Three dream houses to buy if you care about the planet

By Grace McGettigan
18th Jul 2018

Three dream houses to buy if you care about the planet

A Building Energy Rating (or BER) certificate indicates a building’s energy performance; the more energy efficient your house is, the better its rating will be. The BER scale, which ranges from A-G (from best to worst, respectively), can drastically change the value of your home to potential buyers. Properties with a good rating will be charged significantly cheaper utility bills than those with a bad one, making them particularly appealing to house hunters. Everything from the way you heat your water to the ventilation in each room impacts your BER certificate; even your choice of windows makes a difference. Basically, the more sustainable and eco-friendly your house is the better. With that in mind, we scoured the Dublin property market for dream homes with the best energy certificates; here are three of our favourites:

4 Kenler, Bearna Park, Sandyford, Dublin 18 – €635,000

This newly-built home at 4 Kenler, Bearna Park has been designed to the highest specification and boasts an impressive A2 BER. Its air to water heat pumps are 60% cheaper to run than traditional systems, and the Munster Joinery EcoClad windows ensure heat is maintained. If your goal is to become eco-friendly in all aspects of your life, a charging port for electric cars is available at the property too. That being said, everything you might need is within walking distance. The nearest bus stop is a mere minute away, while Glencairn Luas Station can be reached in a short stroll. Beyond that, the owner of this house can enjoy high ceilings, a contemporary kitchen and built-in wardrobes.

Photo: Moovingo via myhome.ie Photo: Moovingo via myhome.iePhoto: Moovingo via myhome.iePhoto: Moovingo via myhome.ie

22 Coundon Court, Killiney, Co. Dublin – €1,595,000

Located on the outskirts of Killiney, this six-bedroom home at 22 Coundon Court holds a B2 BER. All windows are double-glazed, not only minimising external noise pollution but also acting as an extra layer of insulation. More importantly, the zoned heating controls allow you to adjust the temperature in various parts of the house as needed. Rather than waste energy by heating rooms you don’t use, tailor the temperature to suit your specific needs. The entire home benefits from gas-fired underfloor heating, while the sitting room features a solid fuel burning stove. Other notable features in this house include built-in wardrobes; a games room; an electric gated driveway, and a south-facing garden with a private log-cabin to the rear.

Photo: Savills South Dublin via myhome.ie
Photo: Savills South Dublin via myhome.iePhoto: Savills South Dublin via myhome.iePhoto: Savills South Dublin via myhome.ie

11 Beech View, Edmondstown Rd, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 – €475,000

This traditional family home at 11 Beech View has been recently refurbished to the highest standard; so much so it boasts an A3 BER. External wall and attic insulation has been added to ensure heat is well-maintained and does not escape through the cracks. New futureproof PVC windows have also been installed throughout, while a Flushglaze roof light brightens the kitchen area. What’s more, a new Daikin heating system has been installed to maximise energy efficiency and solar panels have been added to the roof. Inside, the house is tastefully decorated and is on the market in turn-key condition.

Photo: DNG Rathfarnham via myhome.iePhoto: DNG Rathfarnham via myhome.iePhoto: DNG Rathfarnham via myhome.iePhoto: DNG Rathfarnham via myhome.ie