The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is urging homeowners to explore government funded home energy upgrades in a bid to help reduce energy bills.
Currently, around half of Irish homes have a BER rating of D or lower, meaning many Irish homeowners are losing out on comfort and savings.
As we move into the winter months, homeowners can reduce their energy use and monthly energy bills by upgrading their home's energy efficiency.
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SEAI’s target for 2022 is to complete almost 27,000 home energy upgrades.
To date this year, demand across the SEAI home energy upgrade schemes has been exceptionally high with over 30,400 applications received.
How can I upgrade my home energy and save money?
You can apply for one of the grant categories that applies to your home.
Significant Government grants are available for individual home energy upgrades such as attic and wall insulation.
Alternatively, homeowners can also avail of a One Stop Shop service offering a fully managed solution for a complete home energy upgrade.
Under the Individual Home Energy grant, you can apply for aid for the following:
- Heat Pump up to €6,500 for any house
- Heat Pump up to €4500 for an apartment.
Ceiling Insulation (Individual Home Energy Grant value)
- Detached house €1,500
- Semi-detached house €1,300
- Apartment would get €800
External Wall Insulation (Individual Home Energy Grant value)
- Detached house €8,000
- Semi detached/end terrace house €6,000
- Apartment €3,000
A solar thermal for all dwellings would be €1,200.
A One Stop Shop grant can be awarded for two external doors worth €800 per door for all property.
You can receive funding for insulating your floors worth €3,500, and €350 for a Home Energy assessment.
When you have the different quotes make sure you are comparing like for like.
If you do decide to go for a better upgrade, to say A-rated, this will likely be more expensive than achieving a very acceptable B2.
Commenting on the options, SEAI’s Marketing Manager Susan Andrews said:
“As the war and conflict continue to have an impact on energy costs and availability internationally, and energy bills continue to rise at home, now more than ever we all need to reduce our use. With options to suit most budgets and circumstances, we are urging people to start their home energy upgrade journey sooner rather than later.”
Ms Andrews revealed that a poorly insulated home can lose 30% of its heat through attics and walls.
She said: “A poorly insulated home will lose up to 30% of its heat through attic spaces and walls. So, a good place to start is with SEAI’s individual grants for insulation with the immediate benefit of reduced energy bills because. quite simply, your heating won’t be running as long.``
One stop shop and increased grants
In February, the Government approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades.
Government revealed a new delivery model for grants called the One Stop Shops service.
This scheme is for homeowners who would like to upgrade the energy performance of their home in one go to a BER B2 rating.
The One Stop Shop manages the customer’s journey from start to finish.
A key benefit of the grant programme is that the homeowner gets the grant amount deducted from the cost of works and gets the value of the grant upfront.
Under the One Stop Shop service grant, you can also apply for the following:
A Central heat system for a pump.
- Any house type €2,000
- Apartment €1000
Ceiling insulation (One Stop Shop)
- Detached house €1,500
- Semi detached/end terrace house €1,300
- Mid terrace €1,200
- Apartment €800
External wall upgrade for houses and apartments (One Stop Shop grant)
- Detached house €8,000
- Semi detached/end terrace house €6,000
- Mid terrace house €3,500
- External wall for apartment €3,000
Windows (Complete upgrade) (One Stop Shop)
- In a detached house €4,000
- Semi detached/mid terrace €3,000
- Mid terrace €1,800
- Apartment €1,500
A further breakdown of the three grant routes can be found below.
SEAI Home Energy Upgrade Grant Routes
Fully Funded home energy upgrade service for qualifying homeowners.
- Fully funded by SEAI and all home upgrade costs covered
- Suitable for qualifying homeowners
- Managed by SEAI, this service includes: home survey, contractor selection, contractor works, and a follow up BER
- For homes built and occupied before 2006
- For homeowners in receipt of certain welfare benefits
The One Stop Shop Service offers a fully managed solution including grant application.
The One stop shop service is for suitable homeowners and non-corporate landlords and includes:
- home energy assessment
- grant application
- project management
- contractor works
- follow up BER
- For homes built and occupied before 2011
Individual Energy Upgrade Grants
This option applies to suitable homeowners and non-corporate landlords who want:
- individual energy upgrades
- to manage their own project
- to apply for the grant themselves
- to pay for full cost of works and claim grant afterwards
For more practical advice to reduce your energy use and make a real difference to your energy bills, visit www.seai.ie/reduceyouruse
You can also find Government supports available to help homes and businesses reduce their reliance on imported fossil fuels at www.gov.ie/ReduceYourUse
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