Major Renovation
For existing buildings under EPBD, major renovation is where “more than 25% of the surface area of the building envelope undergoes renovation”. This will require that the building is brought up to cost optimal level, which is defined in the building regulations as:
- Upgrade Heating System more than 15 years’ old
- Upgrade Cooling and Ventilation Systems more than 15 years’ old
- Upgrade Lighting more than 15 years old.
Further details can be found on the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government website.
From 01 November 2019, new building standards will apply to major renovations on existing residential & commercial buildings. Such dwellings and non domestic buildings will require a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or equivalent. A BER certificate shows a building’s energy performance. Most existing dwellings (houses or apartments) are energy inefficient. Seventy-eight per cent of Irish dwellings have a C2 BER or worse (2019 figures).
Where more than 25% of the heat loss surface area of the existing building (this included the walls, floor and the roof) is being renovated, the energy performance of the entire building must meet the new energy efficiency requirements. The standards must be met if it is technically, functionally and economically possible.
Typically, the requirement will apply where a homeowner is doing one of the following:
- an external wall renovation (external or internal insulation)
- an external wall and window renovation
- an external wall and roof renovation
- an external wall and floor renovation
- a new extension
These changes will result in newly renovated buildings being more energy efficient. They will give health benefits from greater comfort and improved air quality. With 40% of Ireland’s energy-related carbon emissions coming from buildings, these changes will help address climate change.
These changes come from the EU’s Major Renovation Regulations. The regulations will apply to major renovations that start or take place on or after 01 November 2019 except where:
An application for planning permission or planning approval made under the Planning and Development Act 2000, made on or before 31 October 2019 and where substantial work (that is, the structure’s external walls have been erected) has been completed by 31 October 2020, or
Certain notices of planning permission or planning approval have been published on or before 31 October 2019 and where substantial work is finished by 31 October 2020
If you are planning on getting a major renovation done to your building it is a good idea to know about these requirements and to discuss them with us before the project begins and get your ENERGY PLAN.
The Government provides Home Energy grants for:
- insulation
- heat pump systems
- heating controls
- solar water heating
- solar electricity
For more information on these grants and how you can apply for them for major renovations to your home to reduce your costs, contact us today. Most grants are administered through the Better Energy Homes section of SEAI https://www.seai.ie/grants/
