For a country which has a relatively mild climate, it seems surprising that many of our homes often feel cold.
A survey carried out by iReach on behalf of the Irish League of Credit Unions last year highlighted that 46% of people find their homes much colder than they would like to be.
As well as the discomfort of living in a draughty or cold house, there is also a cost implication. Colder homes need to use more energy to be heated or to remain warm. And of course, with most of Ireland’s homes being heated by oil, gas and solid fuels, there is a significant impact on the environment too. According to the SEAI, in 2017, the average Irish home emitted almost twice the energy related carbon dioxide emissions than the average dwelling in the EU.
What is a Deep Retrofit?
Retrofit (v) – to install (new or modified parts or equipment) in something previously manufactured or constructed. 
Quite simply, a deep retrofit of a home means carrying out multiple energy upgrades all at once to achieve a BER of A-rating. A deep retrofit is a combination of measures, which together, have a very significant impact on the warmth and comfort of the home.
Why is there a drive to retrofit homes?
It is estimated that 40% of Ireland’s energy-related carbon emissions coming from buildings alone. In keeping with the drive to reduce our carbon emissions, the Government has committed to retrofitting 500,000 homes to a B2 BER standard by 2030.
How do you know if your home might need a retrofit?
If your home is cold, damp and very costly to heat, it may be the case that you need a combination of measures to make the home more comfortable to live in. The age of your home is likely the biggest indicator of the requirement for a retrofit.
The chart below from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) highlights the Building Energy Rating of homes by year of construction. 97% of houses built since 2015 have an A energy rating compared to just 35% of houses built between 2010 and 2014.
What work is included in a typical deep retrofit?
As mentioned above, a deep retrofit will include a combination of measures. One of the key aims will be to reduce the level of heat which the house is losing. In other words, keep heat inside the four walls (and roof) for longer. This may include measures such as wall insulation, roof insulation, floor insulation or upgrading windows and doors.
An efficient renewable heating system will also be considered. A key aim will be to move away from the use of fossil fuels such as oil or gas. The typical heating system installed on a Deep Retrofit Project is a heat pump. You can find out more about heat pumps here.
A deep retrofit project may also look at mechanical ventilation with heat recovery unit to maintain good indoor air quality.
Other energy efficient measures to be considered will be the use of solar water heating panels and solar pv panels.
How much does a deep retrofit cost?
The cost of a deep retrofit will depend on many factors. The type of house, its floor area, when it was built and the starting BER before work commences will all have an impact on the cost to upgrade the home. According to the SEAI, the average cost to upgrade a home from an average BER rating of F rating to an average A3 rating is €60,229.
What retrofit grants are available?
There are a host of grants available to people looking to upgrade their homes. In 2022, the following have been announced:
New Home Energy Upgrade Scheme – to transform your home
The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%). The scheme introduces a hassle free way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work.
Homes owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for people all over Ireland to upgrade to a warmer, healthier and more comfortable home, with lower energy bills.
Increased grant rates and supports for step-by-step home upgrades
Grant supports (under the Better Energy Homes Scheme) for homeowners that want to take a step-by-step approach to upgrading their homes have also been significantly increased. For instance, the grant for heat pumps has increased from €3,500 to €6,500 and the rate for external wall insulation has increased from €6,000 to €8,000 for a detached house. These figures specifically relate to grant amounts for this step-by-step approach.
The full list of measures and grants is available here.
How can we help?
If you need any help to fund a warmer, greener home, talk to our lending team about your funding requirements. We currently offer a GREEN HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN at 6.95% variable interest rate (Typical APR 7.18%). Further infomation can be found here ⇒ GREEN HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN – , and whilst there, why not try out our loan calculator to see what your repayments may be.