Top Tips To Improve Your Home’s BER Rating

One of the most effective things you can do for both the planet and your pocket is to look at the way your home uses energy. Improving the Building Energy Rating (BER) of your home can make it warmer, reduce your energy and heating costs, reduce your environmental impact and even increase the resale value of your property.

1. Improve Your Insulation

On average, a home loses 20 - 30% of its heat through the walls*. This rises even further if they are not insulated. Up to 30% can be lost through a poorly insulated attic*. Reducing heat loss through your walls will reduce your energy consumption as you will be using your heating less. Improvements can be made in attic, walls and floor insulation, pipe insulation and also by removing draughts. Improving your insulation will also cut down on your greenhouse gas emissions.

2.Replace Old Gas Or Oil Boilers

Replace old gas or oil boilers with a heat pump or an energy efficient boiler. Installing a heat pump system in a well-insulated home will transform the comfort levels in your home and reduce your heating bills by improving your energy efficiency. No more burning fossil fuels, so you are supporting the environment by reducing your carbon emissions.

3. Install Heating Controls

Heating controls can help improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your energy usage by up to 20% and save money on your home heating bills*.

4.Solar Water Heating

Solar thermal systems are designed to meet 50-60% of your overall hot water requirement over the year, saving you money on hot water heating bills*. Heating your water with solar thermal will also reduce your energy consumption. As you will be using your heating less, this will also cut down on your greenhouse gas emissions.

5.Install Renewable Energy Systems

On average, a solar PV system can save between €200-€300 per year on your domestic electricity bill*. Investing in solar PV, will also make an impact on the BER of your home and its value. Generating your own renewable electricity will also cut down on your greenhouse gas emissions.

6.Replace Or Seal Old Windows

Draught-strip your single-glazed windows to improve the loss of heat. If possible secondary glazing or complete window replacement can return highest overall savings.

7.Check Your Ventilation

Reduce draughts where possible and install a chimney balloon in your fireplace when it’s not in use to keep heat in. Older vents may need replacing to encourage better airflow.

8.Choose Low Energy Lighting

Simply replacing old inefficient bulbs with low-energy light bulbs can noticeably improve electricity bills.

9.Get A Lagging Jacket

A thick lagging jacket for your hot water cylinder will keep your water warmer for longer. This can also help improve your home’s BER and saving you money.

Check out Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) for more information on improving your homes BER rating. SEAI also offer a number of grants to help make your home more sustainable and energy efficient. If your home has a BER rating between A1 and B3 we are also offering a Green Mortgage with a lower rate of interest. Get in touch with one of our Mortgage Advisors and start your journey today.

*Sourced from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

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Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is an authorised agent and servicer of AIB Mortgage Bank u.c. in relation to the origination and servicing of mortgage loans and mortgages. Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. and AIB Mortgage Bank u.c. are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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