Heat’s on: Government’s heralded eco-grading system ‘won’t be ready’ for launch

THE SOCIETY of Chartered Surveyors (SCS) has warned the Government’s planned eco grading system — due to come into force on January 1 for all buildings being rented or sold — will not be ready in time.

It was announced two years ago that from 2009, all such buildings would have to carry a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate. Failure to hold this cert, which grades a property from A to G depending on its energy efficiency, would carry a €5,000 fine or three months jail.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), who will run the scheme on behalf of the Department of the Environment, has said the system will roll out on time.

However, assessments cannot begin until mid-November as the computer software needed by assessors will not be available before then.

SEI programme manager Paula Rice said the necessary computer software will be released to assessors on November 17 and they will have six weeks to audit buildings and get certificates for clients. The software is already in operation for new buildings.

However, Guy Dobson, of the SCS building surveying committee, said yesterday: “There is no way that with the huge numbers of houses on the market, that tens of thousands of assessments can be done in just six weeks. The system will have to be postponed, as if it isn’t, house vendors are at risk of a €5,000 fine”.