At Lawler Sustainability, we are committed to delivering market-leading energy solutions that help our clients improve energy performance, enhance asset value, and meet evolving regulatory standards. As part of this commitment, we are delighted to announce a significant expansion of our in-house expertise. Rohan Deshpande has joined us as Head of Building Modelling, strengthening our capability to deliver high-performing, sustainable design solutions. In addition, two members of our team, Leying Zhang and Darren Costello, have officially obtained their Non-Domestic BER Assessor Certificates alongside full IES VE Accreditation.
Together, these developments mark an important step forward as we continue to enhance our Building Energy Rating (BER) services for commercial clients across Ireland.
Introducing Our New Head of Building Modelling: Rohan Deshpande
We are delighted to welcome Rohan Deshpande as our new Head of Building Modelling, who will play a pivotal role in driving the continued development of our BER pathway services.
With a strong background in mechanical engineering, IES simulation, and advanced building modelling, Rohan brings extensive expertise in analysing energy usage, optimising building systems, and identifying high-impact decarbonisation opportunities. His experience spans a wide range of commercial, educational, and public sector projects, making him ideally positioned to lead our building modelling department.
Rohan’s leadership will enhance our ability to produce high-quality BER assessments, deliver deep-dive energy modelling, and support clients in achieving market-leading energy performance across their assets.
Celebrating Two New Qualified Non-Domestic BER Assessors
Earlier this year, Leying Zhang and Darren Costello have successfully completed the rigorous certification process required to become Non-Domestic BER Assessors, demonstrating their technical proficiency in assessing energy performance and generating Building Energy Rating Certificates for commercial buildings.
They have also obtained IES VE (Virtual Environment) Accreditation, enabling them to use the Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) software suite, one of the world’s most advanced tools for building modelling and energy simulation. With this accreditation, Leying and Darren are equipped to produce highly accurate, data-driven Non-Domestic BER assessments that reflect the true operational characteristics of a building.
Their new qualifications directly support Lawler Sustainability’s growing portfolio of BER services, positioning us to provide deeper insights and more sophisticated strategies to help commercial clients achieve higher BER certificates and improve overall energy performance.
Why Building Energy Rating Certificates Matter More Than Ever
A Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER) is now a central component of building compliance, asset management, and commercial decision-making in Ireland. For property owners and portfolio managers, BER certificates serve as a transparent measure of energy efficiency, operational performance, and long-term value.
Higher BER ratings, particularly buildings achieving A3 or above are increasingly important as organisations look to minimise energy usage, reduce costs, and align with sustainability commitments. Notably, public bodies are legally required to occupy buildings with a minimum rating of A3, meaning that high-performing assets have a distinct competitive advantage in the commercial leasing and sales market.
For our commercial clients, improving BER certification is no longer just about meeting regulatory requirements. It is a strategic investment that:
- Strengthens ESG performance and reporting
- Enhances property value and rental potential
- Reduces operational energy costs
- Future-proofs assets against tightening regulation
- Increases demand among tenants seeking high-performance, low-carbon buildings
With strengthened internal capacity, Lawler Sustainability is now better positioned than ever to help clients realise these benefits.
Our Enhanced BER Pathway Service for Commercial Property Portfolios
Alongside this expansion, we continue to develop and refine our BER Pathway Service, a structured, evidence-based approach designed to help commercial building owners improve energy performance and secure stronger BER certificates across their property portfolios.
This service involves:
- Detailed Building Energy Assessments, leveraging IES modelling, on-site surveys, and operational data, our BER assessors gather comprehensive insights into how building systems and components actually perform.
- Identification of Energy Improvement Opportunities, we analyse the data to highlight cost-effective upgrades such as HVAC optimisation, lighting improvements, renewable energy integration, insulation enhancements, and control system upgrades.
- Roadmapping for Higher BER Certification, clients receive a clear, actionable pathway outlining the steps required to elevate a building’s BER rating from its current state to a target rating such as B1, A3, or even A2, depending on the asset and investment strategy.
- Portfolio-Level Strategic Planning, for organisations managing multiple properties, we provide prioritised recommendations and investment plans aimed at maximising BER improvement while controlling capital expenditure.
- Support from Modelling to Implementation, our team offers continuous support through design, procurement, and performance verification, ensuring clients can confidently achieve and maintain their targeted BER certification.
This enhanced service offering ensures that organisations can not only comply with building energy regulations, but also turn BER improvements into tangible commercial advantages.
Driving Better Outcomes for Our Commercial Clients
The expansion of our BER team, combined with the addition of a dedicated Head of Building Modelling marks a significant step forward in Lawler Sustainability’s mission to help organisations improve energy performance, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance building value.
By strengthening our expertise in IES VE modelling and Non-Domestic BER certification, we can now offer:
- Faster turnaround on BER assessments
- More accurate and detailed building energy models
- Data-driven strategies to elevate BER certification
- Stronger support for ESG, compliance, and decarbonisation goals
We are proud of Leying and Darren’s achievements and excited about the leadership Rohan brings to our modelling team. Together, they will help us deliver even stronger outcomes for clients seeking to optimise the performance and value of their buildings.
To learn more about our Building Energy Rating (BER) services, click the button below.