Grants to make homes 70% more energy-efficient

HOUSES with low carbon emissions are to benefit from a grant scheme aimed at making new homes 70% more energy-efficient.

The Low Carbon Homes Programme was launched yesterday by energy minister Eamon Ryan. It will be run by Sustainable Energy Ireland and is aimed primarily at developers.

Grants of up to 40% of expenditure on efficiency measures in new houses will be available to encourage development of buildings that exceed the recently adopted energy regulations. Homes built under the programme will be at least 70% more energy-efficient and produce 70% less carbon dioxide than homes built to 2005 standards, and will have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of at least A2.