Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
615. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if building regulations will ensure that all new houses and apartments being built nationally will be zero carbon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4315/19]
View answerThe Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets requirements at an EU level for Member States to improve the energy performance of buildings and to make an important contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Article 9(1) of the Directive requires Member States to ensure that by 31 December 2020, all new buildings are nearly zero-energy buildings.
The Directive defines a Nearly Zero Energy Building, NZEB, as a building that has a very high energy performance and that the nearly zero or very low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby. This definition was incorporated into the Building Regulations in January 2017.
The NZEB performance requirements are based on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive cost optimal calculations which were issued in 2013 and 2015. Cost-optimal levels are defined as, “the energy performance level which leads to the lowest cost during the estimated economic lifecycle". The NZEB performance for new dwellings represents an improvement in energy and carbon dioxide emissions performance of 70% over 2005 standards and requires renewables on all new dwellings. This is typically equivalent to a Building Energy Rating, BER, of “A2” and is recognised internationally as a very advanced performance requirement. The Part L performance requirements of the Building Regulations have been advanced incrementally since 2007 and the final improvement to move from the current standard of 60% better than 2005 standards or a typical BER of “A3”, to a performance of 70% better than 2005 standards or an “A2” BER, can be more easily achieved as a result of these incremental improvements.
It should be noted that the draft regulations and accompanying technical guidance to implement this have completed public consultation, and the regulations are expected to be signed into law shortly. These regulations will also require that where Major Renovations take place which are greater than 25% of the surface area of the dwelling, the dwelling should achieve a cost optimal performance where feasible. This is equivalent to a B2 building energy rating for a typical dwelling.
