Building Energy Ratings (BER) of 'A' were given to 29% and a rating of 'B' to 64% of audited dwellings constructed in Ireland during 2010-2014, indicating an improvement on 2005-2009, when only 1% received an 'A' rating and and 38% a 'B' rating.

The news follows the release of new figures by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Mid-floor apartments have the highest BER ratings, with 30% awarded an 'A' or 'B' rating, the CSO said. This is in contrast to only 11% of detached houses receiving an 'A' or 'B' rating.

-- Advertisement --

18% of audited dwellings in Dublin County had a rating of 'A' or 'B' compared with a national average of 12%. In Dublin 18, 37% of audited dwellings achieved an 'A' or 'B' rating compared with only 4% in Dublin 7. Areas with the highest usage of mains gas were the Dublin postal districts (72%) and Dublin County (77%). Mains gas was used in 38% of BER-rated dwellings compared with heating oil in 40% and electricity in 15%.

Gas was the main heating fuel used in 57% of dwellings constructed during 2010-2014. This indicated a rise from 32% for audited dwellings constructed during 1994-1999. The share accounted for by heating oil has halved from 54% for 1978-1982 dwellings, to 27% for 2010-2014 dwellings.

The average floor area of detached houses built during 2010-2014 was 215 square metres, indicating an increase on 191 square metres for 2005-2009. The average floor area of ground floor apartments built during 2010-2014 was 76 square metres.

(IT/JP)