This is the time of year when many of us are likely thinking about how can we make our homes warmer, cosier and more comfortable. One of the ways in which the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) recommends we achieve this aim is via what they call a ‘fabric first approach’ because 60% of the energy that we lose is through our walls and roof. We also lose about 10% of our home’s heat through windows and doors.
In a bid to help more homeowners benefit from energy upgrades and, as a result, cheaper heating bills, the SEAI has announced new and uplifted grants, which can be accessed under the SEAI’s Better Energy Homes Scheme.
The scheme was designed for people who might not have the budget to do a whole house retrofit. It’s an individual energy grant scheme for homeowners who live in a house, built and occupied before 2011, that they want to retrofit on a phased basis. For renewable technology installation, such as a heat pump or solar PV, the year of construction should be before 2021.
The new suite of measures means homeowners can upgrade their home based on their own time and budget.
“The way the programme is set out is that we have an online application form, and homeowners can go in and they can select the measure they want to upgrade from the list that we have,” explains Stephen Farrell, programme manager on the National Retrofit team. That list includes attic insulation, wall insulation, a new windows and door grant, and new heating technology.
“We have registered contractors linked to each of those measures,” continues Stephen. “We advise homeowners to go and look at the contractor list and call two or three of them in their area, and get a good idea of the cost to do the work. When they’re happy to go one of the registered contractors, they go on to our website and apply for that measure, fill in the application form online, and then it’s an immediate approval.
“Then they start the work and they have about eight months to complete the work. If you have no idea where to start, talk to a BER assessor to get practical advice. That will lead you in terms of what areas you should focus in on.”
Having looked at the cost of work over the past few years, and recognising that costs have risen since some grants were initially introduced in 2022, the SEAI has enhanced several of their existing grants and introduced new ones. While some grants are effective immediately, others will commence next month.
As of 2 March, first-time buyers will be able to avail of a higher fixed grant for attic insulation up to €2,500.
“If it’s a huge house in the country, homeowners might have to add a bit more to it, but we’d like to think the medium size house would get it done for 100% cost,” says Stephen.
Stephen Farrell, programme manager on the National Retrofit fit, says that the new suite of SEAI grants are suited to homeowners who want to do energy upgrades on a phased basis.
Heat pump system
To accelerate the uptake of heat pumps, a €12,500 grant for installing a heat pump system has been introduced. Air source heat pump installations usually cost between €12,500 and €16,000, and ground source systems range from €12,500 to €23,500.
This grant is what Stephen calls “a sizeable increase just to try and encourage people to make that transition”. The grant encompasses the existing €6,500 for the heat pump, €2,000 for upgrading radiators and pipework and a new renewable heating bonus of €4,000.
The upfront cost of heat pumps has, to date, been a major barrier for people wishing to switch to renewable heating systems
The SEAI has also introduced a new window and door grant to install energy-efficient windows and doors in houses built and occupied prior to 2011. The grant values range from €1,500 (in the case of an apartment) to €4,000 (in the case of a detached house). The external door grant is priced at €800 per door (max of two doors).
Homeowners will be able to apply for this grant from 2 March, but there are some eligibility criteria, Stephen explains.
“You’ll only be eligible for the window and door grant if your attic insulation and your wall insulation is at an adequate standard,” he says. “A BER assessor can advise you by either checking your existing BER or by carrying out a BER assessment before you apply for the window grant.”
If your BER Advisory Report shows that your roof and walls are ‘good’, or if your Heat Loss Indicator is below 2.3, then you already meet the requirements.
“People have been canvassing for window and door grants for years,” Stephen adds. “We’ve introduced it on a basis that homeowners need to ensure their attic and walls are already at a good standard in terms of a level of insulation.”
Finally, the SEAI has announced grants for households in receipt of certain qualifying welfare allowances, like the fuel allowance or the carers allowance. This will give qualifying homeowners on welfare payments the option to access a grant that covers most, or the total cost, of attic and cavity wall insulation.
Homeowners can also apply for a grant for a second wall measure. This grant is for homeowners who already received an AV wall insulation or internal wall insulation grant previously, and they want to further reduce heat loss to the walls.
One Stop Shop
While the SEAI One Stop Shop service allows homeowners to retrofit their home in one go, the new suite of additional and uplifted grants is for those looking to take a step-by-step approach.
“They might not have the money to do it all over one 12-month contract,” Stephen reflects.
“They could do their attic and walls in year one, get money together to do their windows in year three, and then they might move to a heat pump in year four. But it’s about setting a programme to suit that type of budget.”
See seai.ie
This is the time of year when many of us are likely thinking about how can we make our homes warmer, cosier and more comfortable. One of the ways in which the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) recommends we achieve this aim is via what they call a ‘fabric first approach’ because 60% of the energy that we lose is through our walls and roof. We also lose about 10% of our home’s heat through windows and doors.
In a bid to help more homeowners benefit from energy upgrades and, as a result, cheaper heating bills, the SEAI has announced new and uplifted grants, which can be accessed under the SEAI’s Better Energy Homes Scheme.
The scheme was designed for people who might not have the budget to do a whole house retrofit. It’s an individual energy grant scheme for homeowners who live in a house, built and occupied before 2011, that they want to retrofit on a phased basis. For renewable technology installation, such as a heat pump or solar PV, the year of construction should be before 2021.
The new suite of measures means homeowners can upgrade their home based on their own time and budget.
“The way the programme is set out is that we have an online application form, and homeowners can go in and they can select the measure they want to upgrade from the list that we have,” explains Stephen Farrell, programme manager on the National Retrofit team. That list includes attic insulation, wall insulation, a new windows and door grant, and new heating technology.
“We have registered contractors linked to each of those measures,” continues Stephen. “We advise homeowners to go and look at the contractor list and call two or three of them in their area, and get a good idea of the cost to do the work. When they’re happy to go one of the registered contractors, they go on to our website and apply for that measure, fill in the application form online, and then it’s an immediate approval.
“Then they start the work and they have about eight months to complete the work. If you have no idea where to start, talk to a BER assessor to get practical advice. That will lead you in terms of what areas you should focus in on.”
Having looked at the cost of work over the past few years, and recognising that costs have risen since some grants were initially introduced in 2022, the SEAI has enhanced several of their existing grants and introduced new ones. While some grants are effective immediately, others will commence next month.
As of 2 March, first-time buyers will be able to avail of a higher fixed grant for attic insulation up to €2,500.
“If it’s a huge house in the country, homeowners might have to add a bit more to it, but we’d like to think the medium size house would get it done for 100% cost,” says Stephen.
Stephen Farrell, programme manager on the National Retrofit fit, says that the new suite of SEAI grants are suited to homeowners who want to do energy upgrades on a phased basis.
Heat pump system
To accelerate the uptake of heat pumps, a €12,500 grant for installing a heat pump system has been introduced. Air source heat pump installations usually cost between €12,500 and €16,000, and ground source systems range from €12,500 to €23,500.
This grant is what Stephen calls “a sizeable increase just to try and encourage people to make that transition”. The grant encompasses the existing €6,500 for the heat pump, €2,000 for upgrading radiators and pipework and a new renewable heating bonus of €4,000.
The upfront cost of heat pumps has, to date, been a major barrier for people wishing to switch to renewable heating systems
The SEAI has also introduced a new window and door grant to install energy-efficient windows and doors in houses built and occupied prior to 2011. The grant values range from €1,500 (in the case of an apartment) to €4,000 (in the case of a detached house). The external door grant is priced at €800 per door (max of two doors).
Homeowners will be able to apply for this grant from 2 March, but there are some eligibility criteria, Stephen explains.
“You’ll only be eligible for the window and door grant if your attic insulation and your wall insulation is at an adequate standard,” he says. “A BER assessor can advise you by either checking your existing BER or by carrying out a BER assessment before you apply for the window grant.”
If your BER Advisory Report shows that your roof and walls are ‘good’, or if your Heat Loss Indicator is below 2.3, then you already meet the requirements.
“People have been canvassing for window and door grants for years,” Stephen adds. “We’ve introduced it on a basis that homeowners need to ensure their attic and walls are already at a good standard in terms of a level of insulation.”
Finally, the SEAI has announced grants for households in receipt of certain qualifying welfare allowances, like the fuel allowance or the carers allowance. This will give qualifying homeowners on welfare payments the option to access a grant that covers most, or the total cost, of attic and cavity wall insulation.
Homeowners can also apply for a grant for a second wall measure. This grant is for homeowners who already received an AV wall insulation or internal wall insulation grant previously, and they want to further reduce heat loss to the walls.
One Stop Shop
While the SEAI One Stop Shop service allows homeowners to retrofit their home in one go, the new suite of additional and uplifted grants is for those looking to take a step-by-step approach.
“They might not have the money to do it all over one 12-month contract,” Stephen reflects.
“They could do their attic and walls in year one, get money together to do their windows in year three, and then they might move to a heat pump in year four. But it’s about setting a programme to suit that type of budget.”
See seai.ie
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