What impact does SEI think BER will have on Irish householders?
The BER will allow people to take energy costs into consideration in their purchasing decisions. This is becoming more and more important as energy costs are increasing all the time. BERs will allow house hunters to compare the energy performance of two different houses on an equal scale. It will allow you to compare two house that on the surface appear very similar such as two 3 bed semi ds or equally two very different houses, such as a 2 bed apartment and a 5 bed house. The advisory report that will accompany a BER Certificate will provide information to homeowners on how to improve the energy performance of their property and thereby its comfort and affordability, and enhancing its value and sustainability. It is expected that BER will ultimately improve energy awareness in the property market both for home buyers and developers and this awareness can be expected over time to place a somewhat higher value on more energy efficient properties, and by implication to encourage/ provoke
