List of BER Assessors in Donegal

This blog will helps homeowners to understand the role of BER assessors in Donegal and how a BER can be used to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Why Do You Need A BER Assessor?

Obtaining a BER is mandatory in Ireland when you build, sell, or rent a home. The BER provide valuable information about the energy performance of the home. You also receive an advisory report with every BER Certificate which highlights areas for improvement which can be beneficial if you’re looking to reduce energy costs, increase comfort, or enhance the value of your property. You also will require a BER if you are availing of Grant support through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The role of a BER assessor in Donegal

1. The role of a BER assessor is not just to undertake a BER rating on your home. They also offer insights into how the energy performance of the home can be improved. They use specialized software called DEAP (Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure) which analysis the data collected during their on-site survey. This provides the foundation for any recommendations made to improve energy efficiency of your home

Technical Advisors In Donegal

If you are applying for an SEAI heat pump grant you must undertake a Technical Assessment. A professional must register as a technical advisor with SEAI and the list can be found here. The Technical Advisor role is to identify if the home is suitable for a heat pump system based on the dwelling’s heat loss. If the homes HLI is above 2 the technical assessor will provide the homeowner with independent guidance on measures, they can take to ensure that the dwelling is Heat Pump ready. Also, if you are applying for one stop shops grant through a One Stop Shop Registered Provider or through the Better Energy Communities schemes Project coordinator you usually are required to undertake a home energy assessment prior to work commencing. This is usually undertaken by a technical assessor. Contact a one stop shop provider for further details.

The BER in Donegal Assessment Process Explained 

The first step is to get in touch with a BER assessor in Donegal and discuss your home and your future energy-efficient goals.

The next step after you agree the purpose of your BER is for a registered BER assessor to come out to your home and undertakes a site survey of your home.

The third step is that you will receive a BER certificate. You will also receive an advisory report that includes recommendations for energy efficient upgrade for your home.

Preparing for and what to expect during your BER Assessment

Before your BER Assessor visits your home, you may need to prepare for your BER assessment. If you have had energy efficient work done to your home, you will need documentary evidence. This will ensure you receive the most accurate BER rating. In the absence of relevant documents, your BER Assessor will have to use ‘default values’. These are conservative estimates of the performance of certain aspects of your home. This may result in your home receiving a lower BER rating.

The BER Assessment takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on the size and complexity of your home. Your BER Assessor will need access to all areas of your home including all rooms, the attic, ventilation, lighting systems, the meter, heating systems and controls and hot press.

A Guide to SEAI Upgrade Grants for Homeowners in Donegal

Homeowners in Ireland have an opportunity to enhance the energy efficiency of their homes through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grants.

The SEAI offers several grant options designed to support Irish homeowners to upgrade their houses to make their home more energy efficient. For homeowners these grants are delivered under three schemes. 1) Individual Energy Upgrade grants comprising of Better Energy Homes and the Solor PV Scheme. Under this scheme homeowners can apply for individual grants for home energy upgrades. 2) One stop shop service offers a complete home, fully managed energy upgrade scheme. The home must upgrade to a minimum of BER of B2 on completion and 3) fully funded energy upgrade comprising of the Warmer Homes scheme for qualified homeowners in receipt of certain welfare benefits. See https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/ for full details. The grants available from SEAI covers a wide range of improvements including insulation, window upgrades, heat pumps and solar panels. The goal is to make energy efficiency more accessible and affordable for homeowner, thereby reducing overall energy costs and environmental impact.

Conclusion

If you’re considering making your home more energy-efficient have a look at the SEAI website for details of the different grants available. A good starting point is to contact your local Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor in Donegal as they can also explain the different grant options and requirements for the different schemes detailed above.  We understand that it can be a confusing process, trying to figure out what upgrades to get and where to start. Remember your BER assessor is there to help. For further information on BER’s have a look at our website here or head over to the FAQ. 

Check our Enerrating.ie’s comprehensive services in Donegal, Ireland, including BER Certs, Part L Compliance, Technical Assessment, and Airtightness & Ventilation. Explore our FAQs and Blog pages for expert insights and stay compliant effortlessly. Let’s optimise your home and building’s energy efficiency together. Contact us now!