Is your building at Near-Zero Energy?

The European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Recast 2010 (“EPBD”) requires all new buildings to be nearly zero-energy buildings by 31 December 2020 and all buildings acquired by public bodies by 31 December 2018.

What is nZEB?

A Nearly Zero-Energy Building, or “nZEB”, is a building that has a very high energy performance.  This means that a significant amount of the energy required for its operation should be from renewable resources or produced on-site or nearby.  In practical terms, new buildings should have an energy rating of A2 (as opposed to the current A3 standard).

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government has issued technical guidance on how to achieve the required standard.

Each member state of the EU has discretion in how the EPBD is applied.  In Ireland, the Government has introduced regulations for residential and non-residential buildings (“the nZEB Regulations”).

What does it mean for me and when does it come into force?

Property developers, financial institutions, design and construction professionals and property advisors should all be aware of the nZEB Regulations.

Residential Property:

 For residential property, the nZEB Regulations apply to:

1. works in connection with the design and construction of a new building; and
2. works to an existing dwelling which undergoes a major renovation

where the works or renovation commence or take place on or after 1 November 2019 (subject to certain exceptions).

Non-Residential Property:

For non-residential property, the nZEB Regulations apply to all building works, material alterations or major renovations commencing on or after 1 January 2019.

All new buildings:

The nZEB Regulations will apply to all new buildings (both residential and non-residential) occupied after 31 December 2020.  For public sector bodies, the standard applies to all new buildings owned and occupied by 31 December 2018.

How we can help?

For further information on this topic or for assistance with queries about nZEB please contact Rob Gibbons in our Commercial Real Estate Department on 01 440 8300 or rgibbons@bhsm.ie.

This article is for general information purposes.  Legal advice must be obtained for individual circumstances.  Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this article, no liability is accepted by the author for any inaccuracies.

Photo Credit:  Tipperary Energy Agency