You must now get a BER cert to sell or rent a home. But how do you find one of the people qualified to do the  job - and how much  will they charge? asks Anne Dempsey.

AS WELL as "brrrr...." these cold winter days, people have become aware of BER — the Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate which became compulsory for all homes sold or rented from January 1,The certificate is similar to the energy label on a household electrical appliance, such as a fridge with a rating scale of A to G, A-rated homes being the most energy efficient and G-rated homes the least.

The new law is creating a fillip in these recessionary times with some seeing home inspections as a way of earning extra revenue. So how can consumers be sure they are getting a properly qualified assessor who will do a competent job?

The EU directive is being overseen and managed in this country by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), which has a list both of approved training providers and registered home assessors who have completed the approved training to do energy ratings.

Originally a distinction was made between the qualifications necessary for assessing new homes and second-hand homes since new homes can be assessed easily, even from plans, while older houses may need more judgement.

So new home assessors originally needed to pass a two-day training, while training applicants to assess second-hand houses needed to have reached Level Six in construction before entry to a five-day course.

Now all training is standardised. and lasts six days. Everyone wishing too train as a BER Assessor require a Level 6 in a construction-related discipline or equivalent.

Some applicants, such as experienced surveyors, may already be up to speed with the key aspects of training and need less than six days, while others starting from a lower base may need pre-qualifications to apply for training.

In order to register with SEI as an accredited assessor, applicants must successfully complete the accredited training course. An SEI exam is being introduced in spring 2009 and once in place, assessors will be required to achieve a 70% per cent pass result.

Assessors who are already registered will be required to pass the SEI exam before the end of 2009. The exam service will also facilitate ongoing professional development annual competency testing.

Today there are over 3,800 certified assessors who have successfully completed training; 983 of these have paid between €500-€1,000 to register with the SEI and are qualified to rate new dwellings. Of the 983, 603 are registered to assess both old and new dwellings.

Assessors must be familiar with the necessary software Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedures (DEAP) used to calculate energy ratings for dwellings.

There are 21 recognised training providers including institutes of technology and private companies which must meet SEI criteria relating to relevant HETAC or FETAC qualifications.

So how exactly is your home rated for its energy usage? A BER is based on the characteristics of its major components (wall, roof, floor, window dimensions and orientations), insulation, ventilation, heat distribution and lighting.

Energy use is calculated on the basis of a notional average family with a standard pattern of occupancy. The rating is an indication of the energy performance of a house, while actual usage will depend on how families live - covering electricity used for heat and light, but not for cooking, refrigeration or laundry. In this way the BER is similar to the concept of a fuel economy rating for a car.

Paula Rice, SEI's programme manager, explains how DEAP works. "When an assessor goes to a second-hand house - let's say it was built in 1985 - to do a rating, he or she inputs the data into a computer which then automatically fills in conservative assumptions or default values.

"This provides the starting point for the assessor, whose job is then to confirm whether or not the default data is correct for the actual house being rated. So, for example, there may have been upgrades made to the house, improvements in insulation and so on, which would give a better value than the default and which would result in a better energy rating. The assessor can then override the default data so that the energy rating provides a true reflection of the performance of the actual house.

"The assessor is required to maintain records and supporting evidence for any default values that are overwritten for the purposes of auditing by SEI," she says.

The assessor submits his assessment to SEI and each assessment is passed through a standard series of validation checks which compare the values in the rating against an acceptable range of values.

Notices can be issued to the assessor to draw attention to any very high or very low values in the assessment. After the assessor has accepted these, h/she can then publish the rating and generate a BER Certificate, download a pdf copy and send it to the householder. As well as the certificate, the householder will receive an advisory report giving practical advice on any energy upgrades it may be beneficial for them to make.

In addition, each householder has a unique identifier (BER number) which allows them access the electronic version of their BER on the SEI website - this is their legal certificate. The rating can also be accessed using your Meter Point Reference Number on your electricity bill.

The BER for that house is then added to the National Register, which is available electronically on SEI's website.

As there is no fixed price for the BER, in order to ensure value for money, SEI encourages householders to shop around for quotations from a number of assessors on the Register of BER Assessors, (which can be found on their website). A competitive market will hopefully regulate a fair deal.

At the moment a BER assessment on a new house generally costs less than €300. It is currently too early to say what an assessment on second-hand home will cost, as this will vary depending on size, location and travel involved. Assessments can take from less than half a day to a full day, again, depending on size and location.

Through the Law Society, solicitors have been informed of the new regulations and have a duty to ensure that the rating is provided in legal conveyancing.

Finally, Paula Rice sums up the benefits of BER: "The aim of the Building Energy Rating is to make the energy performance of dwellings visible to prospective buyers and tenants and to help them make a more informed property purchase or rental decision.

The accompanying Advisory Report will encourage the upgrading of older homes and thereby lead to more energy efficiency, cost efficient and comfortable homes."