Ireland

Ireland has set an ambitious target to upgrade 500,000 existing dwellings to a B2 energy rating by 2030, which accounts for approximately 25% of the residential building stock. To support this goal, a wide range of grant supports and low-interest loan options are available. Additionally, a national One Stop Shop (OSS) scheme has been introduced, with 20 OSS operators currently active in the market. A key tool in this effort is the BERWOW tool, Ireland's leading EPC-based online tool that provides residential building owners with an interactive platform to plan energy upgrade measures. Since its launch in 2020, BERWOW has had over 80,000 visits by April 2024. This tool allows users to select from various building typologies and access their own EPC records directly, if available. The BERWOW tool is deployed by the leading One Stop Shop operator, SSE Airtricity, as well as one bank and one insurance company.

The pilot project will incorporate Building Renovation Passport (BRP) options into the BERWOW tool. However, there are significant challenges to address. One key challenge is identifying the additional BRP requirements that need to be included in the functionality of the OCR tool, especially since the exact elements of the BRPs outlined in the Recast EPBD for Ireland are not yet established. The OCR project aims to create a common OCR BRP tool for use by all project partners, but it is likely that a hybrid version will need to be developed to integrate the OCR tool with the existing BERWOW tool.

Liaison with Authorities: During the OCR project, our partners will liaise closely with the Irish authorities to obtain up-to-date information on which BRP elements will be implemented in Ireland. In cases where formal decisions are still pending, we will make informed assumptions about the variables to be included in the Irish version of the OCR BRP tool. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that the OCR tool meets all BRP requirements outlined in the recast EPBD that will be adopted in Ireland. Technical Integration: By collaborating with our OCR partners, we are confident that our software developers will overcome any technical challenges that may arise. This collaboration will ensure the successful integration of the OCR tool into the existing BERWOW tool. This integration will, over time, provide building owners with new information to guide their energy retrofit investment decisions.