In their 2021 Climate Action Proposal the Irish government plan to have 500,000 homes retrofitted by 2030, but what is this? Retrofitting involves upgrading multiple energy systems in the home to remove the need for fossil fuels
Insulation, Heat Pump, PV Panels, Ventilation, Car Chargers, along with other heating system fits come under the retrofit heading. All these systems work in complete sync, paving the way for your energy self-sufficiency.
The purpose of these upgrades is to increase your home’s BER rating, improve energy efficiency, and what our customers find incredibly important, increased home comfort.
What does Retrofitting Consist of?
What is a BER rating?
Your home’s Building Energy Rating (BER) ranks its energy performance on a scale of A – G, with A being the most energy-efficient. If you are selling, renting, or buying your home this rating is legally required so many people know their rating. If you do not, you can click here to get an assessment done on your home.
Home retrofitting aims to bring your house up to at least a B2, if not an A rating on the BER scale. The first step to getting this rating is to insulate the home.
Minimising Heat Loss
On average, 30% of your heating is lost through your attic. That is why the first step in retrofitting is insulation. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will provide a grant of up to €6,400 towards this. Options include attic insulation, cavity wall, internal wall, or external wall insulation.
Preventing draughts in the home can dramatically reduce heat loss and improve your home's comfort.
Green Heating
So now that you’re preventing the heat from escaping, what’s producing it? Costly fossil fuels are ineffective overall in the home in comparison to alternatives. You have to work to their timers or risk forgetting to turn the immersion off again.
Heat Pumps take free energy from the ground or air and transform this into heating for your home and water. What's better is that this is a constant stream of heat into the home so you can live in a comfortable climate-controlled area, with the added benefit of constant hot water.
On average costing around €10,000 for the whole installation, the SEAI provides a grant of up to €3,500 for your heat pump.
Electricity Generation
Running your home on free energy from the air or ground now means that your home running costs are now all on one bill: electricity. How do we make a saving here?
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels on your roof convert daylight to electricity to power your home, including your heat pump. Any excess power, which throughout the brighter months you will have plenty of, can be stored in a battery for more overcast days or nighttime. Any further excess can be used to top up your hot water tank too. Left over power will be diverted to the grid.
The SEAI give a grant of up to €2,400 for the PV Panels and an additional €600 for a battery.
Retrofitting can take many different forms and energy system combinations depending on the home and the budget for the project. Speak to our team today to discuss what is best for your home today, and find out what you can save.
