HOMES PUT up for sale or rent from yesterday will have to be given an energy rating similar to the one in use for kitchen appliances.
Under the Building Energy Rating Scheme, houses will be rated on a scale from A to G: with an A house judged to be the most efficient and a G house the least.
The 10-year-long rating came into force for new homes in 2007, but as of yesterday it now applies to all second-hand properties coming on the market.
The BER certificate is issued by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) following an assessment by a qualified BER assessor, who must be registered with SEI.
More than 1,300 assessors have so far registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland. The prices they charge home-owners vary wildly, with some charging €300. Nearly 3,000 others have trained as assessors, but have not yet registered, although a substantial number of them are expected to do so.
"I am confident that the basis for a competitive market for this service is well advanced," said Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan. "It is imperative, however, that consumers get value for the money they spend.
"I strongly advise consumers to shop around."
Besides giving an energy rating, the assessor must also provide guidance on what can be done to improve the efficiency of non-A- rated home.
Saying that better-insulated, cheaper-to-heat homes would cut Ireland's CO2 emissions, Mr Ryan said: "The first step in solving a problem is to understand it."
He said the rating certificate and accompanying advice "will inform people how good or bad their home is at keeping in heat, and what they need to do to improve it".
He added: "I expect that the information people get from the process will make a lot of people think about how much money they are losing through poor insulation and will lead to much interest in retrofitting insulation and other energy-efficiency measures in their homes, providing a useful boost to construction."
Mr Ryan has put aside €25 million to fund extra insulation under the Home Energy Saving Scheme, and has vowed to get more if necessary.
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley said the full implementation of the Building Energy Rating Scheme was "a very positive step forward".
"It provides real, valuable information to consumers about the properties they have an interest in and about the likely energy costs of running them."
