The Building Energy Rating (BER) is a government-mandated system for assessing the energy efficiency of buildings in Ireland. It is used to inform homeowners and potential buyers about how much energy a building consumes and how much it costs to run.
BER searches were introduced in October 2023, allowing users to filter property search results by BER rating. This is a significant development, as it will make it easier for people to find energy-efficient homes and businesses.
In this article, we will explain what BER searches are and how to use them. We will also discuss the benefits of living in an energy-efficient home and how to improve the BER rating of your property.
What are BER searches?
BER searches are a new feature that allows users to filter property search results by BER rating. This means that you can now search for properties that have a specific BER rating, such as A2 or B1.
To use BER searches, simply go to the property search page and enter the desired BER rating in the Search field. You can also select a range of BER ratings to filter your search results.
Benefits of using BER searches
There are a number of benefits to using BER searches when searching for properties.
- Find energy-efficient homes and businesses more easily. BER filters make it easy to find properties that have a high BER rating, which means that they are energy-efficient and will cost less to run.
- Make more informed decisions about property. Having information about the BER rating of a property can help you to make more informed decisions about whether or not to buy or rent it.
- Save money on your energy bills. Living in an energy-efficient home can save you money on your energy bills. This is because energy-efficient homes use less energy to heat and cool, which means that you will pay less for your energy.
How to improve the BER rating of your property
There are a number of things that you can do to improve the BER rating of your property. Some of the most common measures include:
- Insulating your attic and walls. Insulation helps to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which can lead to significant energy savings.
- Upgrading your heating system. If you have an older heating system, it may be worth upgrading to a more efficient model.
- Installing renewable energy technologies. Renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and heat pumps, can help to reduce your energy costs and improve your BER rating.
BER searches are a valuable new feature that can help you to find energy-efficient homes and businesses more easily. If you are buying or renting a property, it is important to consider the BER rating. Living in an energy-efficient home can save you money on your energy bills and help to reduce your environmental impact.
In addition to the information above, here are some other things to keep in mind about BER filters:
- BER filters are currently only available for residential properties.
How to use BER filters to find energy-efficient homes
To use BER searches to find energy-efficient homes, simply follow these steps:
- Go to the property search page.
- Enter the desired BER rating in the search field.
- Click the “Search” button.
The property search results will now be filtered to only show properties that have the desired BER rating.
You can also select a range of BER ratings to filter your search results. To do this, click the “BER range” link and enter the desired BER rating range.
How to improve the BER rating of your property
There are a number of things that you can do to improve the BER rating of your property. Some of the most common measures include:
- Insulating your attic and walls. Insulation helps to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which can lead to significant energy savings.
- Upgrading your heating system. If you have an older heating system, it may be worth upgrading to a more efficient model.
- Installing renewable energy technologies. Renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and heat pumps, can help to reduce your energy costs and improve your BER rating.
