Buildings to carry energy rating mark under EU law

IRISH homes and all buildings offered for sale or rent will shortly have to come with an energy rating mark, similar to that carried on electrical appliances like washing machines and fridges.

The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is expected come into effect next year and will require newly-constructed properties, as well as existing homes, apartments, offices and other buildings coming to the market, to have an Energy Performance Certificate.

Architects and engineers are expected to be among those certifying buildings.

While the Irish Concrete Federation (ICF) welcomes the directive, it believes fire performance and sound proofing of houses should also be transparent.

The certification will intensify competition between the concrete and timber-framed sectors and will resolve the debate as to which homes are warmer and more energy efficient.

Brian Murphy of the ICF claims problems experienced by callers to the RTÉ Joe Duffy show, who bought noisy timber-framed houses and apartments, would not occur if a broader performance rating was in place.

According to Mr Murphy, the concrete industry’s European organisations have carried out a major thermal performance study in preparation for the new directive.

“The study shows because concrete can absorb and store the suns’ rays, it will be 5% more heat efficient than a timber or steel-framed house, when equal amounts of insulation are built into the walls,” he said.

Others point to research which shows timber-framed homes are warmer and more energy efficient.

“Timber-framed homes often far exceed the energy performance requirements because they are, in the main, built in factories and the quality control is different,” according to John Goulding, of JR Goulding Architects, who is leading a task group on sustainability.

The Energy Directive is designed to attract prospective purchasers or tenants on the basis of potential energy cost savings.