Do you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home and your BER

The aim of this blog is to discuss different ways you can take to improve your Building Energy Rating (BER) and make your home more energy efficient.

This will result in your home being more comfortable for you and your family and save money on your energy bills.

Here are the Six Key Guidelines suggested by EnerRating:

1. Get a Building Energy Rating (BER) or Technical Assessment

One way to start is to get a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment or Technical Assessment (sometimes called a home energy assessment) done of your property. This will identify the current energy efficiency of your home and provide you with an advisory report, that is like a road map for what energy upgrades would be best for your home. Here at EnerRating, in Donegal we talk the home owner through the different options and give information and advice on the different grants available through SEAI. SEAI provide a grant of €50 toward a BER assessment for single measures, €200 towards technical assessment for heat pump grants. If availing of the one stop shop service a grant of €350 is available for a home energy assessment/ technical assessment.

• For attic insulation: Apartments (€800), mid terrace (€1200), Semi-detached or end terrace (€1300) and detached house (€1500).
• Cavity wall insulation: Apartments (€700), mid terrace (€800), Semi-detached or end terrace (€1200) and detached house (€1700).
• Internal Insulation (dry Lining): Apartments (€1500), mid terrace (€2000), Semi-detached or end terrace (€3500) and detached house (€4500).
• External wall Insulation: Apartments (€3000), mid terrace (€3500), Semi-detached or end terrace (€6000) and detached house (€8000).

There is also Grant funding available through the One Stop Shop Funding option.

3. Upgrade your windows and doors

SEAI report that 10% of your heat in your house can be lost through your windows. I think we probably all have had some experience with older single glazing windows with gaps and cold-bridging around the frame. You can nearly feel the chill coming in when you think about it. These windows easily allow the heat to escape from your home. Older doors, like windows, at times are not properly sealed to retain heat inside a home. There has been lots of advancement in energy efficient windows and doors.

There is no SEAI grant available for windows and doors under the individual grants option. 

However, there is SEAI funding available for Apartments (€1500), mid terrace (€1800), Semi-detached or end terrace (€3000) a

nd detached house (€4000) under the one Stop Shop Service Energy Upgrades. There is also SEAI funding of €800 for two external doors.

4. Energy-saving light bulbs

An easy, yet effective way to reduce your electricity bill is replacing standard lights with low-energy LED bulbs. LED bulbs more energy efficient by also have 10 times longer lifespan and can last over 10 years.

I know in our own home, built seven years ago, I haven’t change one light bulb yet. Incorporating smart LED lighting can give you even more control.

5. Heat Pump

Heat pumps have become very popular in the last number of years. Heat Pump are an electrical device that that controls the temperature in your home by distributing the heat that is already available in the outside air/ ground into your home. For new building it meets the renewable energy requirements of the Part L of Building Regulations. The two most popular types of heat pumps in Ireland are a) Air to Water Heat Pumps and b) Geothermal Heat pumps but there are other types available. For more information see my blog on renewable energy options.

There is SEAI grant funding of €4,500 for an apartment and €6,500 for semi-detached or detached home under the individual grant scheme and One Stop Shop service.

If you are considering the installation of a heat Pump and availing of the SEAI Grant you will also require a Technical Assessment. Also your homes’ Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) must be 2 or less. Talk to use at EnerRating for further information. 

6. Solar Energy

Solar energy in the form of domestic solar PV panels and Solar thermal panels are becoming increasingly popular in Ireland including Donegal. A survey undertaken by the Irish Times identifies that “one in four households use some form of renewable energy in their homes”. (Kevin O’Sullivan, ‘Almost one in four Irish households use renewable energy, according to Census 2022 data’, Jul 27 2023. Accessed on the 12th of December 2023). This article says County Meath is leading the way so far but from what I see in Donegal we can’t be too far behind. Solar is a clean, readily available, guarantied energy source, and it does not produce any greenhouse gases. See my blog on renewable energy for more information on solar PV Panels and Solar Thermal Panels. 

Installing solar energy system will also reduce your energy bills so over time there is a payback on our initial investment (we can’t say that about many things we purchase). As I write this today in January 2024, I have not paid one electricity bill in the last year and currently my energy balance is in credit. YES, I said credit!!! See my blog on my experience with Solar Panels for more information.

The SEAI offer a grant of up to €2,100 to instal solar PV Panels and €1,200 for solar thermal panels. 

The government announced in December 2023, that from January 2024 the size of the Domestic Solar PV grant will be reduced to €2,100 and advised that grants will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. There has been talk of this grant been reduced following the introduction of the micro-generation scheme as homeowners will be able to recoup cost in this manner over time.

Check our Enerrating.ie’s comprehensive services in Donegal, Ireland, including BER Certs, Part L Compliance, Technical Assessment, and Airtightness & Ventilation. Explore our FAQs and Blog pages for expert insights and stay compliant effortlessly. Let’s optimise your home and building’s energy efficiency together. Contact us now!