ENERGY SAVING BLOG

Better Energy will replace the three existing residential programmes: Home Energy Saving Scheme (HES), Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) and Greener Homes Scheme (GHS) under one umbrella, with the aim of making it easier for people to make an informed choice about the most suitable energy saving measure for them when retrofitting their homes.

However grant levels have been reduced (except for external wall insulation).

ENERGY COSTS: More people are finding it impossible to pay their increased electricity bills, but claiming a grant for insulating a house is a way to get some money back from the State, as well as to cut long-term costs. ONE OF the most depressing and shocking things about the downturn has been the number [...]

From 8th June 2010, Building Energy Rating (BER) will be an integral part of all grant applications under the Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme, whereby homeowners must undertake a BER on their home after grant aided works have been completed. This will give homeowners a thorough and objective assessment of the energy performance of their [...]

We often receive phone calls from people enquiring if a BER is mandatory for the homes they occupy. The answer is: unless you are offering your home for Sale or to Let you do not need a BER Cert. However, chances are your home is leaking energy. A lot of energy and a lot of [...]

QR EnerStar are delighted to announce that from 14th of January till 4th February we are running a special promotion: each time you instruct us to provide you with a BER Certificate (BER CERT) on a property in Dublin, Co. Dublin, Co. Wicklow, or Co. Kildare throughout the specified time of the promotion – your name is automatically added to the draw for two tickets.

You’ll have a chance to spend a week in Poland and celebrate 14th of February (Valentine’s day) in Krakow – one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural and artistic life.

The flight out is on the 10th February 2010 and the return flight is on 17th February 2010.

The promotion does not affect the price of our BER Certificates. With multiple order of BER Certs you get 1 entry per BER Cert ordered, therefore increasing your chances to win. The promotion covers both Residential BER Certs (new and second-hand BER Certs) and Commercial BER Certificate instructions.

In order to qualify for the draw the instruction for a BER assessment should be received by us either over the phone, by email or fax before 9 am on the 5th February 2010. In written/emailed instructions you should clearly specify your name and contact phone number. T & C apply

As confirmed by SEI on 08/07/2009 the HES (Home Energy Saver) scheme is still in operation and there is no “end date” set yet. SEI also confirmed to QR EnerStar that the funds are still available for homeowners interested in applying for a grant to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.

A Display Energy Certificate shows the energy performance of a building based on actual energy consumption as recorded annually over periods up to the last three years. From 1 January 2009, all public buildings in the Republic of Ireland with a gross internal floor area greater than 1000m2 are required to display a Display Energy [...]

The economic downturn has turned all of us into savvy consumers. Nobody pays anymore without trying to get the best value possible out of any purchase and especially when it comes to buying or renting a property. With interest rates at an all time low, rents have dropped to their lowest level in years. Yet [...]

Tenants living in rented accommodation which doesn’t meet new energy efficiency standards are to lose their rent relief, it was announced today. Energy Minister Eamon Ryan insisted the new regulations to be introduced before the end of the year will force landlords into upgrading their properties into warmer and cleaner homes. Under the plan, leased [...]

No. BER Assessors are prohibited from carrying out a BER Assessment on a building – (a) which is owned by them, or (b) which is owned by any Connected Person, or (c) which is to be sold or let by him or her or a Connected Person in their capacity as a sales or letting [...]