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A nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) future – Minister English reminds construction sector to be prepared for new building regulations on energy efficiency

  • All new homes will be nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB) and have a typical Building Energy Rating (BER) of A2 compared with a current rating for new builds of A3
  • New homes will be 70% more energy efficient and emit 70% less carbon dioxide than 2005 performance levels
  • Typical A-rated 3-bedroom semi-detached house likely to be approximately €800 a year cheaper to heat than a similar house built before 2005
  • Existing dwellings undergoing major renovations will be required to achieve a BER of B2 or equivalent.

The Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English, T.D., has called on the construction industry to be prepared for the revised building regulations that apply to all new dwellings commencing construction from 1st November 2019 subject to transitional arrangements. The new regulations aim to make all new residential dwellings 70% more energy efficient than the performance requirements in 2005.

Earlier this year, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, T.D., signed into law amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations, giving effect to Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) Regulations and Major Renovation Regulations. In conjunction with this, Minister English, signed into law amendments to Part F of the Building Regulations, which relate to ventilation. The NZEB standard is achieved, in part, through improved air tightness in a building. New builds will require more effective ventilation systems to achieve the improved air tightness.  

Commenting on the regulations, Minister English said:

The amended building regulations will mean a future of more energy efficient homes. They will help lower people’s energy bills, reduce the risk of fuel poverty and give people greater comfort in their homes. The new building regulations will place additional obligations on the sector. I would urge all in the sector, both economic operators and end users in the sector, to be prepared in advance of November 1st.

Minister English added:

Ireland has set an example internationally through its policies on energy efficiency in homes. International reports have shown this. These regulations build on the significant improvements in new builds’ efficiency levels since 2007.

The Minister also spoke about the regulations’ contribution to reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions.

About forty per cent of Ireland’s energy-related carbon emissions come from buildings. By making the next generation of houses and renovated houses more energy efficient, we can make a significant contribution in the national efforts to mitigate climate change.

The World Bank’s recent Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy (RISE) report stated that Ireland performed very strongly in the area of energy efficiency, achieving the highest score of 100 for Building Energy Codes. Ireland, therefore, is considered a role model for many other EU countries on how to effectively design and implement energy efficiency strategies for new buildings and building renovation (http://rise.worldbank.org/scores). A report by the Global Buildings Performance Network in 2013 ranked Ireland first in an international comparison of energy efficiency policies for new dwellings.

A revised version of Technical Guidance Document L – Conservation of Fuel and Energy – Dwellings will be published shortly and available online at www.housing.gov.ie. A revised version of Technical Guidance Document F – Ventilation is available at www.housing.gov.ie. The software calculation methodology DEAP (Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure), for checking compliance for NZEB, has been published by the SEAI and is available on its website https://www.seai.ie/energy-in-business/ber-assessor-support/deap/