment of alternative energy systems, centralised energy supply systems, district heating and heat pumping must be considered in certain cases.
European Union Energy Efficiency Regulations implement the Energy Efficiency Directive. They place obligations on public bodies in relation to the energy efficient use. Public sector bodies are required to lead by example, in areas such as energy audits, energy efficient public procurement and the purchase and lease of energy efficient buildings.
Minimum criteria for energy audits are set out. A national registration scheme for registration of energy auditors is provided for.
The Regulations make requirements regarding rollout of meters or smart metering systems and  requirements for the promotion of energy efficiency in the combined heat and power sector.
CER Assessment
The Commission for Energy Regulation is required to ensure the national assessment of energy efficiency potential in the electricity and gas transmission and distribution sectors, is undertaken. The CER must ensure that a national assessment of the energy efficiency potential of the systems is carried out.
It should set out requirements to assist the removal of barriers to efficiency. It may require promotion of energy efficiency, information relating to energy usage, incentives, energy audits and services to all energy users. It may orovide surveillance and enforcement.
The EU eco-design requirements for certain energy related products provides a framework for eco-design requirements for energy products.