How to use the data

The information on this Application is for general information only and is subject to change at any time without notice. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is correct at the date of its inclusion, The Habitable Zone does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information.
You are welcome to inform others about The Habitable Zone, however you may not reproduce the information for any other purpose without our express consent.

Building Energy Rating - Background

A Building Energy Rating (BER) is based on the characteristics of major components of a dwelling (wall, roof and floor dimensions, window and door sizes and orientations) as well as the construction type and levels of insulation, ventilation and air tightness features, the systems for heat supply (including renewable energy), distribution and control, and the type of lighting. It covers annual energy use for space heating, water heating, ventilation, lighting and associated pumps and fans, calculated on the basis of a notional standard family with a standard pattern of occupancy.

The energy performance is expressed as:

A BER is only an indication of the energy performance of a dwelling. Actual energy usage will depend on how the occupants operate the house. In that way it is similar to the concept of a fuel economy (miles per gallon or litres per 100 km) rating for a car.
A BER does not cover electricity used for purposes other than heating, lighting, pumps and fans, i.e. does not include for cooking, refrigeration, laundry etc

Search Criteria (Input Fields)

Energy Mentor

The 'House' Application can be invoked from the Energy Mentor section of the Website. Here there are many hundreds of Building Energy Rated (BER) dwellings made available to the homeowner. The Habitable Zone has provided a search facility via which the homeowner can choose and interrogate a dwelling which most closely resembles their own. It should be noted that the Cost and Carbon figures shown for these dwellings are derived from Energy Efficiency figures based predominately on Default values of Building Materials and Heating systems associated with the selected era's Building Regulations.

Roughly when was your Home Built?

Here the Homeowner can choose one of five different eras. Each era has associated Default values for Building Materials and Heating Systems consistent with the Building regulations of the time.

• 2000 - 2004
• 1994 - 1999
• 1983 - 1993
• 1978 - 1982
• 1977 and before

What type of Home do you have?

There are currently 3 Dwelling types available to choose from.

• Apt (Top) : Top floor Apt of total floor area 75m2
• Semi-Detached : Semi Detached 2 story house of total floor area 110m2
• Detached : Detached 2 story house of total floor area 140m2

What is your main heating fuel?

• Electricity : Assumes Storage Heaters (Nigh rate).
• Heating Oil : Assumes Oil Boiler with Radiators
• Mains Gas : Assumes Gas Boiler with Radiators
• Solid Multifuel : Assumes Solid fuel Stove with Boiler to Radiators
• Coal : Assumes Open Fire with Back Boiler to Radiators

Let's find your House!

This facility allows the Homeowner to look-up the Building Energy Rating (BER) data specifically associated with their dwelling. It is a far more accurate indication of Energy usage and CO2 emissions than choosing an Energy Mentor comparison.

MPRN Number

The Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) is a Unique 11 digit number by which Homeowner can look up the Building Energy Rating (BER) associated with their dwelling.

BER Number

The Building Energy Rating (BER) Number is a Unique 9 digit number by which Homeowner can look up the Building Energy Rating (BER) associated with their dwelling.

In Running

The Selected Dwelling will be represented by a generic image of a House.
The changing weather and Month slide at top of screen (moving from left to right) depict the passing months for the selected year.
As the months pass four fields will accumulate:
Fuel Cost Fields:

• Space : Assumes Storage Heaters (Nigh rate).
• Water : Assumes Oil Boiler with Radiators
• Lighting : Assumes Gas Boiler with Radiators

CO₂ Fields

• CO₂ : Carbon kg

Notes:

Space

Please note that the monthly Space Heating costs accumulate according to a weighted average (see table below) in order to best reflect actual monthly Space fuel Usage. An exception to this are Standing Charges and PSO Levy costs associated with Natural Gas/Bulk LPG and Electricity. These Costs are spread evenly across the months for the selected year.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
16	16	12	9	5	2	1	1	2	7	13	16

Water

Water Heating costs are spread evenly across the months for the selected year

Lighting

Lighting costs are spread evenly across the months for the selected year

Results Fields

Please note that the Energy Efficiency figures are based on an independent Building Energy Rating (BER) for the Dwelling. At a high level these figures in kWh's are multiplied by the fuel Price/kWh to determine the overall fuel costs. In addition to this however the Algorithm does take into account Standing Charges where applicable.

Another Year Down!

Shows the Annual fuel cost for the selected Dwelling.

The Bottom Line(Annually)

Please note that the Annual row of figures will default to the Current Year but can represent any year specified by the user (See Fuel Slide notes).
Historical Fuel Prices are based on National historical fuel prices whereas Future fuel prices have factored in a 5% increase annually.

Annually(Space Heat)

This field expresses the Space Heating ?Amt associated with the Selected Dwelling. Please note that the information is only a guide based on the Building Energy Rating (BER). Actual energy usage will depend on how the occupants operate the house. In that way it is similar to the concept of a fuel economy (miles per gallon or litres per 100 km) rating for a car.

Annually(Water Heat) :

This field expresses the Water Heating ?Amt associated with the Selected Dwelling. Please note that the information is only a guide based on the Building Energy Rating (BER). Actual energy usage will depend on how the occupants operate the house. In that way it is similar to the concept of a fuel economy (miles per gallon or litres per 100 km) rating for a car.

Annually(Lighting)

This field expresses the Water Heating ?Amt associated with the Selected Dwelling. Please note that the information is only a guide based on the Building Energy Rating (BER). Actual energy usage will depend on how the occupants operate the house. In that way it is similar to the concept of a fuel economy (miles per gallon or litres per 100 km) rating for a car.

Annually(CO₂)

When Fossil fuels are burnt for energy the main by-products are water vapour and carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide is the most important of the greenhouse gases which are contributing to climate change. An Irish house will on average produce 7.5 Metric tonne of Carbon annually. This is equivalent 7 � Balloons of 10 metres diameter filled with Carbon.

The Bottom Line(Sum ( n y ))

Please note that the Sum (n y) row of figures will default to the Current Year but can represent any sum of year specified by the user (See Fuel Slide notes).
Historical Fuel Prices are based on National historical fuel prices whereas Future fuel prices have factored in a 5% increase annually.

Sum(Space Heat)

This field is calculated similarly to the Annual (Space Heat) but summed for each year selected by the user via the 'Fuel Prices' Slide.

Sum(Water Heat)

This field is calculated similarly to the Annual (Water Heat) but summed for each year selected by the user via the 'Fuel Prices' Slide.

Sum(Lighting)

This field is calculated similarly to the Annual (Lighting) but summed for each year selected by the user via the 'Fuel Prices' Slide.

Sum(CO₂)

This field is calculated similarly to the Annual (CO2) but summed for each year selected by the user via the 'Fuel Prices' Slide.

BER Distribution

The 'BER Distribution' Bar chart shows the Distribution of Irish house Ratings based on Energy Efficiency/M2. In addition it will outline where the selected Dwelling falls within this distribution chart (updated Quarterly).

Fuel Prices Slide (Line Chart)

This Slide can be used to evaluate the Cost and CO2 'The Bottom Line' figures for a year other than the default current year. Alternatively it can be used to evaluate Cost and CO2 figures over a user specified range of years.

Recommendations

The Habitable Zone provides a facility whereby the user can evaluate up to three Dwelling Energy Upgrades recommended by the BER Assessor. These figures are legitimised in that the BER Assessor is required to create a 'Provisional' BER for each recommended Upgrade/Combination of upgrades. Recall however that a BER is only an indication of the energy performance of a dwelling. Actual energy usage will depend on how the occupants operate the house. In that way it is similar to the concept of a fuel economy (miles per gallon or litres per 100 km) rating for a car.

Upgrade

There are Currently 9 Recommended Upgrade Types

• Upgrade-roof
• Upgrade-Walls
• Upgrade-roof-Walls
• Upgrade-Main-Heater
• Upgrade-Heating-Controls
• Upgrade-Main-Heater-HC
• Upgrade-Solar-Panels
• Upgrade-Windows-Doors
• Upgrade-Lighting

Select

Facility that allows user to Select or de-select the Recommended Upgrade

Get Quote

Facility that allows the Homeowner to get a quote from the selected Local (by County) Preferred Contractor for the Chosen upgrade(s).
Please note that while The Habitable Zone will try to ensure that all Local Preferred Contractor are Certified, Tax Compliant and registered with the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) where applicable, The Habitable Zone does not take responsibility for agreement made between the Contractor and the Homeowner.

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Acts as a 'Go' button where selected upgrades can be assessed by the Homeowner

Results button

Shows the Annual fuel cost for the selection

Compare Screen

The Habitable Zone provides a facility whereby it can compare 'Recommended' upgrades with both the originally dwelling and subsequent recommended upgrade combinations to that dwelling.

• The 'Annual' field shows the combined fuel costs for Space Heating, Water Heating and Lighting.
• The 'Sum(ny)' field is a summation of the combined fuel costs for Space Heating, Water Heating and Lighting. Please note that Historical fuel prices are used in the algorithm where applicable. There is a 5% per annum increase factored into any future years
• The 'Saving(ny)' field reflects the overall predicted cost saving in terms of overall Fuel Prices.
• The 'Get Quote' field allows the user to return to the 'Get Quote' process where Quotes can be processed by Recommended Measure.
• The above fields within 'Compare Screen' can be influenced by the 'Fuel Prices' Slide.