Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon economy is reshaping the built environment and creating significant demand for professionals with expertise in building energy performance.

At the centre of this transformation is building energy rating (BER) certification, which provides a standardised measure of a building’s energy efficiency and carbon emissions. As Ireland accelerates its retrofit ambitions under national climate policy, the need for qualified domestic and non-domestic BER assessors is becoming increasingly important.

Independent assessor

A BER certificate rates a building’s energy performance on a scale from A to G and is legally required when a property is offered for sale or rent in Ireland. Assessments must be carried out by an independent assessor registered with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and recorded on the national BER register. Beyond property transactions, BER assessments are also playing a central role in Ireland’s retrofit strategy and grant programmes.

Under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan, the Government aims to retrofit 500,000 homes to a BER of B2 or equivalent by 2030, alongside the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes.

Delivering these targets will require the retrofit of approximately 75,000 homes annually over the remainder of the decade. In January last, to accelerate the delivery, SEAI launched a package of new and enhanced grants for homeowners across the country who are looking to benefit from home energy upgrades.

Each retrofit project typically requires both a pre-works BER assessment to establish baseline performance and a post-works BER assessment to verify improvements once upgrades are completed.

Demand for BER assessments is already growing significantly. According to the CSO, 162,799 domestic BER assessments were completed in 2025, reflecting strong activity across property transactions, retrofit projects and new building compliance. Since the BER certification began, over 1.7 million BER certificates have been issued, demonstrating the central role of energy performance ratings in the Irish property and construction sectors.

In addition to residential properties, the commercial sector requires non-domestic BER assessments for offices, retail premises, industrial buildings and public facilities. With 5,476 commercial BER assessments completed in 2025, engineers involved in design, building services, sustainability consulting or facilities management are increasingly encountering BER compliance requirements as part of broader energy-efficiency and decarbonisation projects.

For engineers, becoming a BER assessor can provide several professional advantages. The qualification enables engineers to expand their expertise in building energy modelling and sustainability, areas that are becoming central to the future of the construction industry. It also allows professionals to offer BER assessment services directly to clients, creating an additional consultancy revenue stream alongside traditional engineering services.

Energy calculation methodologies

In practice, BER training equips engineers with skills in building fabric analysis, heating and ventilation system evaluation, insulation performance and energy calculation methodologies. These competencies are increasingly relevant for professionals working on retrofit design, energy audits, building compliance and sustainability advisory roles.

Responding to the growing demand for qualified assessors, Chevron College offers training programmes for both Domestic BER Assessor and Non-Domestic BER Assessor certification. These courses are designed for professionals in engineering, architecture, construction and building services who wish to develop practical expertise in building energy assessment.

The programmes combine theoretical instruction with practical training in the DEAP software and methodologies required for BER calculations. Participants learn how to conduct on-site building assessments, interpret construction specifications and produce compliant energy ratings for both residential and commercial buildings.

For a limited period, professionals can avail of 40% funding support, significantly reducing the cost of obtaining the qualification.

As Ireland continues to pursue ambitious climate and energy-efficiency targets, BER assessors will remain a vital part of the new build and retrofit ecosystem. For engineers seeking to broaden their skillset and engage with one of the fastest-growing areas of the built environment, BER assessor training offers a practical and future-focused pathway into Ireland’s expanding energy-performance sector.

Find out more about Chevron College’s BER courses here or contact at 01 6855300 to enrol in the next upcoming BER course.  

Author: Karl Fitzpatrick, Chevron College.