(Click on the title for a link to the Sustainable Ireland page about energy rating)
New European energy ratings for new houses will come into force next January (Update, already here!). These ratings will have a similar classification to the labels that you see on electrical goods such as washing machines. This initiative will give incentive to builders to incorporate the latest insulation techniques, as energy ratings will have an effect on the price of the property. Sustainable Energy Ireland did a survey and found that houses built before 1990 could lose value because of the poor heating systems and insulation properties. The measurement will be like testing the performance of the house, much the same way you would check a car for the kilometres to the gallon. One off bungalows and period properties with hollow concrete block construction would fare badly, so said Duncan Stuart from the telly. He reckons you wouldn’t think of buying an inefficient car so why by a house that will drain your resources. Denmark introduced the energy rating in the mid 1990’s and this was also included on the rental properties. They found that after the first few months house owners who were renting or selling were improving the insulation and heating in the houses prior to putting them on the market. It will be 2009 when all houses will have a rating and it will cost about €300 each. The rating will be valid for ten years as long as there are no serious alterations to the property. Although the scale hasn’t been decided, an alphabetical rating is planned. The most energy efficient will be A and the worst will be O. Duncan Stuart thinks that even the best-built houses in Ireland would only merit a C or D. The government hopes the rating system will improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock and force the construction industry to build more sustainable houses.
Environmental.
New European energy ratings for new houses will come into force next January (Update, already here!). These ratings will have a similar classification to the labels that you see on electrical goods such as washing machines. This initiative will give incentive to builders to incorporate the latest insulation techniques, as energy ratings will have an effect on the price of the property. Sustainable Energy Ireland did a survey and found that houses built before 1990 could lose value because of the poor heating systems and insulation properties. The measurement will be like testing the performance of the house, much the same way you would check a car for the kilometres to the gallon. One off bungalows and period properties with hollow concrete block construction would fare badly, so said Duncan Stuart from the telly. He reckons you wouldn’t think of buying an inefficient car so why by a house that will drain your resources. Denmark introduced the energy rating in the mid 1990’s and this was also included on the rental properties. They found that after the first few months house owners who were renting or selling were improving the insulation and heating in the houses prior to putting them on the market. It will be 2009 when all houses will have a rating and it will cost about €300 each. The rating will be valid for ten years as long as there are no serious alterations to the property. Although the scale hasn’t been decided, an alphabetical rating is planned. The most energy efficient will be A and the worst will be O. Duncan Stuart thinks that even the best-built houses in Ireland would only merit a C or D. The government hopes the rating system will improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock and force the construction industry to build more sustainable houses.
Environmental.
