Retrofitting Homes

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#Retrofitting Homes

Articles and analysis on the issue of retrofitting as an energy efficiency measure.

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p> Built in 1936, Oliver Bond House is one of the oldest and largest flat complexes in Dublin City. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins</p>

politics

'Shameful': Government scraps Oliver Bond flats regeneration

Government's decision to abandon regeneration of 1936 flats branded 'absurd, cruel, and a betrayal of this community'

<p>Four commissioners will be appointed to Ireland's Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools. Picture: iStock</p>

politics

Cabinet to discuss inquiry into child sex abuse in schools

<p>When it comes to insulating the outside walls of a building there are principally three options available to you: drylining, external insulation, and cavity wall insulation.</p>

residential

How to combat cold and damp in a 1970s bungalow

Cabinet to discuss plan to speed up infrastructure delivery

politics

Cabinet to discuss plan to speed up infrastructure delivery

Teacher Helping Students Training To Be Electricians

politics

'Sloppiness' in electrical apprenticeship exams makes reform 'essential' – minister

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

munster

Retrofit of Cork council houses will see tenants save thousands on heating

Electric car purchase incentives

Electric vehicle ownership higher in urban areas while rural dwellers more likely to opt for petrol or diesel

CSO research also shows only a quarter of us switched energy providers in the last year

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Warmer homes scheme: Applicants wait up to 22 months for retrofits to be completed

Warmer homes scheme: Applicants wait up to 22 months for retrofits to be completed

Wait times could increase as more people become eligible for the retrofitting programme

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

Energy upgrades for homes

Homeowners face longer waiting time for retrofitting due to high number of applications

Under the Warmer Homes Scheme, free energy upgrades are given to homeowners who get certain social welfare payments such as the fuel allowance or domiciliary care allowance

Fri, 18 Apr, 2025

LNG tanker is passing by Singapore Strait.

Ciarán Brennan: Government is letting bills mount up rather than deal with climate change

Ireland faces an eye-watering €26bn bill for missing EU climate targets but the Government is prioritising short-term economic growth over environmental protections

Thu, 06 Mar, 2025

Electric car charging - London

Ireland has urban-rural divide in attitudes to climate change, new survey shows

CSO data also shows massive rise in energy bills for Irish households since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

Home tax deduction

Landlords face €8bn bill for rental home energy upgrades, study finds

A new ESRI report estimates retrofitting Ireland’s rental homes could cost up to €8bn, with many landlords unable to afford the investment

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

Cork council tenants who had home retrofits saw energy bills plummet, new figures show

One property saw annual bill fall from €6,680 to €1,230, Cork County Council survey found

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Pushy Salesman

Donal Hickey: National retrofitting grants plan gaining momentum

The grant for a deep retrofit has been raised from 35% to 50% and to 80% for attic and cavity wall insulation

Thu, 28 Nov, 2024

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

Party manifestos leave renters — 20% of households — out of energy efficiency schemes

Election 2024 presents a critical opportunity for the next government to address energy poverty while ensuring a fair transition away from fossil fuels, writes Clare O'Connor

Tue, 26 Nov, 2024

Cabinet row after Green Party accused of trying to 'run riot' with public finances

Cabinet row after Green Party accused of trying to 'run riot' with public finances

Former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan had sought to allocate money into climate action measures to improve and retrofit public buildings and also provide a second pot to upgrade privately owned buildings

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

Ireland lacks number of skilled workers needed to meet housing and retrofitting targets

Construction workforce may need to reach 'Celtic Tiger' levels of 217,000 in the sector again to deliver 50,000 new homes and retrofit 63,444 homes a year, report says

Fri, 18 Oct, 2024

'Landlords should have to bring rental properties up to minimum BER' – Green Party

'Landlords should have to bring rental properties up to minimum BER' – Green Party

'I don’t think it is fair for people to be paying rent in a D4 energy rated house in this day and age,' said Green Party deputy leader Senator Róisín Garvey

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

Home tax deduction

State body behind retrofitting of homes slammed over 'inordinate delays'

Report accuses the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) of 'blatantly disregarding' UN sustainable development goals of 'leaving no one behind' when it comes to fuel poverty

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Irish fuel price protest

Anthony Foley: Climate change measures will be tougher than many wish to believe

The EPA survey reported a weakening in support for so-called 'nasty' measures such as bans on peat, coal, and home heating oil, as well as for higher taxes on petrol and diesel cars

Mon, 01 Apr, 2024

New scheme to teach prisoners how to retrofit homes

New scheme to teach prisoners how to retrofit homes

The scheme will be offered to prisoners close to release and will provide them with 'the individual skillset to gain well-paid meaningful employment in the area of retrofitting'

Mon, 26 Feb, 2024

Extend free home retrofitting upgrades to renters, SVP tells politicians

Extend free home retrofitting upgrades to renters, SVP tells politicians

Charity told Oireachtas committee some households most in need of having their home retrofitted are not accounted for in national retrofitting plans

Wed, 17 Jan, 2024

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

Donal Hickey: Grants to save energy and make our homes warmer

The Government’s highly ambitious goal is to have 500,000 homes retrofitted to B2 energy rating by 2030. A tall order given the level of uptake so far — €170million of the €300million set aside in grants for the scheme was not taken up in 2022

Thu, 11 Jan, 2024

Cost of living main barrier to retrofitting and other sustainable changes — survey

Cost of living main barrier to retrofitting and other sustainable changes — survey

AIB's Sustainability Survey found 45% of people have felt the impact of climate change in their lives but cost a barrier to making changes

Fri, 05 Jan, 2024

FILE PHOTO Today sees the launch of The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) national air quality forecast online END

Eamon Ryan: 'Incredible level of delivery' needed to make Ireland's emissions targets

There is reason for optimism that Ireland can meet its emissions ambitions with 'things starting to go in the right direction', Environment Minister said

Wed, 20 Dec, 2023

Home tax deduction

New low-cost loans for retrofitting homes 'a game-changer', Eamon Ryan says

Loan scheme was due to start in summer last year but will now be available from February 2024, Environment Minister says

Fri, 17 Nov, 2023

Builder Fitting Insulation Boards Into Roof Of New Home

Slow pace of retrofitting 'hurting Ireland's emissions efforts'

Ireland is among many nations where progress has stalled or even worsened, the Global Retrofit Index said

Tue, 14 Nov, 2023

Home tax deduction

Average homeowner facing €40,000 bill for 'one-stop-shop' deep retrofit upgrade

The Public Accounts Committee heard on Thursday that there has been a sharp increase in the number of property upgrades this year

Thu, 09 Nov, 2023

Home tax deduction

Retrofitting your home? Get a green mortgage for lower monthly payments

Green mortgages will save you money, so they're well worth looking into if you're retrofitting your home to cut your energy costs

Sat, 28 Oct, 2023

European Investment Bank makes €500m available for retrofitting

European Investment Bank makes €500m available for retrofitting

Bank to also provide €200m in funding over the next 40 years for the development of student accommodation across the country

Thu, 26 Oct, 2023

Air heat pump near pool house outdoors.

Retrofit, warming to heat pumps: Cut your utility bills with home retrofits

If you home is insulated to the right level and has low heat loss (HLI) with managed ventilation, it may be ready for a whole, new sustainable heating system

Mon, 23 Oct, 2023

Photovoltaic panels on a residential house

Retrofit: Energising the value of your home

Thinking of adding wall insulation? Avail of any of three SEAI grant aided solutions which can be used alone or in combination

Mon, 23 Oct, 2023

A modern barn house with a mezzanine, large windows, and a lovely terrace with a garden - 3d render

Retrofit: One-stop shop or individual grants?

Finessing and controlling the temperature in our homes is an essential tool in getting the best from a renewable or fossil-fuel based heating system

Mon, 23 Oct, 2023

It's a pleasure doing business with you

Retrofit: Energy renovation nation keeping it green

Kya de Longchamps outlines energy, heating and insulation measures and installation grants that will help homeowners better manage their rising home utility costs

Mon, 23 Oct, 2023

"Our energy bills are down 70% since the retrofit was done"

"Our energy bills are down 70% since the retrofit was done"

Meet a homeowner whose 1960s home has gone from damp to comfy in a retrofit that has instantly begun to pay for itself

Mon, 23 Oct, 2023

Enhancing home energy efficiency for colder months

Enhancing home energy efficiency for colder months

With a range of home energy upgrade grants to suit most budgets and circumstances, SEAI are here to help

Sat, 21 Oct, 2023

Mixed reception to energy and sustainables measures

Mixed reception to energy and sustainables measures

Energy credits, carbon tax, the retrofit scheme, and Vat on solar panels are among the headliners exercising industry, environmental, consumer, and social justice groups

Tue, 10 Oct, 2023

Worker Spraying Blown Fiberglass Insulation between Attic Trusses

Retrofitting homes: Most energy upgrade scheme works found to be non-compliant

C&AG reveals that most 2022 inspections of energy upgrade works in private homes at risk of energy poverty failed

Fri, 29 Sep, 2023

Housing completion rates

Call for budget tax incentives for home energy schemes

Cost of improving energy efficiency is dissuading many households from retrofitting schemes, survey finds

Mon, 25 Sep, 2023

Tom McDonnell: Budget climate policy needs to focus on the carrot rather than the stick

Tom McDonnell: Budget climate policy needs to focus on the carrot rather than the stick

Climate change means rising temperatures and sea levels, increased water stress, more extreme events, threats to food security, climate migration, and of course biodiversity loss.

Sun, 24 Sep, 2023

Increase in homes adding solar PV panels after Vat cut

Increase in homes adding solar PV panels after Vat cut

The SEAI said almost 22,000 retrofit works were completed so far this year, but just one-third of these led to a B2 energy rating or higher

Fri, 01 Sep, 2023

Data centres should supply their excess heat to local communities, climate council says

Data centres should supply their excess heat to local communities, climate council says

Climate Change Advisory Council said Ireland was way off the pace when it comes to reducing emissions and called for a range of measures to be implemented

Tue, 25 Jul, 2023

West Cork island to lead the way in energy efficiency with new solar-powered homes

West Cork island to lead the way in energy efficiency with new solar-powered homes

Housing association to develop six solar-powered homes on Sherkin Island which will allow tenants to become self-sufficient in energy use

Tue, 18 Jul, 2023

Heater radiator on yellow wall in house. 3d image

Irish Examiner View: Call in the cavalry for wartime effort on retrofitting

We face the ultimate existential crisis because of climate change, and retrofitting is a key part of Ireland's strategy to fight it.

Thu, 15 Jun, 2023

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

'Wartime effort' needed to get 500,000 homes retrofitted, think tank warns

Better financial incentives are needed to retrofit derelict and vacant homes, the author of the white paper from the Institute of International and European Affairs said

Wed, 14 Jun, 2023

Irish Citizenship Ceremonies

Simon Harris seeking ‘significant’ increase in wages for apprenticeships

Simon Harris 'working on way forward as we seek to grow the numbers of apprentices'

Mon, 15 May, 2023

House insulation

Thinking of availing of the newly reduced solar VAT rate? Here are the grants available

From attic insulation to a full retrofit, there are many options available to homeowners seeking to make their homes warmer and cheaper to run

Mon, 01 May, 2023

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

SEAI accused of facilitating 'price gouging' in home retrofit scheme

Public Accounts Committee heard that between August and November 2022, the price quoted for the retrofit of former minister Denis Naughten's home by an SEAI-approved contractor had risen by 53%, far outstripping construction inflation, which is currently running at about 15%

Thu, 09 Mar, 2023

'Our retrofit was a seismic shift in comfort, like being wrapped in a warm blanket'

'Our retrofit was a seismic shift in comfort, like being wrapped in a warm blanket'

Deep Retrofit 2023: Homeowners tell their stories about two separate retrofit projects that saw their energy efficiency of their homes significantly improved

Fri, 24 Feb, 2023

Cork council chief admits retrofitting schemes are 'bamboozling'

Cork council chief admits retrofitting schemes are 'bamboozling'

Ann Doherty said the various schemes on offer when it comes to retrofitting could do with being simplified for homeowners

Fri, 24 Feb, 2023