MORE THAN 100,000 Irish homes have had Building Energy Ratings (Ber) completed since the scheme was introduced in 2007, it has emerged.
Ber measure the energy efficiency of households, providing prospective purchasers and tenants with some indication of how much it would cost to heat the property.
Introduced as part of an EU directive to improve energy performance in households, the rate of Ber assessments steadily increased in 2009, and is now averaging 300 per day.
However, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has warned there is a low level of understanding among tenants that they have a right to see a Ber certificate for a property before they agree to lease it.
Research from (SEI) showed that landlords are the group most aware of the need for a Ber certificate, while tenants looking to rent are the least aware.
Prof Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEI said “there are many homes for sale or rent out there that have not yet been assessed.”
Commenting on the success of the Ber programme, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan said the success of the scheme last year showed energy performance and efficiency were becoming increasingly important for Irish homeowners.
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