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How Recent BER Regulation Changes Could Help Properties with Electric Heating

  • Mihai
  • Nov 3
  • 3 min read

Updated: Nov 9

Modern home with electric heating system and energy performance chart showing improved BER rating.

When we talk about Building Energy Ratings (BERs), one of the unavoidable challenges is properties that rely on electrical heating. Because electricity is relatively high-carbon and (often) less efficient than gas or heat-pump systems, such properties usually receive less favourable BER scores.

However: recent regulatory tweaks and updated modelling assumptions mean there is some room for slight improvement, even without doing a full heating system overhaul.


⚡ Why pure electric heating has traditionally held BERs back


Here’s a quick refresher on why electric heating tends to be penalised in BER models:

  • Electricity has a higher primary energy factor than many fossil fuels or renewables in standard BER calculations.

  • Losses and inefficiencies in resistive heaters or night storage heating add up.

  • BER assessments also punish poor insulation, air leakage, and inefficient controls (thermostats, zoning, etc.).

So a house with electric heating often ends up with “mid”-to-“low” BER grades (C, D, or even lower), unless the building fabric and renewable systems are excellent.


What’s changed (or is changing) in BER / energy regulations


There are a few recent or proposed adjustments that can help a bit — especially in borderline or modest upgrade cases:

  1. Updated calculation factors / coefficients

    Regulatory bodies occasionally revise the emission / primary energy conversion factors, or other constants in the modelling. A small shift in those numbers can help electric‑heated buildings gain marginally.

  2. Greater weighting or credit for renewable generation

    If a property has rooftop solar (PV) or battery storage, or hybrid systems, the newer rules may give more “credit” for those, helping offset the electric heating penalty.

  3. Improved modelling of controls, shading, lighting, and passive gains

    Assessors are now able to more accurately model dynamic elements (for example, smart thermostats, better insulation, improved glazing) — so small improvements you’ve made may be more fairly reflected.

  4. Transitional allowances or tolerances

    New regulation periods sometimes include softer transitional rules (e.g. some buffer or rounding) to avoid massive shock drops in BERs. That means some houses might “hold ground” or even improve slightly just from the new baseline.


What sort of BER improvement is realistic?


To set expectations: we’re not talking about leaping several grades (e.g. from E to B) without major works. But in many cases:

  • You might gain half a grade (e.g. from D2 → D1)

  • Or improve within a grade (e.g. better “kWh/m²” performance, or improvements in the “A / B / C / D bands” internally)

  • At best, a borderline property might shift one full grade if small upgrades (insulation, controls, PV) are also done.

In other words: the new regulation changes mostly enable incremental gains, especially for properties that were already reasonably well-insulated or had renewable additions.


What you should check or upgrade now to benefit


To take full advantage of the new rules, here are recommended moves:

  • Add or upgrade insulation (attic, cavity, etc.)

  • Improve airtightness and reduce drafts

  • Install smart controls / thermostats and better zoning

  • Add solar PV or renewable generation if feasible

  • Upgrade glazing / window performance

  • Ensure shading, orientation, thermal mass are properly modeled

If you already have some of these, they may show more benefit now under updated BER modelling.


So what’s the bottom line?


  • A previous BER assessment with electric heating will almost always be handicapped.

  • But thanks to refinements in regulations, modelling factors, and allowances, there is potential for slight upward shifts in rating or performance metrics.

  • The degree of improvement will depend heavily on how much you can improve the fabric, controls, and renewables.

If you’d like, I can run a scenario for your specific property (based on your current BER) and estimate how much gain you might see under the new rules. Do you want me to prepare that for your site as well?


📢 Need Help with Your BER Assessment?

At MTS DNC Energy Consultants Limited, we provide accurate and up-to-date BER assessments based on the latest SEAI standards. Whether you're renovating, building, or just curious about how your current building ranks, we’re here to help.

📞 Contact us today for expert advice and a tailored assessment.


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