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A Building Energy Rating (BER) Certificate calculates the energy performance of a building on a scale from A to G. A-rated houses are the most efficient and G the least efficient. All new dwellings and houses offered for sale or lease require a BER. 
There are two types of BER, a provisional and a final BER. A provisional BER is based on plans and specifications of a new building and is valid for 2 years. A final BER is issued on completion of a new building and is valid for 10 years once there is no material change to that building. Existing buildings can also have a BER assessment carried out to determine their efficiency, and that certificate is also valid for 10 years. BER is calculated by assessing the major components of the building in detail. The u-values of walls, roofs, floors, windows, and doors are all calculated and the efficiency of the heating and hot water systems. Mechanical ventilation, air tightness, energy-efficient lighting, and renewable technologies are all assessed and combined in the calculation to determine the building's energy rating. Once the BER is calculated, a large amount of info becomes available, including annual energy use for fans, water heating, heat pumps, space heating, lighting, etc.

If you are thinking of building a house, understanding the concept of U-Values is very important. A U-Value is a measure of heat loss in a building element such as a wall, floor or roof. It can also be referred to as an ‘overall heat transfer co-efficient’ and measures how well parts of a building transfer heat. This means that the higher the U-Value the worse the thermal performance of the building envelope. A low U-Value usually indicates high levels of insulation. However, merely meeting these standards may not be enough to comply with the building regulations. If the building is poorly oriented or has a large proportion of glazing, this may require a further improvement and compensation in terms of U values, air tightness and thermal bridging so as to meet the overall energy requirements. See Building Regulations 2024, Part L for more information.

Part L is one of the numerous Building Regulations that your house must comply with upon completion. It specifically addresses heating and hot water systems. This comprehensive document must be adhered to by your builder, plumber, and heating designer to ensure that the minimum requirements are met and that your heating system complies with building regulations. The current Part L document outlines the maximum allowable energy usage and carbon emission levels for homes. It mandates that all new buildings incorporate renewable energy technology to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for heating or to lower primary electricity consumption. Heat pumps are among the most popular renewable energy sources used for heating and hot water. For existing dwellings, the requirements shall be met : limiting heat loss and, where appropriate, availing of heat gain through the fabric of the building controlling, as appropriate, the output of the space heating and hot water systems limiting the heat loss from pipes, ducts and vessels used for the transport or storage of heated water or air providing that all oil and gas fired boilers installed as replacements in existing dwellings shall meet a minimum seasonal efficiency of 90 % where practicable. For new dwellings, the nearly zero energy performance requirements shall be met by: providing that the energy performance of the building is such as to limit the calculated primary energy consumption and related carbon dioxide (CO2) to that of a nearly zero energy building within the meaning of the Directive insofar as is reasonably practicable, when both energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are calculated using the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) published by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland providing that, the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required is covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby limiting the heat loss and, where appropriate, availing of heat gain through the fabric of the building providing and commissioning energy efficient space and water heating systems with efficient heat sources and effective providing that all oil and gas fired boilers shall meet a minimum seasonal efficiency of providing to the dwelling owner sufficient information about the building, the fixed 6 building services, controls and their maintenance requirements so that the building can be operated in such a manner as to use no more fuel and energy than is reasonable

Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) is an energy recovery ventilation system that uses sophisticated heat and air exchangers between the inbound and outbound air flow. HRV systems provide fresh air and improved climate control, while saving energy by reducing heading demands. There would be no benefit to install a HRV system in an old house with natural (draughty) ventilation. These systems only work effectively in houses that are adequately air tight and insulated. What Is Air-Tightness? Air-tightness is the control of air flow through the external envelope of a building. If a building is air-tight, air will not leak from the structure via common paths such as: Ceiling and Wall Junctions Plaster Board Joints Doors Windows Service Entry Points Any leaks would create discomfort and heat would be lost, which would result in the heating system having to compensate for heat loss.

Due to EU Regulations, HFC (hydrofluorocarbons) refrigerants are being phased out. This includes R32 & R410A. Gases such as R290 & R454B will be the replacement gases so our customers will not be affected.

We provide advice to help you choose the best system for your needs. Our experts guide you through options, explaining the benefits and features of different systems, ensuring you make an informed decision. Whether you're interested in traditional heating solutions or the latest energy-efficient technologies, we ensure you understand the choices available.

A heat pump is one of the most effective ways to heat or cool a building using renewable energy. Unlike many other forms of renewable energy that depend on the sun shining or the wind blowing, the energy for the heat pump is always available. Heat is widely available in the ground, air, and water around your house. These natural sources of heat are constantly replenished by the sun, wind, and rain. A heat pump will harness these free and renewable energy sources for heating your house and supplying hot water at a very low cost. Annual Costs Independent studies have proven that heat pumps are cheaper and more efficient than fuel oil, gas, and wood pellet heating. However, attention to detail on the installation is crucial to keeping running costs down. Correct commissioning by your installers is important, altering the controls will have an impact on your annual cost. COP (Coefficient of Performance) The COP is highly dependent on operating conditions. Heat pumps are very economical, for every 1kw of electricity used to power the heat pump, 3 to 6kw of heat is generated. Output temperature has the biggest impact on this and therefore, the running cost. Benefits of Using Heat Pumps Limitless kW - Unlimited energy available in the ground and air Economical - Provides operating cost savings of 30% to 60% over conventional oil / gas Comfortable - Maintains an even temperature and humidity level when used in conjunction with underfloor heating Safe - No open flames, fumes, or exhausts Environmentally Friendly - Our systems emit no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or other greenhouse gases Flexible - A single Heat Pump can handle heating, cooling, and hot water up to 60°C (Some up to 70°C with R290 Propane gas) Lifespan - Air-Source can last up to approx. 15 years and Geothermal up to approx. 20 years Efficiency - As much as 5 times as efficient as conventional systems Low Running Costs - e.g. to heat a 2500 sq ft house for as little as €600 per year (BER rating of B1) Range - Units available for all sizes of dwellings, new and existing Value - Increases the value of your home and lowers energy bills BER - Improves your Building Energy Rating (BER)

The heat pump has the ability to extract heat from one source (i.e. ground or air) and discharge it into another (i.e. underfloor or radiators). The heat pump works on the same characteristics as a standard domestic fridge, but instead of cooling, it heats. Heating and cooling are achieved by moving refrigerant through various indoor and outdoor coils and components. A compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator are used to change the state of refrigerant from a liquid to a hot gas and from a gas to a cold liquid. Main Stages Evaporation (Source) - The refrigerant (liquid state) passes through the outdoor evaporator at a low temperature. The water/antifreeze from the ground loop or air enters the unit, and heat is transferred from this water / antifreeze / air to the refrigerant. The refrigerant begins to boil and changes to a vapour. Compression - The vapour is pressurised by the compressor where the increased gas pressure results in a much higher temperature than the original source temperature. Condensation - The vapour then enters the condenser heat exchanger, and the heat is given up. At this point, the heat is transferred to the buildings heating, and hot water systems. As it passes through the condenser / heat exchanger, it cools and turns back into a liquid. Expansion - The refrigerant, which is now cooled liquid at high pressure passes through an expansion valve, which reduces the pressure so that the liquid can re-enter the evaporator and begin the cycle again.

Heat pump efficiency / Coefficent of Performance (COP) is obtained by comparing how much energy it consumes in order to complete the heating and cooling cycle. COP is defined as: “The ratio of heat delivered by the heat pump and the electricity supplied to the compressor.”. Electricity is needed to power the heat pump, but for every unit of electricity used, it will generate 3-6 units of useful heat, largely dependent on outdoor temperatures and delivery temperature. A COP of 4.2 or above is considered average. Figures for a 180 m² house, Panasonic Air Source Heat pump, hot water for 4 people and underfloor heating throughout.

As we are at the forefront of heat pump installation, we can undertake all aspects of ground source preparation for our clients. We offer the full range of collectors and will design a system that fits best with the land, available water source, local geology, and your heating needs.
Since the early days, we’ve installed collectors in hundreds of different soil conditions and rock formations. This experience, combined with close cooperation with the best drilling operators in the country, gives us local knowledge from Malin head to Mizen head. Main types of Heat Sources : Closed Horizontal Loop Horizontal loops are often considered when adequate land surface is available. Pipes are placed in trenches in lengths that range from 30m to 70m and at a min depth of 1m. Closed Vertical Loop Vertical loops are an option when land surface available is limited. Well drilling equipment is used to bore 150mm diameter holes from depths of 60m to 120m. Pond / Lake Loop Pond/Lake Loops are economical to install when a body of water is available because excavation costs are eliminated. Coils of pipe are placed at the bottom of a lake. Air The heat is extracted from the outside air, facilitated by a refrigerant circulating in the system. This heat is then transferred using sophisticated heat exchangers. Open Loop System Open Loop systems utilize ground water as a direct energy source. In ideal conditions, an open loop application is the most economical type of geothermal system. Although predominantly used for commercial or farm applications these can be economically used where the water table is high.

Ground & Air Milk straight from the cow and/or cooling system Rivers Streams Ponds Lakes Reservoirs Rain water harvesting Thermal springs IT rooms Plastic injection moulding Cooling plants Central refrigeration unit

Any property 50m² - 2,100m² (500 - 22,000 sqft) Timber Frame houses Block houses ICF Passive Near passive Outdoor swimming pools Sea weed drying Swimming pools Sports complex Aquaculture Cheese dairy Radiators Underfloor heating Fan coils

Grants for heat pumps in Ireland are provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to encourage Irish homeowners to switch to sustainable heating. To qualify for a heat pump system grant, your home must have sufficiently low heat loss and must be a first time heat pump system. Homes built before 2007 require a Technical Assessment (from an SEAI registered Technical Assessor) and for homes built from 2007 onwards, either a Self-Declaration form or a Technical Assessment. There is a grant towards the assessment. Individual Heat Pump Grants are available (Not linked to One-Stop Shops). Our SEAI Contractor ID is 10349. For more details and to apply for a grant, visit SEAI.ie