Sustainability
MBA Architects & Surveyors is a registered practice of Architects with particular skills and expertise in the area of Passive House Design and Low energy homes in general. It is an area that the practise has taken a particular interest in in recent years and has been engaged in the design and successful delivery of several passive homes within County Donegal.
MBA Architects & Surveyors provide full design services. Can advise its clients and guide them in selecting the optimum solution to ensure that energy costs are kept to a minimum
Specialising in:
+ Architectural Design
+ Planning Restrictions
+ Construction Budgetary Advice
+ ECO Building
+ Building Energy Rating
The Regulations / Statutory Position
The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) was transposed into Irish Law on 4th January 2006. This states that when a building is constructed, sold or rented, A Building Energy Rating (B.E.R) Certificate must be made available to prospective buyers or tenants. The BER is expressed in terms of KWh of primary energy/m²/year. A passive house has the potential to achieve an A2 or A1 rating.
The Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (DEAP) is the Irish official procedure for calculating and assessing the energy performance of dwellings and is the methodology used to demonstrate compliance with certain aspects of Part L of the Irish Building Regulations.
Technology
There are various degrees of low energy technology available to clients and in recent years the options have become numerous.
MBA Architects and Surveyors recommend that before any significant cost or expenditure is made in terms of any of the various renewable systems available that the passive aspects of the design and located at first and given priority, i.e. consider orientation, layout, glazing, insulation etc before committing significant cost to active systems which depend on electricity and maintenance. In this way running costs can be significantly lower.
What is a BER?
A Building Energy Rating or BER is similar to the energy label A Building Energy Rating or BER is similar to the energy label on your fridge with a scale of A-G. A-rated homes are the most energy efficient and G the least efficient.
From 1st January 2009, a BER certificate will be compulsory for all homes being sold or rented. If you are buying or renting a new house or apartment now, you may already be entitled to a BER – so ask the seller/landlord or their agent for it.
Entitled to a BER?
A seller must provide a BER to prospective buyers or tenants when a home is constructed, sold or rented under the following circumstances:
+ New homes where planning permission was applied for on or after 1st January 2007;
+ All homes for sale or rent on or after 1st January 2009.
There are exemptions for certain categories of buildings, e.g. protected structures and certain temporary building (Ref. S.I. No. 666 of 2006).
There are fines of up to €5,000 for non-compliance with the regulations.
+ Passive Options include;
+ Design / Orientation
+ Configuration / Location of windows
+ Insulations
+ Triple Glazing
+ Air Tightness
+ Active Systems include
+ Solar Panels
+ Wood Chip Boiler
+ Geo Thermal
+ Wind Turbins
+ Heat Recovery Ventilation
