Frequently Asked Questions
This is where you will find most answers. If there should still be any questions left, don't hesitate to contact us.
General
What is home Energy Retrofitting?
Retrofitting helps to improve a property’s energy efficiency, through the addition of new technology or features, saving you money in running costs, and reducing environmental impact.
How can Retrofit benefit you?
There are multiple quality of life benefits including improved health, substantially cheaper bills, greater comfort, future-proofing your home (from high energy prices) and helping the environment.
How can Retrofit benefit the environment?
Additional to reducing your bills (via insulation, improved ventilation, better heating systems and controls), how you heat your home can significantly contribute to your environmental footprint, e.g. using a heat pump emits no local emissions, and if powered from renewable sources, can avoid fossil fuel pollution and its associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Grant schemes available
The 4 main schemes available are :
Individual Energy Upgrade Grants:
- You manage the contractors
- You apply for the grants
- You pay for the work and receive grants for each measure taken
- Items not covered include
- Doors and Windows
- Ventilation
- Floor Insulation
One Stop Shop:
- You assign a main contractor
- This contractor looks after the job including:
- Sourcing sub-contractors
- Dealing with grants
- Advantages
- All measures are covered
- You get a grant to recoup some of the project management cost
- Suitable for deep retrofit aiming at a B2 energy rating or higher
- Disadvantage
- Can be more expensive
Free Energy Upgrade:
Your Home’s BER Rating is C or lower, you qualify if you meet one of the following categories:
- Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme
- Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age
- Working Family Payment
- One-Parent Family Payment
- Domiciliary Care Allowance
- Carers Allowance and live with the person you are caring for
- Disability Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age
Community Grant:
This grant involves typically joining up with local businesses, schools community buildings and faith centres and doing a range of upgrades as a group. For detailed information click here.
What’s the difference between a deep and a shallow retrofit?
A deep retrofit aims to achieve the best possible performance targets.
A shallow retrofit targets a few measures.
A shallow retrofit targets a few measures.
Do I have to get renewable technology?
For the One Stop Shop Grant, to reach the building performance target, it may be necessary to include some renewable (e.g. Solar PV). You do not need renewable energy when doing an Individual Grant but you may decide that it is desirable.
Are all homes suitable for retrofitting?
Some householders have already completed a lot of work to improve their energy usage, but for some of these may go further and most homes retrofit is suitable. There may be some buildings where architectural regulations prevent retrofit from taking place. If you would like to look at this some more, talk to us.
Finances
How expensive is it?
A Free Energy Upgrade costs nothing, a shallow retrofit can cost from hundreds to the low tens of thousands depending on how far you go. Deep retrofits start at just under €30,000, and a quarter of them cost more than €75,000. Shallow retrofits can be as little as a few thousands if your heating system & controls do not need to be changed. Insulation pay back can be as short as 1-2 years.
