HOME ENERGY UPGRADES are one of the most effective ways to reduce your energy bills, increase comfort, and lower your carbon footprint. It might seem a little confusing when you’re starting off, however it can be far more straight-forward than you think.

If you’ve never explored improving the energy efficiency of your home, read on for our guide on the first steps to take when planning a home energy upgrade.

Find the right grant option for you

The good news is the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers a range of home energy upgrade grants to suit most budgets and circumstances. They’re making it easier and more affordable than ever to make your home warmer and more energy efficient.

For some people taking a step-by-step approach – doing one or two upgrades over time – offers greater flexibility. As a starting point, investing in attic and wall insulation is a great use of your resources.

Then again if you’re a homeowner looking to carry out multiple upgrades in one go, you could consider the One Stop Shop service. This grant option offers a complete home energy upgrade solution where a One Stop Shop manages your project from start to finish, including your grant application. They even deduct the grant value upfront, which can really help with cashflow for large projects.

Carry out a BER assessment

With regards to very first steps, you need to get a BER assessment carried out by an SEAI-registered assessor. This assessment will identify where your home is losing energy and outline the best ways to improve its efficiency. It will also help you discover the range of grants available to support your upgrades.

Insulate

Did you know that you are likely losing up to 30% of your home’s heat through poorly insulated attics and walls? By investing in insulation, you will dramatically improve the comfort of your home by keeping your valuable heat inside your home, reducing the need for constant heating — and cutting your energy bills in the process.

And with the generous grants, ranging from up to €1,500 for attic insulation and €8,000 for wall insulation, the SEAI can really help you at each step of the journey.

Add Renewables

Once your home is well insulated, the next step is to consider investing in renewable technologies such as heat pumps and solar PV. So if you’re still using fossil fuel heating systems such as oil or gas, you should really consider the clean switch to a heat pump.

Heat pumps are highly efficient alternatives to fossil fuel heating systems, creating a warmer and healthier home by maintaining a constant, comfortable temperature throughout the year. Adding solar PV further improves the energy efficiency of your home as you are generating your own electricity.

These long-term investments will provide significant improvements in the comfort of your home, and of course your health. If that wasn’t a good enough reason already, a home energy upgrade will reduce your energy consumption and lower bills.

 
Apply for your SEAI grants today and enjoy a more energy efficient home that works harder to save you money. Visit SEAI.ie to explore the full range of grants and resources — and take the first step towards a warmer, cheaper-to-run, and more sustainable home.