Homeowners to get 30% back in insulation grant scheme
Sustainable Energy Ireland — the state energy agency — is expecting thousands of households will apply for the scheme once it becomes operational next month.
SEI, which will oversee the grant payments, claim more than 1,200 approved contractors are expected to participate in the scheme.
The initiative, which will make €50m available in grants this year, is designed to cut heating bills for householders, while also reducing carbon emissions and creating much-needed employment in the building sector. It is open to all houses built prior to 2006.
Energy Minister Eamon Ryan has estimated that the average household could expect to save €700 a year on heating bills as a result of better insulation of their property.
According to building experts, on average 35% of a building’s heat losses is through uninsulated walls, while a further 25% is through uninsulated roof spaces.
Roof/attic insulation is one of the cheapest forms of insulation, with the average cost for providing such insulation for a three-bed, semi-detached family home coming in at about €500.
The cheapest form of counteracting heat loss through walls is cavity wall insulation, which can average about €950 per house.
However, not every home will be suitable for such work.
Tony Doherty, managing director of Dublin-based Energystar Insulations, warned that a large number of houses around the country, especially in the Dublin area, were constructed with building material that ruled out cavity wall insulation as an option.
“Many homes right up to the 1990s were built with 9-inch hollow blocks which are not suitable for cavity insulation,” said Mr Doherty.
He pointed out that some contractors offered to insulate such homes with foam, although such a measure is not recommended by the building authorities.
Mr Doherty said the decision on whether to choose internal or external wall insulation for appropriate dwellings was dependent on the layout of the house.
“Internal wall insulation is cheaper but, if householders have to remove fittings from a kitchen or bathroom then external wall insulation can be preferable and ultimately cheaper,” he said.
“However, external wall insulation can change the facade of your house so people should seek professional advice on which option is most suitable for their home.”
Other grants are also available for people wishing to upgrade their boiler to a more high-efficiency version as well as for upgrading heating control equipment.
It is expected the scheme will open for household applications next month, although the SEI is currently accepting expressions of interest from homeowners to participate in the scheme.
Although it is not compulsory to avail of a grant, SEI is advising householders to consider obtaining a Building Energy Rating (BER) — which is compulsory for anyone selling or letting a home since January 1 last as well as for all new buildings.
“The BER contains an advisory report which can provide a guide to householders on the most appropriate measures to insulate their home,” said SEI’s head of customer services, Tom Halpin.
Homeowners who carry out a second BER following insulation improvements will be able to recoup €200 of the cost under the grant scheme.
However, the grant for the BER is only available where ratings have been carried out before and after insulation measures have been taken.
Mr Halpin said any improvements to better insulate homes should help households get a significantly higher BER.
Another condition is that homeowners must carry out measures worth a minimum grant payment of €500 (excluding the BER) to avail of the scheme.
In other words, no subvention will be available for anyone who just obtains either roof insulation or cavity wall insulation on its own.
A separate €50m scheme will also provide similar supports for the better insulation of local authority housing and low-income private dwellings.
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