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

Heat pumps are the gold standard of sustainable heating but are only appropriate to a highly insulated home with a low HLI. The Technical Assessment carried out by the SEAI will protect your investment in these costly technologies.

Across more than 300 homes already upgraded from an average BER of E1 to A3 or better using the One-Stop-Shop, the average cost in the first year of the scheme’s operation was €38,200 after grant aid. These figures are obviously serious, and where we are detailing substantial areas of the house, any associated building costs must be carefully assessed.

Stephen Farrell, One Stop Shop Programme manager for the SEAI explains the two grant streams in more detail. “The One-Stop-Shop service is a great option for homeowners who are looking to carry out multiple energy upgrades in one go and who want to achieve a minimum B2 BER rating. This approach gives the homeowner peace of mind that their project is being fully managed by their chosen SEAI registered One-Stop-Shop from start to finish, including the grant application. Alternatively, with Individual Energy Upgrades, the homeowner can pick and choose which energy upgrades they want to carry out and can do them over time in a piecemeal fashion, giving them greater flexibility to plan their upgrades to suit their circumstances and budget.”