Cranagh Energy: Building Energy Rating (BER) Assessors
Building Energy Rating Assessors
Building Energy Rating - BER
What is a BER?
The government has enacted legislation to define the minimum energy performance of new buildings to conform with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. This legislation comprises the Building Regulations 2005 Part L (and more recently the Building Regulations 2008 Part L). They have also introduced a rating scheme called the Building Energy Rating (BER) for new and existing buildings.
The BER for a property is similar to the energy rating label that we see on domestic appliances such as freezers, fridges and washing machines. The rating is on a 21 band scale from A1 down to G and is an indication of how energy efficient a building is. An A1 rated home is the most energy efficient and will require less energy and will be less costly to run, for example, than a B3 rated home of a similar size and type.
Typically, homes that have been built in the last 10 years would expect to achieve a B or C rating, whereas homes built in the 80's or earlier would only expect to achieve a D or E rating due to less stringent building regulations in force at the time. A standard house built to the most recent Building Regulations 2008 Part L would expect to achieve a rating of possibly B1 or higher.