Retrofitting: See how two Cork houses got a new lease of life

It took over €40,000 of a spend for the Tobin family, €15,000 of that on insulation alone, but proof positive that a 1960s home can run at 20C on a primary heating system.

Deep energy renovation (yanking our energy performance into the high BER Bs and As) is tough enough. Dealing with the tender peculiarities of a seriously older home can make this journey an even greater challenge. The work to insulate a house, tighten it against uncontrolled air exchange, and decarbonise the heating system as fully as possible, has become a valued part of saving these precious buildings for this and coming generations.

We spoke to two families who are living the dream of a characterful house in the Irish countryside.