Better Energy Homes scheme
Introduction
Rules
You can get a grant or the following energy-saving and renewable solutions:
- Attic insulation
- Wall insulation - including cavity wall, internal dry lining and external insulation
- Heating controls upgrade
- Solar thermal solutions
- Heat pump systems
- A Building Energy Rating (BER) after the energy-saving work is carried out (you must get this BER to qualify for the grant)
See the Application Guide (pdf) for technical specificiations, as well as information on insurance, contracts, inspections, grant limits and how to apply. Your contractor(s) must carry out the works in accordance with standards set out in the Contractor Code of Practice and Technical Specification (pdf).
SEAI publishes detailed information about the Better Energy Homes scheme.
How to qualify
You must have grant approval before you buy materials or start any grant-funded work. If you have already started work, you will not be eligible for a grant. Once approved, you have 6 months to get the works done and claim the grant.
To qualify for a grant you must:
- Be the owner of a dwelling built before 2006 for insulation and heating control systems
- Be the owner of a dwelling built before 2011 for heat pump and solar thermal grants
- Use a contractor from SEAI’s registered list
- Use newly fitted materials and products
- Have work done that complies with the required standards
- Have a BER carried out after the works are done
- Use a BER assessor from SEAI’s National Register
You may not get a grant if:
- The measures do not comply with the required standards
- The relevant measure (the work on your home) was already incentivised under another grant programme
How to find out if your home would benefit from energy-saving work
You can get a Building Energy Rating (BER) done in advance of any works. A BER assessor will energy rate your home and provide you with an advisory report, which will help identify areas that could be improved to increase the energy efficiency of your home.
Planning permission
In general, you do not need planning permission for most works carried out under this scheme, though you may require it for external wall insulation. This depends on whether the insulation will affect the external appearance of the building or whether the building is a protected structure. Contact your local authority to check if you need planning permission.
Choosing a contractor
Before choosing a contractor from the registered list, the SEAI recommends that you:
- Ask friends, family, and neighbours who have done building work recently, for advice and recommendations on contractors
- Get a number of quotes and compare the offers
- Request and check the contractor’s references
- Formalise the relationship with your chosen contractor by drawing up a contract detailing the required works, prices, timescales, payment terms and warranties
Getting the work done safely
Under the Regulations governing safety, health and welfare at work, homeowners must ensure that construction work on their home is carried out by competent people. Read more, including a guide for homeowners (pdf) and some Frequently Asked Questions, on the website of the Health and Safety Authority.
Rates
Grants are paid after the work is completed and you have paid your contractor.
Applications received from specific offshore islands are eligible for 50% additional grant support.
If the cost of the work (including VAT) is less than the maximum grant amount, you will get a grant for the actual cost of the work.
Bonuses: A bonus of €300 is payable when you have completed 3 qualifying measures and a further €100 is payable on completion of a 4th measure. The full grant history of your home is taken into account when calculating whether a bonus is due. A BER does not count as a measure when calculating entitlement to a bonus.
The following table shows the maximum levels of grant and the bonuses payable for extra measures.
Measure | Maximum grant value |
Attic insulation | €400 |
Cavity wall insulation | €400 |
Wall insulation - internal dry lining - Apartment (any) or mid-terrace house - Semi-detached or end of terrace house - Detached house |
€1,600 €2,200 €2,400 |
Wall insulation - external - Apartment (any) or mid-terrace house - Semi-detached or end of terrace house - Detached house |
€2,750 €4,500 €6,000 |
Heat pump systems (available from 16 April 2018) - Air to water - Ground source to water - Exhaust air to water - Water to water - Air to air |
€3,500 €3,500 €3,500 €3,500 €600 |
Heating controls upgrade | €700 |
Solar water heating | €1,200 |
Bonus payment after 3rd measure | €300 |
Bonus payment after 4th measure | €100 |
A BER assessment after works are done (maximum of 1 grant payable per home) | €50 |
How to apply
You can apply online or by post. If applying by post, you should contact the SEAI to get an application form, or download the application form, and send it back to SEAI – see ‘Where to apply’ below. You need the MPRN number from your electricity bill and the name of your SEAI-registered contractor.
Online applications get an immediate response. Postal applications should get a response within 5 working days.
SEAI publishes a detailed guide to help with your application (pdf).