Better BER, better fixed rate


How does the EcoSaver fixed rate work?

We’re committed to a greener future, which is why we offer an EcoSaver fixed interest rate based on your home’s Building Energy Rating (BER). The more energy-efficient your home is, the better your fixed interest rate. And every time you make an upgrade that improves your BER, your interest rate may get even better.

Use our calculator and view our rates table to see how much you could save.

Please note:

Your BER must improve by at least one letter, compared to your previous rating, to get a better fixed interest rate. For example, if your BER improves from C3 to B1, that will work. An improvement within a letter – for example, from C3 to C1 – will not work.



Who can take advantage of the EcoSaver fixed rate?

Anyone, whether you’re:

  • A first-time buyer or moving home
  • Switching your mortgage from another lender
  • Buying an investment property
  • An existing customer who has made energy upgrades or planning to make them

This rate applies to homes rated G to A.

Please note:

Existing customers can switch at the end of their fixed term or break early (costs may apply).

Who can take advantage of the EcoSaver fixed rate?

Anyone, whether you’re:

  • A first-time buyer or moving home
  • Switching your mortgage from another lender
  • Buying an investment property
  • An existing customer who has made energy upgrades or planning to make them

This rate applies to homes rated G to A.

Please note:

Existing customers can switch at the end of their fixed term or break early (costs may apply).



What do I need to apply?

A valid BER certificate for the property

Whether you’re applying for a new mortgage or switching from another lender, you’ll need a valid BER certificate for the property to apply.


Start new application





Want to upgrade your BER?

Plan works, estimate the costs and savings of improving your property’s energy efficiency, and view financing options.

Try our energy upgrade tool



SSE Airtricity and Bank of Ireland partnership

Upgrading your home’s energy efficiency can be daunting. That’s why we’ve partnered with SSE Airtricity, who are offering Bank of Ireland customers an award-winning home energy upgrade service to help you better your BER.1

Book your free consultation

Please note:

Bank of Ireland is not responsible for information on third party websites.


  • 1. Free phone consultation
    A member of the SSE Airtricity team will call you to assess your requirements and help you choose the right home energy upgrades for your home, whether it’s a complete retrofit or a single upgrade.

    They will also guide you through the process of obtaining your BER certificate and collect a discounted fee to process it.

  • 2. Home consultation
    One of SSE Airtricity’s energy sales consultants will come to your home to collect the information needed for your home’s BER certificate. They will also talk you through your specific energy upgrade needs in greater detail.

    Please note: It can take up to five weeks to process your BER certificate.

  • 3. Choose your upgrades
    After the home consultation, SSE Airtricity will create a preliminary cost estimate (for individual upgrades) or a comprehensive Home Energy Report (if a deep retrofit with a heat pump is needed). As well as outlining what these upgrades will cost, these documents will also tell you what Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant funding you may be eligible for.

  • 4. Contract and grant application
    If you’re happy to go ahead with the upgrade(s), you will be sent your contract and asked for additional documents to allow SSE Airtricity to apply for grant funding and carbon credit on your behalf.

    When you sign the contract and pay a 50% deposit, a dedicated Project Manager will be assigned to you as your primary point of contact for the whole process. They will ensure all upgrade works are carried out to the highest standard by SEAI-registered installers, and they will claim the agreed grant funding to pay for it on your behalf.

  • 5. Enjoy lower mortgage rates
    When your upgrade or retrofit is complete, you’ll not only have a cosier, more eco-friendly home, but you may also get access to a reduced EcoSaver fixed interest rate.



Are you an existing mortgage customer?


  • How to improve your EcoSaver discount
    If you are a customer on an EcoSaver fixed interest rate, you may be able to get a better EcoSaver discount if the Building Energy Rating (BER) on your property improves.

    This applies to you if you have a mortgage loan with us and you are already on an EcoSaver fixed interest rate on that loan (the “Loan”). The EcoSaver fixed interest rate provides an EcoSaver discount based on the BER of your property. The better the BER, the better the interest rate.

    You may be able to get an even better EcoSaver discount for the rest of the period of the fixed rate, if the BER on your property has improved. Your rating will need to move up at least one letter on the BER scale compared to your previous rating. For example, if your BER improves from C3 to B1, that will work. An improvement within a letter – for example, from C3 to C1 – will not work.

    If you think you will qualify for an improvement, fill in your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) or BER number and your mortgage loan account number. Your MPRN is the unique 11-digit number assigned to your electricity connection and meter. It starts with the digits 10 and is always shown on the bill from your electricity supplier. To find your BER number, go to “SEAI National BER Register” website and input your MPRN. You’ll find your mortgage loan account number on page 1 of your mortgage loan statement, on any mortgage correspondence, or by texting ‘mymortgage’ to 50365. Fill in the form here and follow the instructions.

    Terms and conditions apply to this offer. If you qualify for a better EcoSaver discount, we will subtract it from our standard fixed rate to work out your improved EcoSaver fixed interest rate (we do not subtract the improved EcoSaver discount from your current EcoSaver fixed interest rate). There is an example in the terms and conditions below, in point 10.

  • Improver terms and conditions

    1. You must be on an EcoSaver fixed interest rate, to get the EcoSaver discounts.
    2. You will qualify for a better EcoSaver discount if the BER for your property has improved on the BER scale (compared to the rating in the previous BER certificate you have given to us) from one letter to a different letter (for example from a BER of C to B; or C to A).
    3. It is not enough if the BER improves but stays within the same letter. For example, an improvement from a BER of C3 to C1 will not entitle you to an improved EcoSaver discount.
    4. If you are on an EcoSaver fixed interest rate that is set out in your mortgage loan offer letter, this clause applies to you: A table showing the EcoSaver discounts for each BER that can apply during the period of your present EcoSaver fixed interest rate is shown in the mortgage letter of offer for the loan. We calculate any improved EcoSaver discount for your present EcoSaver fixed interest rate by referring to that table set out in your mortgage loan offer letter. We may have different tables for any future EcoSaver fixed interest rate you enter into.
    5. If you are on an EcoSaver fixed interest rate that is set out in a Mortgage Form of Authorisation (MFA), this clause applies to you: The discounts for each BER that can apply to your present EcoSaver fixed interest rate are shown in the MFA in which you selected the EcoSaver fixed interest rate you are now on under the loan. We calculate any improved EcoSaver discount for your present EcoSaver fixed interest rate by referring to the table set out in that MFA. We may have different tables for any future EcoSaver fixed interest rate you enter into.
    6. You must fill in your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) or BER certificate number and your mortgage loan account number on the form under the heading “How to Improve your EcoSaver Discount”.
    7. We will use the MPRN or BER certificate number you input to find the BER certificate for your property on the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) website and to check it. It must show the BER for your property has improved on the BER scale from one letter to another; and must otherwise be in order.
    8. Once we are satisfied that the BER certificate for your property on the SEAI website meets these terms and conditions, we will apply the improved EcoSaver discount from that date until the end of the period of the EcoSaver fixed interest rate. We do not backdate the improved EcoSaver rate to the beginning of the period of the EcoSaver fixed interest rate.
    9. You can only improve an existing EcoSaver fixed interest rate this way. You can’t use these terms and conditions to get a discount on any interest rate (for example, a variable rate, a standard fixed rate, or a Green mortgage fixed rate) that is not an EcoSaver fixed interest rate.
    10. Every EcoSaver discount is subtracted from one of our standard fixed interest rates to calculate an EcoSaver fixed interest rate. If you get an improved EcoSaver discount under these terms and conditions, we will subtract the improved EcoSaver discount from the relevant standard fixed interest rate to work out your improved EcoSaver fixed interest rate. We never subtract an EcoSaver discount from an EcoSaver fixed rate.
      Here is an example (all figures are imaginary and not representative):

      • Our standard 5-year fixed interest rate without EcoSaver discount is 4.75%
      • Jane and Mark have a C-rated home and have selected a 5-year EcoSaver fixed interest rate of 4.50% based on a “C” BER
      • How we work this out – the standard rate of 4.75% minus the EcoSaver discount of 0.25% = 4.5%
      • Jane and Mark have completed home improvements and now have a new BER certificate showing an “A” rating
      • They now qualify for the A-rated EcoSaver fixed interest rate of 4.40%
      • How we work this out – the standard rate of 4.75% minus the EcoSaver discount of 0.35% = 4.4% for the remaining term of the initial fixed rate.
    11. We may withdraw, modify or replace our EcoSaver offering at any time. We can’t promise that any future fixed interest rate will have an EcoSaver discount.
    12. In these terms and conditions, the following expressions have the following meanings:
      1. “BER” refers to a Building Energy Rating;
      2. “EcoSaver discount” means a discount we apply under our EcoSaver offer to a standard fixed interest rate based on the BER of the property which is mortgaged to secure the mortgage loan;
      3. “EcoSaver fixed interest rate” refers to a fixed rate of interest that includes an EcoSaver discount;
      4. “EcoSaver offer” refers to our offering with that name which was launched in or about April 2024;
      5. “Property” means the property that has been mortgaged to secure the Loan to which the EcoSaver fixed interest rate relates:
      6. “Standard fixed rate” refers to a fixed interest rate that has not been reduced by an EcoSaver discount. To avoid any doubt: our Green mortgage interest rate is a standard fixed rate (although it has a discount for a BER, it is not part of our EcoSaver offer).

  • Tracker customer and BER
    If you have a tracker product and request your rate options, we need to provide a cost comparison to you. The Cost of Credit calculation is an indicative cost comparison of your current rate versus the rate(s) being offered (and, if your loan is now on a tracker, also includes a comparison of the total cost of the loan on your current tracker versus the rate(s) being offered). The calculation is in line with Consumer Protection Code (CPC) regulation.

    To provide this calculation, we need a valid BER.

    Once this form is completed and returned, you’ll be issued with a Mortgage Form of Authorisation (MFA) which contains your rate options and cost of credit calculations. This MFA needs to completed and returned before any rate can be applied to your mortgage account.

    Warning: If you switch to an alternative interest rate, you will not be contractually entitled to go back on to a tracker interest rate in the future.

Frequently asked questions


  • What is the EcoSaver fixed rate?
    The EcoSaver fixed rate is a discounted interest rate offered to both new and existing customers on their mortgage based on the Building Energy Rating (BER) of their property. Every BER, from A to G, has a specific discount. A-rated properties get the biggest discount.

  • What is a BER?
    A home’s Building Energy Rating (BER) is an assessment of its energy efficiency on a scale of A to G. A-rated homes are the most energy efficient and G-rated are the least energy efficient.

    The rating is calculated based on the energy performance of its heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting systems.

    Any property being sold or rented, must have a valid BER certificate, as the cert provides potential buyers or tenants with a clear insight into the property’s energy consumption and potential running costs.

    This BER system is overseen by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which aims to promote energy savings and environmental sustainability​.

  • How do I get a BER certificate?
    All you need to do to is book an appointment with an independent, registered BER assessor through the SEAI National Register of BER Assessors. See Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland* for more detail.

    *Bank of Ireland is not responsible for information on third party sites.

  • Will I have to pay for a BER certificate?
    You will need to pay a fee to the BER assessor. They will agree one with you. It makes sense to get a few quotes before you select a BER assessor. Depending on the size and type of your property, you might expect the BER assessor to charge a fee from €225 to €400.

  • I’m an existing Bank of Ireland mortgage customer. Am I eligible for the EcoSaver fixed rate?
    Yes.

    If you’re an existing fixed rate customer, there are two ways you can get the EcoSaver fixed rate:

    1. Wait until your current fixed rate expires. We’ll write to you around two months before your fixed rate matures and offer you all of the available rates at that time. This will include our discounted EcoSaver fixed rates.

    2. Break out of your current fixed rate early and change to an EcoSaver fixed rate. However, breaking out of your current fixed-rate term may not provide a saving if the rate you’re already on is a lower fixed rate than the discounted EcoSaver fixed rate. There may also be a cost to end your fixed-rate term early.

    If you’re an existing variable rate customer, you can switch to an EcoSaver fixed rate at any point.

    Please note: We advise you to consider your options carefully before changing your mortgage rate.

    Warning: If you switch to an alternative interest rate, you will not be contractually entitled to go back onto a tracker interest rate in the future.

  • Do I need to do a full retrofit to get the EcoSaver fixed rate?
    No. Our EcoSaver fixed rate is based on your property’s current Building Energy Rating (BER). The better your BER, the better the fixed rate you get.

    If you’re doing up your home and your BER improves by at least one letter, come back to us so we can award a new discount based on your new BER and apply it to the remaining term of your mortgage fixed rate.

    Please note: If you are not on an existing Ecosaver fixed rate (for example, you are on a standard fixed rate) you may have to pay us compensation to break out of your current fixed rate. Please contact us before you break a fixed rate to find out if you have to pay compensation and, if so, how much it will be.

  • Is the EcoSaver fixed rate available to anyone, or do I need to be a Bank of Ireland mortgage customer?
    Our EcoSaver fixed rate is available to everyone. If you want, you can switch your mortgage to Bank of Ireland and apply for the EcoSaver fixed rate.

  • How do I submit my BER certificate when I’m applying for a new mortgage?
    If you’re applying for a new mortgage, we’ll ask you to upload your valid BER certificate during your application.

Warning If you do not keep up your repayments you may lose your home.
Warning You may have to pay charges if you pay off a fixed-rate loan early.
Warning If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit, a hire- purchase agreement, a consumer-hire agreement or a BNPL agreement in the future.

The lender is Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank u.c. or Bank of Ireland. Lending criteria and terms and conditions apply. A typical mortgage to buy your home of €100,000 over 20 years with 240 monthly instalments costs €613.16 per month at 4.15% variable (Annual Percentage Rate of Charge (APRC) 4.3%). APRC includes €150 valuation fee and mortgage charge of €175 paid to the Tailte Éireann. The total amount you pay is €147,482.50. We require property and life insurance. You mortgage your home to secure the loan. Maximum loan is generally 3.5 times gross annual income (4 times gross annual income for first-time buyers) and 90% of the property value. A 1% interest rate rise would increase monthly repayments by €53.89 per month. The cost of your monthly repayments may increase – if you do not keep up your repayments you may lose your home. Available to over 18s only. The mortgage will be subject to assessment of suitability and affordability. APRC calculations are based on the cost per month on a €100,000 mortgage over 20 years.

The lender is Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank u.c. or Bank of Ireland. Lending criteria and terms and conditions apply. A typical buy-to-let mortgage of €100,000 over 20 years with 240 monthly instalments costs €650.63 per month at 4.85% variable (Annual Percentage Rate of Charge (APRC) 5.1%). APRC includes a fee for the bank’s solicitor of €950 plus VAT at 23% plus outlay of up to €350. The total amount you pay is €157,669.65. We require property insurance. You mortgage the property to secure the loan. Maximum loan is generally 70% of the property value. A 1% interest rate rise would increase monthly repayments by €55.55 per month. The cost of your monthly repayments may increase – if you do not keep up your repayments you may lose your home. Available to over 18s only. The mortgage will be subject to assessment of suitability and affordability. APRC calculations are based on the cost per month on a €100,000 mortgage over 20 years.


Information and legal notices

Legal and regulatory information for mortgages.

View information and legal notices


1 SSE Airtricity’s discounted Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment offer provides all Bank of Ireland customers with an introductory rate of €338.25 (including VAT of 23%) for a completed BER assessment. Offer is open until 30 September 2025, after which the standard rate of €399.75 (including VAT of 23%) will apply. The BER visit must be booked before the 30 September 2025 and completed before the 31 October 2025. One BER assessment is allowed per family home. The BER service is carried out by SSE Airtricity and conducted independently by certified BER assessors.

 

To avail of the BER assessment, Bank of Ireland customers should book a call back appointment on home energy upgrade service. Customers will then be called back by SSE Airtricity within 72 hours. The Bank of Ireland customer states they are a Bank of Ireland customer to SSE Airtricity during the call. After the onsite home assessment has taken place, SEE Airtricity will have the completed BER certificate issued to the customer within four weeks (20 working days).

 

Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank u.c. trading as Bank of Ireland Mortgages is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.