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BER after Solar PV

  • 08-10-2020 4:07pm
    #1
    mp3guy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,954 ✭✭✭


    As part of the SEAI domestic grant, you need to have a BER done post install right?

    Has anyone had their BER change from this?


«1

Comments

  • #2
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 5,756 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    mp3guy wrote: »
    As part of the SEAI domestic grant, you need to have a BER done post install right?

    Has anyone had their BER change from this?

    The Ber will change and will get better as the "eco friendlyness " of the house will increase.


  • #3
    mp3guy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,954 ✭✭✭mp3guy


    graememk wrote: »
    The Ber will change and will get better as the "eco friendlyness " of the house will increase.

    That's what I thought but I was looking for some first person accounts to get an idea of how much of change people have seen.


  • #4
    KCross
    Registered Users Posts: 12,068 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    mp3guy wrote: »
    That's what I thought but I was looking for some first person accounts to get an idea of how much of change people have seen.

    It was discussed before. The BER bands are not all the same so it depends on what your starting BER rating is.


  • #5
    mp3guy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,954 ✭✭✭mp3guy


    KCross wrote: »
    It was discussed before. The BER bands are not all the same so it depends on what your starting BER rating is.

    I tried searching for previous discussion but couldn't find anything, got a link?

    I understand the BER scale is non-linear, so surely for a given solar power plus battery size that translates into a consistent amount of kWh/m^2/yr subtracted from your current BER?


  • #6
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 5,756 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    mp3guy wrote: »
    I tried searching for previous discussion but couldn't find anything, got a link?

    I understand the BER scale is non-linear, so surely for a given solar power plus battery size that translates into a consistent amount of kWh/m^2/yr subtracted from your current BER?

    I got a pre works BER survey done as we thought it would be touch and go that a C rating after the panels. We didnt end up going that route. but turns out we would have scraped a C3 if we got 4kwp of panels installed.. ended up with 5.6 lol


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  • #7
    KCross
    Registered Users Posts: 12,068 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    mp3guy wrote: »
    I tried searching for previous discussion but couldn't find anything, got a link?

    Some discussion here
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=112954062&postcount=110
    mp3guy wrote: »
    I understand the BER scale is non-linear, so surely for a given solar power plus battery size that translates into a consistent amount of kWh/m^2/yr subtracted from your current BER?

    So, yes it would be a set amount that gets included in the figure but depending on the size of your house and what BER you are starting with its possible that it wouldnt improve your BER at all and conversely it could improve it by one or even two bands.... basically, it depends.

    This is why you typically get a BER done before you invest in SolarPV to ensure that you will be eligible for the grant after the install.


  • #8
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Multiply the kW of the panels by 1.7, divide into sq meter of house and you will get a M2 energy reduction, at the range I'm looking at the gaps in the rates are 25 so for me I am at a 54M2 reduction so hoping to move up two in the rating tables

    Myenergi Eddi For Sale in Athlone, Westmeath from slave1 (adverts.ie)



  • #9
    Spocker
    Moderators Posts: 6,851 ✭✭✭Spocker


    I went from a C1 to a B2 for a 2.4KwP + 5Kw battery installed in July


  • #10
    Winterman1234
    Registered Users Posts: 88 ✭✭Winterman1234


    We install a 2.4kw pv array, no battery and went from C1 to B2, completed this February.


  • #11
    rx8
    Registered Users Posts: 1,821 ✭✭✭rx8


    Mine went from D1 to B2. (4.2kwp, plus battery etc) almost a year done now.


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  • #12
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 64,702 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    My brutally poorly built 20 year old house was already a B5 I think (after large solar thermal install and changing all the light bulbs), that's before I changed the front door for a highly insulated composite one, added serious attic roof insulation and installed a large PV system with battery. Also replaced the kitchen extension roof to insulate it to the latest regs and replaced the plastic roof on my conservatory with a fixed insulated roof also to current regs. If I get tested again, surely I will get an A rating. Which is a bit of a joke :p

    Edit - looked it up and I have a B3 already :D


  • #13
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    It's a calculation not a measurement. Hence meaningless and at the discretion, observation and intellect of the assessor. The human is the highest liability in most systems.


  • #14
    mp3guy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,954 ✭✭✭mp3guy


    Sir Liamalot wrote: »
    It's a calculation not a measurement. Hence meaningless and at the discretion, observation and intellect of the assessor. The human is the highest liability in most systems.

    Is it really that subjective? A given PV system has a nominal annual output which translates into kWh/yr. As mentioned above, normalize by your house's area and you have a value you can subtract from the total kWh/yr/m2 your home already uses, then see what bin you fall into.


  • #15
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    A measurement is always more accurate than a calculation. Are you familar with Irish building standards? Think 19th century Scandinavia.


  • #16
    mp3guy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,954 ✭✭✭mp3guy


    Sir Liamalot wrote: »
    A measurement is always more accurate than a calculation. Are you familar with Irish building standards? Think 19th century Scandinavia.

    Probably more familiar with irish building standards than 19th century Scandinavian ones in fairness.

    Side note: House had BER done 7 years ago, should I get the same assessor or someone different?


  • #17
    graememk
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 5,756 Mod ✭✭✭✭graememk


    mp3guy wrote: »
    Probably more familiar with irish building standards than 19th century Scandinavian ones in fairness.

    Side note: House had BER done 7 years ago, should I get the same assessor or someone different?

    Were you happy with the last one, & has anything else changed in the house in the interim? No harm in looking for a quote


  • #18
    mp3guy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,954 ✭✭✭mp3guy


    graememk wrote: »
    Were you happy with the last one, & has anything else changed in the house in the interim? No harm in looking for a quote

    Happy yes and moderate changes in the interim, before solar.


  • #19
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    mp3guy wrote: »
    House had BER done 7 years ago, should I get the same assessor or someone different?


    If you want a box ticked it doesn't matter.



    If you want a true assesment of the house's performance you have to measure it.


  • #20
    mp3guy
    Registered Users Posts: 3,954 ✭✭✭mp3guy


    Sir Liamalot wrote: »
    If you want a box ticked it doesn't matter.



    If you want a true assesment of the house's performance you have to measure it.

    Well that doesn't make it clear.

    I have an assessment of the house's performance, I know how much energy I use in a year because I measured it myself. So in that regard, all the BER is is a box ticking exercise.

    If I get the same assessor, he's familiar with the starting point and can make a relative adjustment which may be better? A new assessor might assess things differently. But what does it matter when I can calculate the kWh/m2/yr myself based on my own bills over the past year anyway. Only important for grants and planning I suppose, or selling.


  • #21
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    mp3guy wrote: »
    Only important for grants and planning I suppose, or selling.


    Agreed.
    It's a vague and relative scale that's entirely fallible.

    The heating bills are more accurate but not a silver bullet either because the atmospheric conditions are variable year to year.


    It's like a lottov things, doing it right is more difficult so why bother.


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  • #22
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 64,702 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Sir Liamalot wrote: »
    Agreed.
    It's a vague and relative scale that's entirely fallible.

    The heating bills are more accurate but not a silver bullet either because the atmospheric conditions are variable year to year.


    It's like a lottov things, doing it right is more difficult so why bother.

    And heating bills are more subjective than anything. If I lived alone in my house, my gas (heating) bill would be near zero. I would set the thermostat to no more than 17C and only in the living area. Alas there are 4 females in my household who like it a lot warmer than that :p


  • #23
    Spocker
    Moderators Posts: 6,851 ✭✭✭Spocker


    unkel wrote: »
    Alas there are 4 females in my household
    Sorry for your pain :pac:


  • #24
    slave1
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,650 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    I have exact same pain, herself and three daughters, sit in tee shirt in living room when them in hoodies and blankies :rolleyes:

    Myenergi Eddi For Sale in Athlone, Westmeath from slave1 (adverts.ie)



  • #25
    unkel
    Registered Users Posts: 64,702 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Spocker wrote: »
    Sorry for your pain :pac:

    Painfully hot :D

    And when my mother in law (elderly) visits, the temps are cranked up to near 30C :eek:


  • #26
    DrPhilG
    Registered Users Posts: 12,186 ✭✭✭✭DrPhilG


    Just got my cert yesterday. Up from a C2 to a B2. Partly due to the PV installation and partly due to getting a stove in place of the open fire.


  • #27
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    Fiver says you would have got the same rating if the flue was blocked and the solar was disconnected.


  • #28
    DrPhilG
    Registered Users Posts: 12,186 ✭✭✭✭DrPhilG


    Tenner says you're a blast at parties.


  • #29
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    Easy money, here pass me the nitro glycerol willya please?


  • #30
    idc
    Registered Users Posts: 545 ✭✭✭idc


    Just got my BER to get grant. And the addition of 4.65 kWp, 5 kWp inverter and 5.7kWh battery moved my BER rating from a B2 to a B1 !

    I had previously got a BER in February for other changes made to house, so literally the only difference was the addition of solar panels


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  • #31
    Rzeznik
    Registered Users Posts: 38 ✭Rzeznik


    I had 2,48kWp installed in Jul. My BER after this changed from 160,35kWh/m2/yr (C1) to 125.22kWh/m2/yr (B3 - B2 is under 125... :D).


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