IMPROVE YOUR BER WITH SOLAR
Updated September 18th, 2026
“I just keep thinking about all the money I’ve lost!” my friend groused. This past summer, she and her husband had put a long-time family home on the market. To do so by law, they had to discover the cottage’s BER rating for the first time.
It was a D2.
BER runs on a scale from G to A0 (for a completely net zero build). Her D2 rating is one that would often be found in a pre-1990s Irish home. What my friend realised immediately, however, was that her cottage had been leaking an extra €1,000-2,000 in energy costs out of the roof and walls every year. Not only that, but her auctioneer informed her that her D2 rated cottage – charming as it was – would sell for 10-14% less than a similar house with an A rating.
Hence the justifiable whingeing.
There is an important lesson for the rest of us in my pal’s pain. Whether you’re staying or selling, it pays to improve your BER and home’s energy efficiency.
Many older homes in Ireland would fall well below the ideal A BER rating. It’s easy to improve your BER and home’s energy efficiency and it doesn’t have to cost the moon.
The first step is to have a qualified assessor visit your home to check your property. He or she will supply you with a detailed report showing your home’s energy vulnerabilities. A reputable assessor can be found through the Sustainable Energy Authorities [SEAI] website, here.
You are paying for it, so make the most of your assessor’s knowledge. If you aren’t a time-waster, most people get a buzz out of sharing what they know with someone who honestly wants advice on improving their BER.
We’ve had a bit of experience with the process, and though I’m no expert, here’s what I’ve learned.
Getting more bang for your buck need not mean emptying your wallet. To get the highest improvement in your BER rating for the lowest cost, you should follow a fabric-first approach. This means stopping heat from escaping before you buy expensive new heating systems.
How To Improve Your BER
Smart first moves should include:
*Beefing up attic insulation to at least 300mm in depth. It’s cheap, effective, and will pay for itself in no time.
*Draught proofing. Seal gaps around doors, windows, and floorboards to eliminate heat loss. There are permanent ways to do this, but those silly snake-shaped cushions do the trick in many locations and can be decorative.
*Wrap up your water tank. Fitting an insulated jacket to your hot water cylinder minimises heat loss, that means it can be turned on for shorter periods and supply hot water for longer.
When you’ve made these first moves, and I think costing them would show them to be very affordable, it’s time to look at walls and windows.
Walls account for 35% of a house’s heat loss. It’s trickier and more expensive than those easy first steps, but pumping insulation into cavity walls or investing indoor/outdoor insulation makes a significant improvement to your BER and home’s energy efficiency.
And if you haven’t done so already, upgrading old single or double glazing to high-performance double or triple glazing will work wonders to keep heat in.
When you’ve done all the above and created the snuggest, most energy conserving nest you can, it’s time to consider where your power comes from and how you use it effectively.
Relying on old infrastructure may seem like a cost-saving. Usually, it isn’t.
Instead of that dial on the wall in the living room, install a zoned heating system with digital thermostats so you only heat the rooms you use, when you are using them. Replace your home’s old boiler with a modern heat pump or condensing boiler.
And for the final boost, the one we can help with(!), install solar panels to generate renewable electricity and improve your BER score into the ‘A’ or ‘B’ bands.
In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, we understand that most homeowners will be considering the cost of these improvements every step of the way. There will be some out-of-pocket costs, but much of what I’ve described can be part funded with a combination of generous government grants or low-interest green loans. There are also fully funded grants available for those receiving eligible social welfare payments.
My mate has now sold her cottage to a lovely couple, who she is certain will be good neighbours. Even before moving in, she saw builders arriving with insulation and lovely, triple-glazed wood frame windows. They are clearly also going to be smart neighbours.
Why Choose Solar In Ireland?
Investing in a solar panel systems in Ireland can bring many benefits, including reduced energy bills, increased energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint. If you are interested in installing a solar panel system in Ireland, it is also worth exploring the different grant options and green business loans available and seeking professional advice from one of our solar energy advisors.
Feel free to contact us for more information, we’re here to help.
