Home energy assessments

Difference between a Home Energy Assessment and a BER

Building energy rating (BER) assessment

For homeowners who are not sure where to start with their home energy upgrade or who may want to carry out just one or two energy upgrades, a BER is a good starting point. Find out more about the BER Assessment.  

Home energy assessment

For homeowners considering multiple energy upgrades and applying for the One Stop Shop service, a home energy assessment is useful. It provides both a BER rating and a technical report detailing the energy upgrades needed to get your home to a B2 rating and better. 

About your assessment

Your chosen One Stop Shop assigns a technical surveyor to carry out a home energy assessment in your home. Following the assessment, the One Stop Shop provides you with the detailed Home Energy Assessment report.

The assessment includes:

• A BER assessment
• A full technical report on the energy efficiency of your home
• Details on the energy upgrades needed to get your home to a B2 rating and better
• A heat pump technical assessment, detailing the energy upgrades needed to make your home suitable for a heat pump
• A report explaining how the recommended energy upgrades will improve the comfort of your home and help to reduce your energy bills
• An estimate of the costs of the recommended energy upgrades

How to get a home energy assessment

Contact a registered One Stop Shop and they will be able to get you started. It is good practice to contact a few One Stop Shops, so that you can find the one that works for your budget and timeframe.

Grant for a home energy assessment

SEAI offers a grant of €350 for a home energy assessment. The grant can only be claimed once per property.

With the One Stop Shop service, you only pay the net cost. So, if your assessment costs €600, you pay the One Stop Shop €250 and they claim the €350 from SEAI. Costs for a Home Energy Assessment vary, contact several One Stop Shops for a quote.

What happens after the assessment?

After the assessment, you can decide whether to invest in the home energy upgrades recommended in your report. You are under no obligation to proceed with those energy upgrades. You will receive the home energy assessment grant regardless of your decision.

If you do decide to go ahead, the next step is to engage with a One Stop Shop. You can take your report to any of the registered One Stop Shops. You do not have to use the one that carried out the assessment.

You may also decide to carry out just one or two energy upgrades and apply for an individual energy upgrade grant.