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The number of non-domestic BER audits performed in certain months have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For further information please see the SEAI website.

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Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
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For more information on this release:
E-mail: environment@cso.ie Dympna Corry Berna Lawlor
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-9304
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Non-Domestic Building Energy Ratings

Quarter 4 2021

Table A: Number of Non-Domestic BER certificates
number 
Period20172018201920202021% change 2021/2020
Quarter 11,5731,3051,047956840-12%
Quarter 21,4471,2151,09644487798%
Quarter 31,5361,1311,0708791,12228%
Quarter 41,6081,0091,0331,0241,1209%
 
Year6,1644,6604,2463,3033,95920%

Non-domestic BER audits in 2021 were 20% higher than in 2020

Figure 1: Number of Non-Domestic BER Certificates published in 2019-2021
go to full release

There was an increase in the number of non-domestic Building Energy Rating (BER) audits reported in 2021 when the number of completed audits was 20% above the number in 2020 (see Table A, Table 1, Figure 1 and Information Note). There were 1,120 BER audits reported in quarter four 2021 compared with 1,024 in quarter four 2020. This is an increase of 9% (see Table A).

BER audits were conducted for 1,623 non-domestic buildings constructed between 2015 and 2021 (see Table 13). Over one fifth (21%) of these buildings received an “A” rating compared with 8% of non-domestic buildings constructed during 2010 to 2014 (see Figure 4). In contrast, 98% of domestic dwellings constructed between 2015-2021 received an "A" rating (separate CSO release). 

There were 66,393 non-domestic BER audits conducted in the period 2009 to 2021 (see Table 1). The profile of non-domestic BER audits conducted since 2009 was 2% awarded an "A" rating, 13% a "B" rating, and 34% with a “C” rating (see Table 3).

The most energy efficient building types audited during 2009-2021 were Schools and colleges with 31% awarded an “A” rating (see Table 3). The second most energy efficient buildings were Nursing residential homes and hostels with 10% rated “A”. The least energy efficient building types, defined by a “G” rating, were Workshops and maintenance depots (23%) followed by Other Buildings (20%) (see Figure 3).

The highest proportion of combined “A” and “B” ratings was in County Kildare at 22% (see Table 4). County Kilkenny had the highest proportion of “G” rated buildings at 18% (see Table 4).

In Dublin city, Dublin 15 had the highest proportion of combined “A” and “B” ratings at 24% followed by 19% for Dublin 13 and Dublin 18 (see Table 5). The highest proportion of “G” ratings was 18% in Dublin 6W and Dublin 8 (see Table 5).

The average floor area of all audited non-domestic dwellings was 692 square metres (see Table 10). This average size varied from 3,223 square metres for hotels to 291 square metres for Restaurants and public houses.

BER certificates expire after ten years unless a new audit has been undertaken. This means that many of the 2009 certificates expired in 2019. The CSO has included these expired certificates in this release. The period of construction is not yet available for audits undertaken in 2020-2021. This information will be added when it becomes available.

BER Ratings
A1.229
B8.975
C21.422
D13.753
E7.243
F4.248
G8.205
G8.205
ABCDEFG
Retail114391810613
Office29302413814
Restaurant/public house0730351764
Hotel2204123733
Warehouses017332010614
Workshops/maintenance depot092322141023
Industrial process building33327151039
Hospitals and primary health care916242013811
Community/day centre6263017859
Nursing residential homes and hostels10422913412
Schools and colleges31271814424
Sports facilities3302917768
Other618221611720
ABCDEFG
1900-197706292716913
1978-1999012372312710
2000-20040164319848
2005-200912036167516
2010-20148292815748
2015-2021213518104211
Table 1 BER Certificates (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
number
Period2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021Total
January451941501934445906343993393632622832894,185
February1473261661569466217435535364753623702775,678
March2072282012248487408076476984674233032746,067
April1652301621788617966336654543743591252975,299
May2401892012047888826616475314564101023105,621
June3481841981637668576865974623853272172705,460
July4081931902437528415955614873933622783555,658
August2662871732135757855635874533533592313855,230
September2652212182456939986736835963853493703826,078
October2362042072898638826826406203514013353946,104
November3073032233287139645725305123893453324275,945
December3371932113095748534674364762692873572995,068
               
Total2,9712,7522,3002,7458,8239,8097,7166,9456,1644,6604,2463,3033,95966,393
Table 2 BERs by Year (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
number
YearEnergy Rating Total
AB1B2B3C1C2C3D1D2E1E2FG
200932120252405450373284285226106851441302,892
201024661892753493592883082071271221321742,620
20115070124213297240216271164111941291502,129
201240541172083803352883242511721261572562,708
2013511283645911,1511,1318761,0398175043635501,1618,726
2014491253186741,2261,1489051,2069136215176651,3499,716
2015841322655229369227218836964994035181,0377,618
2016901072424807718006388406254823764829146,847
20171011162624186676645997825753972983987856,062
20181111102253304715304485264393262192995414,575
201997992183024224243275374022801982675704,143
202017872991912372822833462801931742475793,161
2021322891482553203453194623492611892605593,878
               
Total1,2291,2882,8234,8647,6777,5536,1927,8095,9444,0793,1644,2488,20565,075
Table 3 BERs by Type of Building (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row 
Building TypeEnergy Rating Total
AB1B2B3C1C2C3D1D2E1E2FG
Retail1149161491075461324,814
Office22358111113117681415,057
Restaurant/public house0125811111916116646,091
Hotel23891414131495233910
Warehouses026912129118556148,531
Workshops/maintenance depot01367881398610232,367
Industrial process building3121110119610555391,401
Hospitals and primary health care9465798119768111,203
Community/day centre6411111210810744591,142
Nursing residential homes and hostels1010161613106763112606
Schools and colleges319897658622241,179
Sports facilities361112121081085268514
Other65671076106567201,260
               
Total22471212101296571365,075
Table 4 BERs by County (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row    
CountyEnergy Rating Total
AB1B2B3C1C2C3D1D2E1E2FG
Carlow137101513910654313834
Dublin 01-24224711111013107561217,809
Dublin County3247141210119656124,665
Kildare5251012129108556122,719
Kilkenny238813108109544181,013
Laois225111011711885416757
Longford225712111011876911493
Louth225511128138658161,848
Meath2258121210118656132,168
Offaly126811111112955612795
Westmeath1268141381210655111,361
Wexford314711129119668141,771
Wicklow3351012119127767111,920
Clare1247111191211658121,752
Cork City114611139111174714583
Cork County2248121210129647115,829
Kerry124913129109647121,603
Limerick City21341212714985915519
Limerick County114812139138667122,319
Tipperary124814119119658121,847
Waterford City01371413111199589771
Waterford County22581111912866515966
Galway City114510131212976614715
Galway County22571111101110647133,266
Leitrim21511109191374910336
Mayo215712129119756141,669
Roscommon113681091310941016669
Sligo113614109111074717994
Cavan11471212812975714787
Donegal235810119149756121,668
Monaghan1348109912795715629
               
Total22471212101296571365,075
– No non-domestic unit received this BER in this county
Table 5 BERs by Dublin Postal District (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row 
Dublin Postal DistrictEnergy Rating Total
AB1B2B3C1C2C3D1D2E1E2FG
Dublin 1212611991411748171,613
Dublin 23245911101311768122,617
Dublin 302268141015775916464
Dublin 435558912131176511783
Dublin 522281312912775616334
Dublin 611469891012871014511
Dublin 6W102371361591061018255
Dublin 71434101211121075615814
Dublin 8224510810139867181,104
Dublin 921581412111477469706
Dublin 10124771511111198510259
Dublin 113257111210111194611866
Dublin 1201351111111610757121,533
Dublin 13224111211991178410253
Dublin 14115714139121153712552
Dublin 153351315151011743371,356
Dublin 16104612159121463613214
Dublin 1712481611141286548440
Dublin 1815581013111586449944
Dublin 2011551110913115961379
Dublin 22216815141112105448739
Dublin 242248151210129534131,371
               
Total224711111013107561217,807
 
Table 6 BERs by Main Space Heating System Fuel (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row 
Heating System FuelEnergy Rating Total
AB1B2B3C1C2C3D1D2E1E2FG
Mains Gas3379121081086441517,327
Heating Oil1258121211161275446,572
Electricity11361212101296581339,188
LPG6512131511910743321,158
Other Fuels3648610811875716830
               
Total22471212101296571365,075
Table 7 Main Space Heating System Fuel by County (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row 
CountyHeating System FuelTotal
Mains GasHeating OilElectricityLPGOther
Carlow27105922834
Dublin 01-24394560117,809
Dublin County36558014,665
Kildare26864112,719
Kilkenny271454321,013
Laois24165712757
Longford13216051493
Louth30860111,848
Meath291157112,168
Offaly17186122795
Westmeath191660411,361
Wexford111666621,771
Wicklow27961121,920
Clare211858211,752
Cork City323641583
Cork County25864215,829
Kerry91666621,603
Limerick City2727000519
Limerick County251063112,319
Tipperary191958221,847
Waterford City3256012771
Waterford County23106232966
Galway City1168110715
Galway County121469323,266
Leitrim7246243336
Mayo92066321,669
Roscommon12235943669
Sligo9196651994
Cavan13205772787
Donegal122754621,668
Monaghan15215842629
       
Total2710602165,075
– No non-domestic unit indicated the usage of this main space heating fuel type for this county
Table 8 Main Space Heating System Fuel by Type of Building (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row 
Building TypeHeating System FuelTotal
Mains GasHeating OilElectricityLPGOther
Retail184761124,814
Office317601115,057
Restaurant/public house282441436,091
Hotel462912121910
Warehouses321054218,531
Workshops/maintenance depot281454312,367
Industrial process building302537441,401
Hospitals and primary health care321252211,203
Community/day centre362534411,142
Nursing residential homes and hostels423114122606
Schools and colleges402329521,179
Sports facilities41104261514
Other331250421,260
       
Total2710602165,075
Table 9 Main Ventilation System by Type of Building (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row 
Building TypeMain Ventilation SystemTotal
Air ConditioningMechanical VentilationNatural Ventilation
Retail4664724,814
Office3575815,057
Restaurant/public house3411556,091
Hotel26866910
Warehouses157798,531
Workshops/maintenance depot165792,367
Industrial process building2013661,401
Hospitals and primary health care227711,203
Community/day centre86851,142
Nursing residential homes and hostels2791606
Schools and colleges138791,179
Sports facilities291556514
Other189731,260
     
Total3375965,075
Table 10 Average Floor Area by Type of Building and County (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
              m2
CountyRetailOfficeRestaurant/ public houseHotelWarehousesWorkshops/ maintenance depotIndustrial process buildingHospitals and primary health careCommunity/ day centreNursing residential homes and hostelsSchools and collegesSports facilitiesOtherAll building types
Carlow4193603622,2998266893,3182152111,2891,656680921592
Dublin 01-243641,2093194,1521,3605733,0956303751,8882,4061,312826936
Dublin County2955873324,7701,5241,1083,6425254313,0602,3229811,093723
Kildare2273893484,3771,0456017,1966802672,2971,3691,391527602
Kilkenny3643272582,5201,1517631,4544452221,9361,874479496552
Laois3002712775,0858785333,6325992291,6851,9411,7351,222555
Longford3612852771,1401,2236595,4114123871,5209133,777294645
Louth2906433064,3601,5176024,3245131982,1111,1301,625833699
Meath2344043014,1811,1545082,3395702891,5071,3309783,064639
Offaly2784922271,8288326471,7237733071,5852,088371292542
Westmeath3065382502,0891,3956182,9011,1172429121,618997591587
Wexford3164912732,7098406242,1204123521,2991,509678562529
Wicklow2143952813,2146294392,3076373461,8491,599774283506
Clare2175032822,2031,0584253,001294254596978503496621
Cork City3739212101,7221,1774082,801229144975790560613
Cork County3037042663,1119974783,0576263301,7281,679812620619
Kerry2892842682,3246923102,844556309847943938338492
Limerick City2434562637,6309883951,4543804751,5211,3416772,430533
Limerick County3014532934,3471,1244682,9937723801,7772,2147941,535661
Tipperary2964082492,1081,3904353,8586243321,306936654271604
Waterford City3014593223,7857506812,322159659785624342747543
Waterford County5893112852,9111,1856732,5181,2562331,1771,0227641,065768
Galway City2803572094,0505782983,1392855871,4902,677447469495
Galway County2994662723,2211,0684862,0623892861,9771,783909637619
Leitrim2127112681,2805566914771,5583761,364965123428
Mayo2592872753,2048746171,9838823141,5625071,041493478
Roscommon2683892571,8898525233,8876553921,4161,243634952471
Sligo3203822931,2119284523,1848982941,3001,131665724531
Cavan2183532471,9646674032,9473423932,993906621353431
Donegal2593913222,3751,2424922,647663422900912776516556
Monaghan3061763494,5741,1216401,9281404361,2191,459946702590
               
All3077702913,2231,1725732,9375913361,6771,6831,011799692
– No data is available for this building type and county
Table 11 Average Primary Energy Use by Type of Building and County (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
kWh/m2/year
CountyRetailOfficeRestaurant/ public houseHotelWarehousesWorkshops/ maintenance depotIndustrial process buildingHospitals and primary health careCommunity/ day centreNursing residential homes and hostelsSchools and collegesSports facilitiesOtherAll building types
Carlow1,299483825685730835868460488395136644681852
Dublin 01-241,0484301,0305484327136603784873883041,184889550
Dublin County1,0404381,0176223036477463214133491451,047643534
Kildare1,075648896890465776731255349475182887806696
Kilkenny1,4137678715654435626583324024241381,399583790
Laois1,4937609424804698479032594214061181,161923846
Longford1,2848771,069639510888811319751337201581894825
Louth1,062493955628558757804368474344100811693685
Meath1,1794719876145869315902513334401471,384347649
Offaly8983869445575598616001914394231451,064674603
Westmeath1,0446309787295531,297644345462341127667823718
Wexford1,5294499968255869174535529615911491,196951837
Wicklow967461999692395631546302382421123863744581
Clare1,0636629236545147566131,0915526114261,319837685
Cork City1,3796029605366018431,010494385267972558824
Cork County1,0224279746485146125044075195561631,006688609
Kerry960680935644614773848336379464225673741736
Limerick City1,0571,3541,069502709782835397375944174766310865
Limerick County1,1117451,025651714647917410377350195829498773
Tipperary958585904737490907748221595388248932777703
Waterford City1,2185499967453826376164863814283611,1921,036710
Waterford County1,3005891,110732624949494349443361224867300831
Galway City1,0906061,1854857547398763183232681371,074905747
Galway County1,181666902586803701649339369327153863705730
Leitrim96779185885193987061894411481154570772
Mayo1,0988038976405236946582213073733275942,264768
Roscommon1,8434821,0676736696246563146864011501,157638938
Sligo1,4308609415899396447823294135472351,197701935
Cavan9966081,033654653641640352605440251762820712
Donegal996603977644720785578266373570198732651707
Monaghan9915418567434591,222589514341351210946256672
               
All1,113480978629497735675352471415213990721642
– No data is available for this building type and county
Table 12 Average Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Type of Building and County (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
kgCO2/m2/year
CountyRetailOfficeRestaurant/ public houseHotelWarehousesWorkshops/ maintenance depotIndustrial process buildingHospitals and primary health careCommunity/ day centreNursing residential homes and hostelsSchools and collegesSports facilitiesOtherAll building types
Carlow3061111891531721922031041078428145156199
Dublin 01-242449623311997163149851088067257204124
Dublin County240992311396914216669907031229145120
Kildare251148205201107180167567910439191187159
Kilkenny30917320312010213015573889429328135177
Laois35217722210411019721256979225227209197
Longford302206253144120202192741787846124192192
Louth246110220142128173186811067121183156157
Meath2761082301341362181345674963431174149
Offaly21190222123129204141421039733250155141
Westmeath245146228165128305150801047228155186167
Wexford36110423319113821810712822613735220217196
Wicklow2221042301589014812667849527190169133
Clare249155215150118173138250126138100313192158
Cork City3081382161151361912081118359215124185
Cork County239982241431171421169212011635214158139
Kerry224159219145143182201788510753157175171
Limerick City24931824510716618618590832253818265200
Limerick County25717223613716515121591867645192113178
Tipperary223135210164115209176491408858216186164
Waterford City28312522716689146131110779078275230161
Waterford County3061362591541452171127798754919067192
Galway City25514227711117617520975736430232206175
Galway County27315521113219016514977837233196159169
Leitrim228187200204224197147129711234122182
Mayo25918821214912416615450718178128533180
Roscommon436111251154157149158661659233264148220
Sligo336202219138220147185779613056234158219
Cavan234144241151153148144811417959181182165
Donegal234141230151170182131618910045173149165
Monaghan23112720217010528913212277823819947154
               
All259109225140114169155791078947217164147
– No data is available for this building type and county
Table 13 BERs by Period of Construction (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row 
Period of ConstructionEnergy Rating Total
AB1B2B3C1C2C3D1D2E1E2FG
1900-19290013891016139710126,720
1930-19490024101291511878131,607
1950-196601251010101312978143,065
1967-197701351012101311868133,323
1978-198202251011111310969132,788
1983-19930137131291310767125,134
1994-1999014916151114964565,146
2000-20040151016151211853487,916
2005-20091271114139974351614,537
2010-2014891011119810534482,114
2015-2021211511976554222111,623
               
Total12581312101296561253,973
Table 14 Main Space Heating System Fuel by Period of Construction (Non-Domestic) 2009-2021
% of row  
Period of ConstructionFuel TypeTotal
Mains GasHeating OilElectricityLPGOther
1900-1929191662226,720
1930-1949191662211,607
1950-1966231758113,065
1967-1977251953213,323
1978-1982241757212,788
1983-1993241064115,134
1994-199927863115,146
2000-200428565207,916
2005-2009315622114,537
2010-2014311351422,114
2015-202145742511,623
       
Total2710612153,973

Background Notes

Non-Domestic Building Energy Ratings

Introduction

The European Union Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) contains a range of provisions to improve the energy performance of new and existing buildings. The EPBD obliges specific forms of information and advice on energy performance to be provided to building purchasers, tenants and users for consideration in property transactions. A Building Energy Rating (BER) is an indication of the energy performance of a building represented in units of kWh/m2/year. A BER is based on the characteristics of major components of the building. The BER certificate indicates the annual primary energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions associated with the provision of space heating, water heating, ventilation, lighting, and associated pumps and fans. The average annual primary energy use figures and carbon dioxide emissions are not based on actual energy use and emissions data.

These Background notes provide a very general overview together with some specific information on the detailed tables in the release. The SEAI website should be consulted for detailed information on the non-domestic energy assessment procedure (NEAP), see https://www.seai.ie/grants/supports-for-contractors/neap/

Revisions

The figures in this release will be updated on a quarterly basis. Changes to data for the previous quarters will arise mainly from some buildings having another BER audit undertaken and the previous certificate being marked as expired. The difference in the number of BER certificates included in Tables 1 and 2 gives an indication of the number of buildings that have had more than one BER audit undertaken.

Coverage

Full site surveys have to be carried out for New-final and Existing building assessments. New-provisional ratings do not require a site survey as the assessment is done based on design stage plans – new provisional ratings have been excluded from this release. Some buildings are excluded from the EPBD requirements: national monuments; protected structures; places of worship; temporary buildings; industrial and agricultural buildings not intended for occupancy and below a specified installed heating capacity; and buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50 square metres. Short-term lettings are not exempt.

A BER for new non-domestic buildings was introduced in July 2008 and for renting of existing non-domestic buildings in January 2009. New regulations came into effect in January 2013 requiring the inclusion of BER information in property sale and rental advertisements.

National representativeness

The data have not been adjusted to represent all non-domestic buildings in the State and hence the tables only represent buildings that have been assessed.

Definitions

The BER rating scale is divided into categories from G (largest primary energy usage) to an A1 rating (lowest primary energy usage). Energy consumption is expressed in kWh per square metre of floor area of the building per year (kWh/m2/year) and CO2 emissions are expressed in kilograms of carbon dioxide per square metre per year (kgCO2/m2/year). For the purposes of this release A1, A2, and A3 have been combined because of the small number of certificates in these categories. The certificate is valid for 10 years unless changes are made to the building.

Table Notes

Table 1 presents the number of BERs published by month since January 2009. A premises that has had BERs conducted in different years is included in each year. This table gives an overview of the number of BER assessments being performed each month.

Tables 2-14 only include the latest BER published for each building i.e. the BER is on the public register - the number is lower than the total in Table 1 because replaced certificates have been excluded.

Table 2 shows the number of BER certificates by energy rating and year.

Table 3 classifies the number of BER certificates by energy rating and building type. This relates to the current building use and it is displayed on the BER certificate. Some building types have been combined for the purposes of this release e.g. schools and colleges.

Tables 4-5 profile Building Energy Ratings by county and Dublin postal district. Table 4 is in county within province order.

Table 6 profiles Building Energy Ratings by type of main space heating system fuel. The heating system fuel options are: Mains gas; Heating Oil; Electricity; LPG; Biogas; Oil; Coal; Biomass; Waste heat; Anthracite; Smokeless fuel; Dual fuel appliances; and Other. Categories with only a small number of responses have been amalgamated in Table 6.

Tables 7-8 cross-classify main space heating system fuel by county and building type.

Table 9 cross-classifies main ventilation system by building type.

Table 10 shows the average floor area by building type and county.

Tables 11-12 show the average primary energy use and average carbon dioxide figures by building type and county.

Table 13 shows the relationship between period of construction and building energy ratings. It can be linked with changes to the Building Regulations that require new buildings to be more energy efficient.

Table 14 cross-classifies main space heating fuel by period of construction.

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