How to get the best BER rating

The BER outcome depends on the evidence available and the energy features in your home. These steps help ensure the assessment reflects your property accurately.

1) Choose a qualified assessor

Use a qualified, registered BER assessor. A good assessor will take the time to gather the details needed for an accurate assessment.

2) Prepare evidence of upgrades

Receipts or invoices for insulation or major works (ideally showing address and scope) [more info]
Specifications for any new windows if they have been replaced
If an electric heat pump system has been installed, provide the installer sign-off documentation
If solar panels have been installed, provide Declaration of Works documentation signed-off by the installer

3) Quick wins that often help

Hot water cylinder insulation

A properly fitted lagging jacket reduces heat loss. If the existing jacket is thin, adding an additional layer can help.

Energy-efficient lighting

Replacing fixed light fittings with efficient LED bulbs can improve the assessment (portable lamps do not count).

Attic insulation

Ensure your attic insulation is up to standard (e.g. 300mm of mineral wool). Older houses may have 100mm or less laid between the joists. You can add another layer on top of the existing insulation, while building up some attic flooring in a small area for storage and for a walkway for maintenance access to the cold water tank. An SEAI grant is normally available for this if you get the work done by an SEAI registered contractor.

Upgrade an older boiler

If your central heating boiler is more than 10 years old, consider upgrading to a newer model, one of the condensing type boilers. Condensing boilers run at an efficiency of over 90%, whereas older non-condensing types run at lower efficiencies of 65%–85%.

Ventilation without over-ventilating

Ensure proper ventilation in your home, but without over-ventilating it. Most dwellings built since the 1970s have a vent in every habitable room (living room and bedrooms). Often these have a louvre-type plastic slotted cover located high up on the wall in the corner of the room. These covers can be replaced with an adjustable version (available in DIY stores) with a slider to open and close the vent, which can help reduce draughts in winter or very windy weather. If your house was built before the 1970s and has no wall vents, examine the window frames for trickle vents. Most such houses will have had their windows replaced by now. Trickle vents are openable vents built into the frames of replacement windows and are a good workaround for a room that lacks a wall vent. If an empty room feels stuffy when you walk into it, that is a good guide that the vent needs to be opened more. The only exception is any room with a fireplace — these rooms must have a permanently open louvre-type vent.

Stoves and open fires

A glass-fronted stove is more than twice as efficient as a basic open fire. When you light an open fire, most of your heat goes up the chimney, but in a stove, this airflow is controlled and slowed down. The same principle applies with gas fires- any that have a glass front are more efficient than those that mimic a traditional open coal fire. If the fire is rarely or never used, consider removing the entire fireplace and plastering over it. Now you have an ideal spot for your new flat screen TV! Lastly cap the chimney to keep the rain out.

4) Plan bigger improvements sensibly

Measures such as increasing insulation levels, improving airtightness, upgrading heating controls, or installing renewables can make a substantial difference. Installing Solar PV panels on your roof normally improves your BER rating by one or two BER grades. South facing roofs are best, but east and west are also good because they can generate around 80% of the electricity compared to south facing. Storage batteries are optional in your Solar PV system. Remember that batteries lose their capacity over time, so they won’t last as long as the rest of the system. You can always export your power to the national grid instead, and then buy back electricity later at the cheaper night time tariff. Check the current export tariffs available to you from the electricity suppliers when selling power into the grid, versus the off-peak tariffs available to you when buying back from the grid at night. Then consult with the Solar PV contractors regarding the current types and prices of batteries, before making a decision on whether you want battery storage. If you are planning an energy upgrade and wish to avail of SEAI grants, always bear in mind that you will need to get grant approval from SEAI before you start the work.

Next step

See Top tips and Grants & supports, or contact us if you have any questions.

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