Thinking of upgrading your home?
With the Government's commitment to environmental initiatives, including the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grants, there has never been a better time to invest in energy-efficient upgrades for your home.
At the heart of the SEAI grants programme is the recognition that our homes are significant contributors to fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
By empowering homeowners to make energy-efficient improvements, the SEAI aims to not only reduce carbon emissions but also help homeowners lower their energy bills, increase comfort levels, and create healthier living environments.
Insulex, a leading provider of complete home energy upgrades has seen a significant rise in demand from Cork homeowners who want to utilise the grants to embark on energy-efficient transformations.
Understanding the various grants can be daunting, but with the right guidance from Insulex and their One Stop Shop team, homeowners can navigate the process easily.
Individual grants are available for measures such as attic and wall insulation, heating controls, heat pumps and solar PV. This grant route enables homeowners to do one upgrade at a time, as their budget allows.
Individual grants are applied for by the homeowner and the grant allowances are reimbursed directly to the homeowner from the SEAI, on completion of a post-works BER.
For homeowners who are looking to completely transform their homes, the One Stop Shop grant presents a compelling solution offering financial incentives to undertake a complete suite of energy upgrades all at once.
Additionally, this presents homeowners with an opportunity to reconsider their existing space. Insulex has observed a growing trend among homeowners opting for retrofit renovations concurrently with energy upgrades, effectively future-proofing their homes.
The One Stop Shop grant includes allowances of up to €4,000 for windows and €1,600 for external doors.
These particular allowances are not available as individual grants, but only as part of a One Stop Shop retrofit, according to Insulex.
Other advantages of the One Stop Shop include allowances for ventilation, air tightness and a substantial grant for installing a heat pump.
As an individual upgrade, homeowners can get €6,500 for the installation of a heat pump. However, as part of a One Stop Shop project there is an additional €2,000 for the central heating system and a bonus grant of €2,000 for reaching a BER rating of B2 with a heat pump.
Another distinguishing aspect is the grant application process for the One Stop Shop - this is handled completely by Insulex offering a seamless experience from initial consultation to project completion and One Stop Shop grant amounts are deducted at source by the SEAI, requiring homeowners to cover the net cost of the work.
This can be a deciding factor for some homeowners, as it can be a considerable investment.
Grant funding can only be issued once per property for each type of upgrade, and grant approval is necessary before work commences.
All upgrades have to be carried out by an SEAI approved contractor or SEAI approved One Stop Shop for deeper retrofit projects.
Investing in energy-efficient upgrades for your home is not only a smart financial decision but also a crucial step towards a more sustainable future.
With SEAI grants incentivising these upgrades, it’s a great time to embark on this journey, and homeowners can trust that they are making the right choice for their home and the environment.
Every One Stop Shop project undertaken by Insulex comes with a guarantee to achieve a minimum BER rating of B2 following completion, often delivering A-rated results in their projects.
For more see insulex.ie.