The legislation published in order to implement the EPBD in Ireland is as follows;
A.) The Building Control Bill 2005 published on 22 December 2005. Sections 4 and 5 of this bill provided for the incorporation into National Law of the EPBD provisions relating to –
- Building Energy Rating (BER) for (a) newly constructed buildings and (b) existing buildings, when let or sold;
- Mandatory prominent display of BERs in existing large public service buildings (over 1,000 m2); and
- Consideration of the feasibility of alternative energy systems for large new buildings (over 1,000 m2) during the design stage.
B.) Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 873 of 2005) were signed on 21 December 2005. These regulations amend Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations to provide the statutory basis for the introduction of a revised methodology for building energy performance assessment (involving the setting of a CO2 emissions target) for new dwellings commencing on or after 1 July 2006, in accordance with Articles 3-5 and the Annex of the EPBD.
SI. No. 873 of 2005 also sets higher thermal performance/insulation standards for new non-residential buildings or material alteration of existing non-residential buildings commencing on or after 1 July.
C.) European Communities Act, 1972
The European Communities Act, 1972 provides for the incorporation of European Community law into Irish law by regulation. The European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No 872 of 2005) were signed under this Act on 21 December 2005. These Regulations provide for the amendment of Section 3 of the Building Control Act 1990 to allow national Building Regulations, to be made transposing the EPBD.