Adding Solar - BER Rating disappointment

iknorr

So recently had a solar system install. 8.7KWp.

House had an A3 rating before solar panel install. Post Solar panel install it has an A2 rating of 43 kWh/m²/yr. Which is barely inside the A3 rating.

Im disappointed in this. Thought i would get an A1. However it got me thinking……

On the advisory document it showing Windows "FAIR". The windows are double glazed with a u value 1.3 w/m2/K. is this what they consider FAIR?

Also, its showing lighting as a recommended upgrade. with current energy efficiency as "FAIR" at 46 Lm/Watt

All my lights inside and out are LED. I would have expected this to be "Very Good".

Anyone any knowledge on this?

Jonathan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058368095/adding-solar-ber-rating-disappointment

Unless you provided certs for doors/windows/wall insulation etc, the assessor is obliged to use the default values from the building regs that were in place at the time the house was built.

iknorr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593220#Comment_122593220

i asked him will i provide the window certs and he said he can just take the code from the window. i had a look at the window earlier, it just says year, and BN standard number. Cant link it to the spec sheet i have.

Yeah he didnt take any certs. Even though i had them all.

conor_mc

my similar size install took me from c2 to a3 on account of producing about 6500kWh a year on a 127sqm house, which is a gain from PV of about 50 kWh/m2/yr.

How big is your house though? 8.7 kWp south-facing would generate about 8700kWh a year and so moving, say, a borderline A3 score of 74 kWh/m2/yr to a score of 43 is a 31 gain. Is your house 8700/31= 280m2? Or maybe your array is not 100% south-facing so the generation is lower? Are you sure they plugged in correct numbers provided by your installer?

iknorr

Anyone know if its possible to find my old BER cert online from 7 years ago?

iknorr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593347#Comment_122593347

C2 to A3? Thats a 125kWh/m2/yr change?

My Solar is;

4.8Kwp South

2.2Kwp West

1.7Kwp East

215m2

conor_mc

Yeah, it was a surprisingly large jump but to give my assessor his due, he worked hard to get it. Apparently, new standards introduced in past two years meant we could count interior dry-lining that wasn’t counted previously, if you have two points of evidence to support it (e.g. depth of a window reveal, and a measurement from a vent). He checked a double-checked a number of those things for me to ensure it was legit.

iknorr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122593383#Comment_122593383

You got a decent assessor so.

The fella who came to my place spent in total 20 minutes at the house. Didnt want any paperwork from me.

So either i was borderline A3 beforehand or he didnt inspect the house correctly. I do think he half arsed the lights and windows due to the "FAIR" on the advisory report.

Any idea if i can get my old BER from SEAI or anyway i can see the full calculation/input values for the new BER?

To get A1 rating for windows you would need triple glazing. It makes a significant difference.

Also as of about a year ago all LED lights, dishwashers, washing machines and fridges were significantly downgraded in their rating. The logic is to force adoption of more efficient modern designs. The goal posts will keep on moving until all houses achieve net zero, ie total energy self sufficiency.

graememk

As the actual scale keeps moving. An A3 7 yrs ago wouldn't be an A3 now.

iknorr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122595495#Comment_122595495

As in it would now be lower compared to 7 years ago?

slave1

Yes, the bar will be raised continually as time moves on

micks_address

we went from b3 to a2 with solar… we changed double glazing to triple glazing this year - needed to and new front door, back door.. still a2.. but heatloss went from 2.2 to 1.9..only way we'd get to a1 is to replace the gas boiler with a heatpump

batistuta9

why do you care, is it for selling or to get grant money?