Over the past 15 years, we have seen the escalation of the minimum energy requirements in new build and renovations as a direct response to climate change and protecting the environment.

 

The directive requires member states to ensure all new homes were Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) by 31 December 2020.  A Part L 2019 compliant new build house will correspond to an A2 BER. This is also a requirement for renovations of existing dwellings due to their low energy performance where a minimum of BER B2 is deemed to be technically, functionally and economically feasible.

 

If you are in the process of building a new home or planning to renovate your existing home, McCarthy Construction recommends you consult a competent building professional, an architect and a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) registered Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor at the start of your project. The BER assessor will consult with your builder and/or architect to help you achieve the most effective and cost-effective solution for your project.  The most energy-efficient BER rating is A1, the least is G.

 

The assessor will issue a Part L Compliance Report using Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) software, which measures the home or dwelling’s energy performance based on standardised assumption and calculates your energy consumption.  This certification demonstrates the new regulations are implemented into your new home or renovation design.

 

The final word from John McCarthy, “even though your energy performance is assessed at the start of your project, more airtightness tests need to be carried out during the project to ensure you are on target to meeting compliance and this should be facilitated by your builder as part of his site management obligations”.  He advises “this is important as the responsibility for compliance is with the architect, builder and owner of the home or dwelling”.

 

 

If you are planning a new build or renovation project, contact us today to ensure you get the best advice and builder for your project- contact us

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