Biggest Home Insulation and Retrofit Scheme ever offered in the State
Waterford TD welcomes the biggest home insulation and retrofit scheme ever offered in the state which will cut heating bills, reduce carbon emissions and result in warmer, healthier homes that cost less to heat.
Waterford Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomes the biggest home insulation and retrofit scheme ever offered in the state which will cut heating bills, reduce carbon emissions and result in warmer, healthier homes that cost less to heat. The scheme will include a new suite of measures that will make it easier for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, from individual measures such as attic insulation to a full retrofit. One of the biggest barriers for householders considering energy upgrades has been the high upfront construction costs associated with improving older or poorly insulated homes but the Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which was announced today and will see householders offered grant assistance covering almost half the cost (45-51%) of improving their home’s energy efficiency up to B2 rating.
Welcoming the launch, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh said:
‘This is one of the most ambitious schemes of its type anywhere in the world. Homeowners will be given substantial supports – in grant aid, in technical support and in low-interest loans – to upgrade and future-proof their homes. This has a quadruple benefit: warmer, healthier homes, lower energy bills, reduced climate emissions and high-quality local employment. The spike in energy prices across the world has really driven home just how dependent we are on imported fossil fuels – 96% of the energy we use to heat our homes is imported. This ambitious program will lower our bills while reducing that dependence on fossil fuels.’
Households wishing to insulate their attics or cavity walls will receive grants to cover 80% of the costs of work which would normally cost around €2,000. The instant impact of €400-€500 per year on heating costs of an average home will see a drastic reduction in the payback time of this measure. Households most at risk of energy poverty will be eligible for a Free Energy Upgrade Scheme with 100% grants available.
Deputy Ó Cathasaigh added:
‘It was of utmost importance to me as Spokesperson for Social Protection that this wasn’t just a scheme for people with deep pockets. The 80% grant for smaller measures will put these grants within the reach of most household and deliver quick results. It will also suit those who may not be in a position to take on the disruption to their home of a deep retrofit. And for those on lower incomes and most at risk of fuel poverty, the Warmer Homes Scheme has been significantly expanded, covering 100% of the retrofitting costs for those who most need it and can least afford it.’
The Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is a significant step towards meeting the Programme for Government commitment to retrofit 500,000 homes to B2 standard and to install 400,000 heat pumps by 2030. The scale of the scheme over the next decade will also see a huge increase in demand for workers in the construction industry.
The government is also announcing plans to launch a network of “one-stop shops” throughout the State which will simplify the application process and offer a beginning-to-end service for homeowners undertaking a full retrofit, covering the application process, access to finance and construction work.
The Home Energy Upgrade Scheme is a significant step towards meeting the Programme for Government commitment to retrofit 500,000 homes to B2 standard and to install 400,000 heat pumps by 2030.
