#guideyouhome
You may have noticed the term BER in property advertisements. This is a requirement on all property.
A Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate indicates your building's energy performance. It is similar to the energy label for household appliances.
The certificate rates your building on a scale of A-G. A-rated homes are the most energy efficient and will tend to have the lowest energy bills. G-rated are the least energy efficient.
If you are buying a property it should have a verified BER certificate which will give you an idea of what it will cost to heat your home. For example, a typical two bed apartment with an A-rating will cost around €280 to heat, versus €3,000 for a similar apartment with a G rating (source: SEAI).
An A-rated property, for example, will be much cheaper to run than one that has a G rating.
Your BER is calculated through energy use for space and hot water heating, ventilation, and lighting.
The number of people likely to occupy a building is also taken in consideration. This is based on the average number of occupants in buildings of a similar size.
In some new developments a lender may request you to obtain a BER certificate for the individual home you are purchasing even though the overall BER for the development has been established by the builder.
