Written answers

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Building Energy Regulation

10:00 pm

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the fact that landlords who have been issued a low building energy rating are not obliged to make their properties more energy efficient; his further views on whether there should be an obligation to carry out recommendations or improvements following a BER rating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24056/09]

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the difficulties faced by building energy rating contractors who have invested significant amounts in training, insurance and registration and who are faced with low take up of BER certificates; the number of BER contractors and the amount of BER certificate applications since the beginning of the scheme; the steps he will take to ensure further take up of this scheme; if he will introduce a waiver for registration for persons who are unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18720/09]

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 424 together.

There are currently some 2,700 persons registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) as Building Energy Rating (BER) assessors for dwellings with some 270 registered as BER assessors for buildings other than dwellings. At present there are some 50,000 Building Energy Rating (BER) certificates in place in respect of dwellings and almost 1,000 BER certificates in place for buildings other than dwellings.

While a significant level of BER activity is taking place, it is clear that the number of registered assessors for dwellings is far higher than is required to meet current and anticipated demand for BER certificates in the market place. There are no proposals under consideration by my Department at present in relation to the waiver of registration fees in respect of unemployed persons who are interested in becoming BER assessors.

I understand that SEI strongly advises that applicants for registration review the number of BER assessors who are already servicing their intended target area in order to ensure that they are satisfied with the potential business opportunity before investing money in registering with SEI. A database of all registered BER assessors, searchable by county, is included on SEI's webpages (www.sei.ie).

The BER Certificate is accompanied by an advisory report outlining a number of improvements that might be made to improve the energy efficiency of the building but there is no obligation on a landlord to carry out any of the recommended improvements. The BER certificate and advisory report serve to enable prospective tenants to take the energy performance of a building into account when making decisions in relation to lettings and to compare in a standard format the energy performance of a range of buildings available to them. In this way it is intended that the BER system will promote greater awareness of energy efficiency in the property market and encourage building owners to take cost effective steps to improve the energy rating, and hence the overall energy performance, of such buildings.

In relation to the steps being taken to encourage BER activity in the market place I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 372 and 377 of 28 April 2009. The planned media campaign previously referred to is currently underway. My Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, SEI and the 37 local Building Control Authorities to promote awareness of the obligations which arise under the Regulations.

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