BER in Ireland: Challenges and Achievements

BER in Ireland:Challenges and Achievements

Tom HalpinSustainable Energy Authority of Ireland13th April, 2011

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

• Statutory authority under Department of

Communications, Energy & Natural Resources

• Mission of transforming Ireland into a society based on

sustainable energy structures, technologies and

practices, and a vision of making Ireland a recognised

global leader in sustainable energy

• c. 66 staff in four locations: Dublin, Dundalk, Sligo, Cork

• Five year strategy published March 2010

BER in Ireland: Underlying Principles

SEAI Role

• SEAI is the designated Issuing Authority

• Provision of methodologies and calculation software

• Defining rules for competence and conduct

• Administering National BER Scheme:

• Registering Assessors

• National Assessor Exam

• Processing Assessments, Hosting Registers

• Quality Assurance

• BER Helpline

• Promoting awareness

• Advice and support to Government Departments

Sequence of Main Tasks

• Research and Consultation

– commissioned studies, EU Concerted Action, EIE

projects, Danish and Dutch systems, UK Ministries,

training certification bodies, professional bodies

• Legislation, functions, powers

• EN standards

• Methodologies and software

• Minimum performance standards TGD L

• BER certificate content and design

• Advisory report content and process

• Assessor Training and examination system

• Assessor registration rules, process and systems

• BER publication system

• Administrative process, system and resources

Revenue Neutral Model

• Revenues received from:

– Assessor registration and renewal fees

– BER Publication levy

• Revenues ring-fenced in legislation for use in scheme

– Systems design and development – methodologies,

tools, codes, procedures, business process systems,

website

– Ongoing support and maintenance - staffing, licenses,

helpdesk, legal advice, etc.

– QA - auditing systems and personnel, examinations

– Marketing and communications

Key Scheme Components

Tools

• Sufficient, accurate, repeatable

Outputs

• Clear and actionable

People

• Eligible, competent, adequate number

Systems

• Integration of operation, administration and QA

Tools

Calculation Methodology

Calculation Software

Standardised National Data

• Reference Bldg

• Usage Data

• Default Data Sets

Outputs

BER Cert

Advisory report

Building Regs

Registered BER

Assessors

Qualifications

APEL

Training

National Exam

CPD Exam

Registration T&C

National Administration System (NAS)

Assessor Register

BER Data Register

Data Checks

Rules

QA System

Finance System

Helpdesk

Website

IT Tools and Systems Infrastructure

Key to Success: Central NAS Register

• NAS = National Administration System

– Self service for publication of BERs by Assessors

– Assessing Building Regulations Compliance

– Online BER search for buyers / tenants

– Quality assurance

– National reporting

– Automated accounts functionality

– BER Helpdesk call centre

• Business processes must be well defined first

• Delivered by small core team with range of outsourced

partners

Communications

• Objectives

– Awareness, comprehension, signposting market,

entitlements and obligations

• Website: 16,000 visitors for the month of March 2011

• Help Line: 1,400 enquiries per month

• TV, Press, radio, web advertising

• Queries and representations:

– BER Assessors – technical bulletins, practice notes

– Media enquiries

– Parliamentary Questions

– Industry representative groups

Scheme Throughput / Progress

Domestic Apr ‘08 Apr ‘09 Apr ‘10 Apr ‘11

Registered Assessors 532 2,663 2,162 2,222

Active Assessors 133 1,931 2,029 2,138

BERs Published 444 31,600 113,378 196,437

Daily Publication Rate 12 264 181 174

Non Domestic

Registered Assessors -- 143 438 445

Active Assessors -- ~90 325 401

BERs Published -- 544 3,911 6,253

Daily Publication Rate -- 9 10 4

BER: New Homes Profile

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 E1 E2 F G

BER: Existing Homes Profile

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 E1 E2 F G

Non Domestic Building Profile

Creating a Compliance Culture

• Major industry awareness campaign over four years:

– C.200 events, 22,000 attendees

– Meeting key industry players, professional bodies

• Public awareness campaigns in 2008, 2009 and 2010

• Law Society Conveyancing Committee Direction to

members – acting for owner or prospective buyer/ tenant

• DEHLG direction to Building Control Authorities

• Rights based approach – SEAI advocacy role

– Setting out entitlements and obligations

– Create push and pull within market

EPBD Compliance Infrastructure

Market

requirement

Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance: Activity Summary

Audit Type Audits Completed

Data Reviews audits 7,588

Desk review audits 1,068

Documentation & Practice audits 364

% PublishedRatings Audited

% Active Assessors

Audited

Domestic 4.0% 83%

Non-Domestic 4.5% 52%

BER: A Positive Policy Instrument

• Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme

– Grants for EE upgrades

– Initially discretionary BER – before and after

– Currently mandatory – After with pre grant estimate

– Provides modelled data of scheme achievements

• Likely to feature in wider Retrofit programme

• Data utilised in academic, policy and NGO research

EPBD in Ireland: Key Learnings

• Establish strong co-ordination and buy-in across policy system

• Publish an action plan - be realistic and resource appropriately

• Establish a strong legislative, technical, administrative and promotional systems

• Mobilise building sector stakeholders - consultation

• Certification viewed as a positive policy instrument

• Certification on its own could be useless

• Careful definition of the scale – representative with headroom

• Leverage IT systems for high volume process automation

• Build strong awareness among market actors

What Would We Do Differently?

• Start earlier, particularly on the assessment

methodology and tool

• Tighter oversight of training providers (quality not

volume)

– Define requirements before the horse bolts

• Consider of the compliance mechanism for Assessors

(SEAI) and building owners (local authorities)

• More intelligent functionality on advisory report

generation

• Be prepared for the functionality changes and

upgrades necessary – this is a dynamic scheme

• Anticipate legal challenges to the aspects of the

scheme – define well and clear rationale

Challenges for Future

• Preparing for Recast EPBD

• Achieving robust compliance, particularly rental market

• Maintaining public awareness

• Monitoring Assessor number, prices and training

• Expansion of QA activity

• Irish localisation of DSMs

• Co-ordination with UK on methodologies

• Functionality and guidance of advisory reports

– And getting homeowners to act on advice

• ICT issues - continuous service functionalities

• Continued consultation with stakeholders e.g. Product

suppliers

Thank You

tom.halpin@seai.ie