Publication
New Energy Efficiency and Ventilation Standards for Major Renovations to Buildings
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From 1 November 2019, new building standards will apply to major renovations on existing residential dwellings. Such dwellings will require a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or equivalent. A BER certificate shows a building’s energy performance. Most existing dwellings (houses or apartments) are energy inefficient. Seventy-eight per cent of dwellings have a C2 BER or worse.
Where more than 25% of the surface area of the existing dwelling (this included the walls and the roof) is being renovated, the energy performance of the building or the renovated part of the building must meet the new energy efficiency requirements. The standards must be met if it is technically, functionally and economically possible.
Typically, the requirement will apply where a homeowner is doing one of the following:
These changes will result in newly renovated homes being more energy efficient. They will give health benefits from greater comfort and improved air quality. With 40% of Ireland’s energy-related carbon emissions coming from buildings, these changes will help address climate change.
These changes come from the EU’s Major Renovation Regulations. The regulations will apply to major renovations that start or take place on or after 1 November 2019 except where:
If you are planning on getting a major renovation done to your home it is a good idea to know about these requirements and to discuss them with an architect or planning professional before the project begins.
The government provides Home Energy grants for:
For more information on these grants and how you can apply for them for major renovations to your home to reduce your costs, visit the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s website.