EnergyRating: Energy efficient homes could save housebuyers €20,000 in energy savings over the life of a 20-year mortgage. High energy efficiency will also become an important consideration after new legislation requiring the energy rating of all buildings comes into force next year.

Kingspan Century chief executive Gerry McCaughey highlighted the importance of energy efficiency this week when launching the company's "future-proofed" campaign.

The campaign should cause a "major shift" in the new build market given Irish builders and developers will communicate directly to home buyers about the high energy efficiency of timber frame homes built using the company's products, says McCaughey.

"This initiative signals a paradigm shift in the new build house market towards energy efficient construction methods," he adds.

His company is Europe's largest timber frame home manufacturer.

The driving force behind the need for a high energy efficiency approach to construction is the new "Building Energy Rating" requirements coming into force in 2007, McCaughey says.

"Under new legislation from 2007 all newly built homes will have to have an energy rating certificate," he explained. The better the rating, the higher the price that can be commanded for a home.

It will also afford builders an opportunity to "shout from the rooftops about how much more energy efficient their developments are", he adds.

The EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is the spur that has in turn driven Irish legislation in the area. The rating scheme has been on the cards for some years and has finally caught up with the market. In the process it has greatly improved the approach to energy efficiency taken by developers.

"Timber frame has 27 per cent of the Irish market and I predict it will grow to 50 per cent of the market by the end of this decade," says McCaughey.

"Choosing a home with future-proofed timber frame from Century could save a homebuyer up to €20,000 on heating bills over a 20-year mortgage. That's equivalent to three years free of mortgage payments."

He believes there are important reasons for demanding high energy efficiency when considering a home purchase. It will protect most people's biggest single investment by having a highly competitive energy rating.

It will also protect against future energy price shocks because heating demands will be lower. The environment will also benefit, given lower energy demand and less carbon dioxide produced over the long life of a dwelling.