HES (Home Energy Saving Scheme) The HES Scheme has been officially launched which sees grants provided to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements.

In Summary

Assistance will be provided by the payment of fixed grants towards the costs of implementing remedial measures. The types of measures eligible under this scheme are roof insulation, wall insulation and heating controls. There is also a grant for households who choose to get a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment Before and After the works are completed.

The Home Energy Saving Scheme or HES for short

The HES (Home Energy Saving Scheme) will encourage and incentives homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes in order to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The Government have invested €100 million in this scheme.

Householders will avail of a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor to come to their house, give the home a BER rating and advise on the works that need to be carried out to improve energy efficiency. The homeowner will pre-pay €100 towards the cost of this assessment, with Sustainable Energy Ireland subsidizing the balance. Approximately two thirds of the cost of the assessment, will therefore, will be covered by the Government.

The assessor may advise that the house requires such work as attic insulation, interior or exterior wall insulation, low emissions double-glazing, heating control or a range of other energy efficient works. The Government will then cover up to 30% of the cost of these works, to a maximum of €2,500. On completion of the works a follow-up energy assessment on the building will be undertaken so that there is a “before and after” test of what has been done.

Launching the Scheme Minister Ryan said, “Of the 1.7 million homes in Ireland, it is estimated that up to 1 million require some investment to improve their energy efficiency. This Scheme will support homeowners who wish to invest in their homes to bring them up to modern energy efficiency standards. Such investment has been shown to pay for itself in energy savings in a few short years.
This scheme will help Ireland meet our climate change targets at the same time as assisting the householder with energy costs. Householders will save on their electricity and heating bills; they will use their energy more wisely and increase the re-sale value on their homes. The Scheme will also be welcome news for the house-building sector.”

SEI (Sustainable Energy Ireland) estimate that the householder will save up to €700 in their energy bills every year and that the scheme will save 6,000 tonnes of CO2 in its first year alone. The full €100 million scheme is expected to yield greenhouse gas savings of 175,000 tonnes per year.

Next Steps

Presently, the scheme is open directly for Homeowner applications. Contact Ferngreen on 053 9367569 or Contact us on line  for more information to discuss the HES Home Energy Savings Scheme Grant Assistance in more detail.

Sample cost: Save up to 20% on your current oil bill.

Replace oil boiler with high efficiency oil boiler and install upgrade heating controls.

Grant available €700

Our Starting budget price: SEI Grant included =  €2,400 + Vat @13.5%

Prices subject to site visit. Click here to Book an engineer for a site visit >>>  and cut your heating costs. Oil is not getting any cheaper and this will be a step towords reducing your energy costs.
 

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BER Assessors

Building Energy Rating or B.E.R is similar to the energy label on a fridge with a scale of A to G. A rated homes are the most energy efficient and G rated ones A are the least efficient. A BER Certificate is compulsory for all new homes for which planning permission was applied from 1 January 2007 and for homes for sale or rent from 1 January 2009. Along with a BER Certificate, we will also provide you with an Advisory Report, which will help you to identify ways of improving the energy performance of your home. Ferngreen Renewable Energy Centre will provide an independent registered BER Assessor who has been trained under the National Framework of Qualifications and is registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

COST: contact us or call us on 053 9367569 for a competitive quote.  Multiple units will be a discounted rate. Contact Us
 

Building Energy Ratings)

If you are looking for information on BER here are some facts which you may find useful!

BER, the Building Energy rating certification scheme

The BER is an indication of the energy performance and the sustainability of a particular building.
It is for all practical purposes very much similar to the energy label rating A to G normally
found in domestic electrical appliances for example in your fridge or the dishwasher.
A rating of G signifies the least Energy Efficient Building while a rating of A will signify the most Energy Efficient.
All in all, in BER you will find 15 sub energy performance levels within the ratings A to G.

A BER certificate is now compulsory for almost all the new buildings or others now under construction
where planning permission has been granted. There are however a few exceptions for specific cases.

Irrespective of the class any building offered for sale or let on or after 1st January 2009 must process
a valid BER Certificate along with its companion document, the Advisory Report for production on
demand by the prospective customers or the authorities.
 

What is the basis of Assessment of Building Energy Assessment?

The assessment is done on the basis of the properties of components of a particular building such as the walls,
roof, floor area, windows, doors, insulation, air tightness, heating and cooling system, ventilation, lighting systems
and its distribution and controls, pumps and fans, use of alternative energy etc. but exclude refrigerators, cooking appliances and washing machines.

Who carries out the Assessment?
Registered BER Assessors who have been trained under the National Frame work of Qualifications are authorized to carry
out the Assessments and log in the records with the Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

The assessors may use approved software and suitable tools for the purpose of carrying out the assessment.
In addition to the approved qualifications the assessors also have to duly put their signature to a Code of Conduct with SEI.
In order to maintain the integrity of the scheme SEI also maintain a quality assurance program with the assessors.
It’s an offence punishable by law for anyone who does not process a valid registration with SEI to carry out a BER assessment
for the purpose of complying with the regulations.
 

Who is authorized to Issue the BER?
Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is the designated Issuing Authority and is required to maintain a digital registry of the BER
assessments logged in with them by the assessors.


SEI is also the Management Authority for the BER Scheme. In that capacity they also register the BER assessors
and also maintain a list for the benefit of the public.

What is the Time Framework for implementing the Scheme?
The regulations came in to operation with effect from 1st January 2007 with a few exceptions.

• New Houses- If the planning permission was applied for after 1st January 2007
  for such dwellings these regulations will apply. Those dwellings where the Building Permission was applied for on or
  before 31st December 2006 BER exception  may be granted subject to substantial completion has been carried out by the 30th June 2008
  
   
• New Non Domestic Buildings- If the planning permission was applied for after 1st July 2008 for such buildings these regulations will apply.
  Those dwellings where the Building Permission was applied for on or before 30th June 2008 BER exception may be granted subject
  to substantial completion has been carried out by the 30th June 2010
  
   
• Existing Buildings as at 1st January 2009-BER is compulsory for all classes of existing buildings offered for sale or rent on or after 1st January 2009.
  
   
• Large Public Service Buildings- A public service building where the useful floor area is over 1000 sq.m. should prominently display the relevant BER certificate after the 1st January 2009.
  
   

Role of Alternative Energy in BER Certification
In the assessment of the Energy Performance of a building use of alternative energy is also taken into account.
 It is compulsory on the person who commissions a large building to ensure the utilization of Alternative Energy in the design of such building as far as practically, environmentally and economically feasible.


Our BER Assessors
We employ Building Energy Rating (BER) assessors registered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), who carry out
BER assessments on  existing and new houses, single or in developments.

Our assessor will assess the dimensions, fabric, ventilation, water heating and lighting systems in your building.  
This will then be used to calculate an energy rating for the house. Energy ratings go from A to G, A being the most
energy efficient and G being the least energy efficient.

Book a BER
To book a BER assessment please complete our BER booking form

Click here to talk to an assessor for information

 Contact us for more information.
 

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