This unique grant programme is administered and overseen by SEAI as part of the rollout of the National Retrofit Programme which targets the retrofitting of 500,000 homes to B2 BER rating by 2030. This is an extremely stretching target – it is envisaged that this will be achieved through energy efficiency measures, as well as deployment of renewable energy technologies such as heat pumps and PV solar panels.
While the uptake of energy upgrades has been increasing year-on-year, activity levels are still well short of what is required. Some of the main reasons for this are:
- Costs of upgrading
- Hassles associated with dealing with disruption to the home for a period of time
- Hassles associated with engaging various contractors to carry out the works
- Hassles associated with dealing with the grant application, through delivery & drawdown
Many of these concerns are significantly reduced by participating in the Better Energy Communities Grant Scheme, as the hassles involved in the various steps of the process are efficiently managed directly by the Project Co-Ordinator.
The Government envisages that the role of the Community will be key in getting the necessary acceleration in retrofit activity by engaging local contractors & suppliers of equipment, energy services, finance, etc. In particular, the BEC Scheme involves bringing together many individual residential & commercial energy upgrade projects to form a single grant application, thus delivering economies of scale in terms of costs.
This particular overall project will be targeted at the East Cork/West Waterford area, and the Project Co-Ordinator role will be carried out by Kevin Curtin, Energy Engineer of Survey & Design Services Youghal (see contact details below).
While the primary focus of the project will be on private dwellings, there will also be opportunities for other sectors such as local businesses, sporting/charitable/voluntary organisations, housing associations & local authorities to participate in the application.
The primary focus of the project will be on upgrading of dwellings. The main criteria are that (i) the dwellings must be built prior to 2011 & (ii) after completion of the upgrade works, the BER rating must achieve B2 or better. While it is not absolutely essential for each dwelling project to include installation of a heat pump (in lieu of oil/gas boiler), in reality a heat pump will be involved in the vast majority of cases.
The benefits of energy upgrading of your home are manyfold:
- Warmer homes, easier to heat
- Higher comfort levels
- Much improved indoor air quality
- Significantly reduced energy bills
- Enhanced home values
- Reduced dependency on oil, gas & solid fuels
TYPICAL DWELLING UPGRADE MEASURES
In Ireland 44% of all houses were built prior to 1990; for houses built prior to 2000 that figure rises to 66%. In such cases, significant energy improvement works are required to bring such dwellings up to current standards of energy efficiency & comfort – these required energy upgrade measures could include:
- Wall insulation (cavity and/or external insulation)
- Attic insulation
- Replacement of windows & external doors
- Air tightness measures (such as stoves in lieu of open fires, sealing of attic hatches, etc)
- Installation of heat pump
- Replacement of radiators, if necessary
- Energy efficient lighting
- Installation of roof-top PV panels is also included in many cases to contribute towards the electricity demand of the heat pump, etc.
Based on research carried out by SEAI in 2023, the following are indicative cost outcomes for various types of dwelling unit:
Mid-Terrace
- Average cost of works €51,826
- Average grant amount €19,015 (37%)
- Average cost to Home Owner €32,811
- Average BER improvement: E1 to A3
Semi-Detached
- Average cost of works €60,292
- Average grant amount €21,694 (36%)
- Average cost to Home Owner €38,598
- Average BER improvement: E1 to A2
Detached
- Average cost of works €64,507
- Average grant amount €24,098 (37%)
- Average cost to Home Owner €40,408
- Average BER improvement: E1 to A2
Typically, these projects deliver annual heating energy savings of 80-90%.
TYPICAL GRANT AMOUNTS
- Detached Dwellings
- Floor insulation €3,500 (only applicable where floor is being replaced)
- Cavity wall insulation €1,700
- External wall insulation €8,000
- Internal wall insulation €4,500
- Ceiling insulation €1,500
- Rafter insulation €3,000
- Complete window replacement €4,000
- External doors €800 each
- Air-to-water heat pump €6,500
- Radiator replacement €2,000
- Bonus for achieving B2 BER rating €2,000 (when heat pump is used)
- Semi-Detached Dwellings
- Floor insulation €3,500 (only applicable where floor is being replaced)
- Cavity wall insulation €1,200
- External wall insulation €6,000
- Internal wall insulation €3,500
- Ceiling insulation €1,300
- Rafter insulation €3,000
- Complete window replacement €3,000
- External doors €800 each
- Air-to-water heat pump €6,500
- Radiator replacement €2,000
- Bonus for achieving B2 BER rating €2,000 (when heat pump is used)
Some of these grant rates are significantly higher for Fuel Poor Homes.
OTHER SECTORS
Charities/Not-for-Profit Organisations – up to 50% of grant support is available
Public Schools, Libraries, etc – up to 50% grant support is available
Sporting & similar organisations – up to 30% grant support is available
Business’s – up to 30% grant support is available
Section 38 organisations (fully funded by Government) – up to 30% grant support is available
Upgrade measures that can be considered include the following:
Building fabric upgrades
Energy efficient technology improvements
Renewable energy solutions, such as wind turbines, biomass plants, PV systems
Energy efficient lighting
Heat recovery solutions
Smart metering
EV chargers
WHO WILL CARRY OUT THE WORK?
The first step in the process is for the Home Owner to make contact with the Project Co-Ordinator who will then provide a quote for carrying out a survey of the dwelling & preparing a Home Energy Assessment Report. As well as checking that this dwelling does in fact qualify for the BEC Grant Scheme, the report will also set out the following:
- Required energy upgrade measures
- Energy upgrade cost estimates & associated grants
- Expected energy cost savings
- Design details of various measures incl minimum specifications & quantities
- Guidance on Technical Standards to be followed
- Finance options & next steps
After grant approval is received from SEAI, the Project Co-Ordinator will then engage with the various local contractors in preparing a draft work programme for each of the individual dwellings in the scheme. This will be discussed with the Home Owners before proceeding to contract signing & commencement of the works. The works will be carried out by local contractor partners – see advertisements. All of these contractors are registered with SEAI and are obliged to carry out works to the highest standards as set out in SEAI Technical Standards & Code of Practice.
BONUS: ENERGY CREDITS
On completion of the overall projected, the total energy savings (known as energy credits) will have a significant financial value. These energy credits will be auctioned to Energy Suppliers & Obligated Parties and the proceeds will be distributed among the various property-owners.
VACANT PROPERTY REFURBISHMENT GRANT
This scheme was announced in 2023 & has attracted a great deal of attention. A grant of up to €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of properties that have been vacant for two years or more. Where it can be established that the property is derelict, a further grant top-up of €20,000 is possible. The grants can also be used for conversion of vacant commercial buildings to residential use (subject to appropriate planning permission etc).
This grant scheme is being used in combination with the BEC Scheme in many cases; however, it must be borne in mind that the works supported by the Refurbishment Grant Scheme must be separate from the works supported by the BEC Scheme.
SUPPORT SCHEME FOR ENERGY AUDITS (SSEA) FOR SME’S
This invaluable, but little-known, SEAI scheme supports carrying out of energy audits at businesses by providing €2,000 vouchers towards the cost of the audit. In the case of most SME’s, this will cover the entire cost of the audit! This is also an ideal support mechanism for facilities associated with sporting & similar organisations.
As well as analysing the use of energy within the business, the audit report also recommended actions that should be considered for reducing energy consumption & energy costs. Many of these Clients will likely become participants in the BEC Scheme to avail of the generous grants available.
The main condition for eligibility is that the business concern must have annual energy spend of €10,000 (excluding transport).