Key Point:
The Climate Action Plan published in June 2019 set several targets aimed at improving levels of energy efficiency in the Irish housing stock. One of the central aims of the plan is to upgrade an additional 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 or above by 2030. The BER system measures the energy efficiency in Irish homes. In 2018, it is estimated that 185,000 housing units, or 12% of the Irish housing stock, hold an A and/or B energy rating. In terms of energy emissions, an A rated home omits 1.1 tonnes of CO2 at a cost of €380 per annum. For F or G rated homes the emissions and costs are far higher – with 10.8 tonnes of CO2 at a cost of €3,600 annually. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers grants to support home insulation and renewable energy upgrades. Over 390,00 of such upgrades were competed between 2006 and 2018. The pace of home improvements will need to accelerate if the Climate Action plan target is to be achieved by 2030.
Policy Context
A BER rating is a measure of the overall energy efficiency of a building (residential or commercial). The BER calculation is based on the level of energy usage, in terms of space, hot water heating, ventilation and lighting. The ratings are similar to the energy labels on household appliances (e.g. fridges) and are denoted on a scale of A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least. BERs are generated by independent assessors registered with the SEAI. A BER certificate is valid for 10 years.
Despite significant improvements in recent years, Ireland’s per dwelling energy use remained 7% higher than the EU average in 2015 (SEAI, 2018). In 2019, 80% of Irish homes and other buildings had a BER rating of C or lower. The Climate Action plan has set a target of retrofitting 500,000 buildings to a B rating or above by 2030. The current number of retrofits annually is 23,000 (DCCAE, 2019). The level of emissions reduction required could be achieved by increasing the cumulative number of buildings that are retrofitted to a B2 equivalent BER to circa 500,000 by 2030. The Climate Action Plan also sets a target of increasing the number of renewable energy sources (e.g. heat pumps) used in residential buildings to 600,000 by 2030 (DCCAE, 2019). At present, financial incentives are administered by the SEAI for the following energy-saving and renewable solutions: insulation, heat pump systems, heating control upgrades and solar thermal solutions[1].
Government grant schemes that have enabled these improvements include (SEAI 2019):
- Free Upgrades for Eligible Homes (2000 to date, currently open). This scheme funds energy efficiency improvements in the homes of vulnerable people in, or at risk of, energy poverty. The Warmth and Wellbeing scheme targets those living with chronic respiratory conditions.
- Home Energy Grants (2006 to date, currently open) supports home insulation, heating and renewable energy upgrades.
Building Energy Ratings Trends by period of construction
Table 1 shows BER rated homes based on a sample of the Irish housing stock between the years 2009 and 2019. The proportion of homes with A or B ratings have increased dramatically from 5% of houses built between 1950 and 1999 to 32% of houses built since 2000. By contrast, the percentage of F or G rated houses with low energy efficiency rating has fallen dramatically from almost 12% of houses built between 1950 and 1999 to just 1% over the last two decades. Furthermore, 60% of houses hold a medium energy rating. This highlights the necessity of the energy upgrades of older properties to meet recently established targets.
Table 1: BER Ratings by Period of Construction
Source: CSO (2019)
Table 2 shows a breakdown of BER rating across the entire Irish housing stock. The data cover the large number of houses constructed before the advent of sophisticated energy efficient materials. About 185,000 Irish homes had a positive BER rating (A and/or B): this represents 12% of the total housing stock of over 1.5m units. The Climate Action plan aims to retrofit 500,000 homes to B2 level or above by 2030.
Table 2: BER Ratings Weighted to National Level
Source: CSO (2019)
Table 3 compares the emission rates and heating costs for a 3-bedroom semi-detached house across each BER ratings bracket. Houses with an A or B rating are considered to have a positive energy rating, whereas homes with a C and D ratings account for an average level of energy efficiency. The least energy efficient homes are those with a rating of E, F or G.
In terms of the energy usage of a 3-bedroom semi-detached home [2], an A rated home emits 1.1 tonnes of CO2 at a cost of €380 per annum. However, homes with the lowest energy efficient rating (categories F or G) omit 10.8 tonnes of CO2 at a cost of €3,600 annually.
Table 3: Annual Energy costs for a 3 Bed semi-detached house
Source: SEAI (2014) * Note this is an estimate of CO2 emissions and annual fuel cost based on typical occupancy and heating the entire dwelling to a comfortable level.
Table 4: Home Energy Upgrades by County 2018
Source: SEAI (2019)
Home Energy Grants support home insulation, heating and renewable energy upgrades; they have been administered since 2006. The free energy upgrade scheme funds energy efficiency improvements in the homes of vulnerable people beginning in 2000. In total approximately 390,000 upgrades have been installed since these grants were established. It is estimated that 20% of the national housing stock have received funding for energy upgrades. Clare and Limerick account for the highest share of homes that have availed of such grants at 25%. By contrast, Dublin accounted for the lowest proportion of homes availing of energy upgrades at just 13%.
Table 4 shows the number of home energy grants and free energy upgrades issued by the SEAI until November 2018. The home energy grant system was established in 2006 and the Free Energy Upgrades have been administered since 2000. Consequently, it is difficult to generate an accurate estimate of annual progress in these grants. If the target in the Climate Action Plan to retrofit 500,000 houses to BER B or above by 2030 is to be achieved, activity would need to accelerate over the next decade.
References
Central Statistics Office [CSO] (2019) BER Ratings by Period of Construction [Online] Available at: https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/dber/domesticbuildingenergyratingsquarter12019/
Central Statistics Office [CSO] (2019) BER Ratings Weighted to National Level [Online] Available at: https://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/population/2017/Chapter_9_Housing.pdf
Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment [DCCAE] (2019) Climate Action Plan. [Online] Available at: https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/Climate%20Action%20Plan%202019.pdf
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland [SEAI] (2018) Energy in the Residential Sector. [Online] Available at: https://www.seai.ie/resources/publications/Energy-in-the-Residential-Sector-2018-Final.pdf
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland [SEAI] (2014) Annual Energy costs for a 3 Bed semi-detached house [Online] Available at: https://www.seai.ie/resources/publications/Your-Guide-to-Building-Energy-Rating.pdf
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland [SEAI] (2019) Home Energy Upgrades by County [Online]Available at: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/home-upgrades/Home-Energy-Upgrades-by-County-Nov-2018.pdf
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland [SEAI] (2019) Home Energy Grants [Online] Available at: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/#comp00005b3cd2ca000000b2ba5132
[1]For further information on Home Energy Grants available see: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/#comp00005b3cd2ca000000b2ba5132
[2] Indicative annual CO2 emissions and running costs for different rating bands for space and water heating. Based on a 3 Bed semi-detached house off approximately 100m2 in total surface area.