{"id":32665,"date":"2022-03-01T16:51:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T16:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=32665"},"modified":"2022-03-01T16:51:13","modified_gmt":"2022-03-01T16:51:13","slug":"irish-government-launches-the-national-retrofitting-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=32665","title":{"rendered":"Irish Government launches the National Retrofitting Scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-31568\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/flats_houses_graphic_green-300x170.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"170\" \/>The Irish Government has approved support for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, addressing barriers to energy upgrades (retrofits) and reflecting the step-change needed to achieve a target of 500K home energy upgrades by 2030.<!--more--><\/h3>\n<p>gov.ie writes:<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">&#8230; hassle free way to undertake home energy upgrades&#8230;.One-Stop-Shops&#8230;.for homeowners&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n<p>The changes represent an important step in delivery of the National Retrofit Plan, which identifies a range of measures aimed at driving demand for retrofit, expanding the size and capacity of the supply chain, as well as making retrofits more affordable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The key measures include:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<ul>\n<li>a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard (up from 30%-35% grants currently)<\/li>\n<li>One Stop Shops to offer a hassle-free, start-to-finish project management service, including access to financing, for home energy upgrades<\/li>\n<li>a significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty (400 per month \u2013 up from an average of 177 per month in 2021)<\/li>\n<li>a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the government\u2019s response to current exceptionally high energy prices<\/li>\n<li>an Exchequer investment of \u20ac8 billion to 2030 will enable the supply chain to scale up, creating thousands of high quality jobs and delivering on this critical national objective<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The Schemes will be administered by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seai.ie\/\">Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland<\/a>\u00a0(SEAI). The increased grant supports and the significant ramping up of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty is supported by ring-fenced funds from the carbon tax.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The main features of today\u2019s announcement are as follows:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<h2>New Home Energy Upgrade Scheme<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The new\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seai.ie\/grants\/home-energy-grants\/\">National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme<\/a>\u00a0offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%). The scheme introduces a hassle free way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>Homes owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for people all over Ireland to upgrade to a warmer, healthier and more comfortable home, with lower energy bills.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<h2>Increased grant rates and supports for step-by-step home upgrades<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>Grant supports (under the Better Energy Homes Scheme) for homeowners that want to take a step-by-step approach to upgrading their homes have also been significantly increased. For instance, the grant for heat pumps has increased from \u20ac3,500 to \u20ac6,500 and the rate for external wall insulation has increased from \u20ac6,000 to \u20ac8,000 for a detached house. These figures specifically relate to grant amounts for this step-by-step approach.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>See the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seai.ie\/grants\/home-energy-grants\/\">full list of measures and grants.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<h2>Free home energy upgrade: Protecting people at most risk of energy poverty<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The Warmer Homes Scheme offers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners who are most at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>A budget allocation of \u20ac109 million has been provided for this scheme this year. This will support an increase in the number of free home upgrades, from an average of 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month this year, helping to reduce waiting times. The scheme will also target the worst performing properties, by prioritising homes that were built and occupied before 1993 and have a pre-works BER of E, F or G. Existing applications will not be affected by this change. For the first time, applications will be accepted from qualifying homeowners who previously received supports under the scheme, but who could still benefit from even deeper measures. The scheme eligibility criteria will also be extended to include those in receipt of the Disability Allowance for over 6 months and have a child under 7 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<h2>Grants, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>Grants for cavity wall and attic insulation will more than triple, as part of the government\u2019s response to the current exceptionally high energy prices. For instance, in the case of a semi-detached home, the attic insulation grant will increase from \u20ac400 to \u20ac1,300 and the cavity wall insulation grant will increase from \u20ac400 to \u20ac1,200. These are highly cost-effective upgrade measures that can be deployed rapidly and at scale this year. It is expected that these works will pay back in 1-2 years in most houses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The new grant rates will cover approximately 80% of the typical cost of these measures and will be available to all homeowners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<h2>Community schemes: Improving buildings across the country<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>Under the Community Energy Grant Scheme, grants are available for public, commercial and community buildings. These include buildings within housing associations and local authorities; rental properties; and buildings belonging to public sector organisations. The total budget for this scheme will be \u20ac43 million in 2022 (of which approximately \u20ac15 million will relate to home retrofits). Grants of up to 80% are available under this scheme \u2013 for private, energy-poor homeowners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<h2>Long-term funding commitment: Providing certainty for the home energy upgrade sector<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>Retrofitting our housing stock is a key element of the government\u2019s plans for economic growth and development. The unprecedented \u20ac8 billion of National Development Plan funding (including \u20ac5 billion in carbon tax revenues) available to support residential upgrades (to 2030) will stimulate the creation of high-quality jobs throughout the country. It will also have a significant multiplier effect, supporting the development of associated supply chains. This will help to support a just transition to a carbon neutral society.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>A total of \u20ac267 million (of which \u20ac202 million is carbon tax receipts) has been allocated for SEAI residential and community schemes in 2022. This investment will support almost 27,000 home energy upgrades, including over 8,600 homes to a BER of B2 (a near doubling of B2 output over 2021) and 4,800 free energy upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>In addition, \u20ac85 million funding has been provided by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the Local Authority Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme. This investment is targeted to deliver 2,400 B2 (or equivalent cost optimal) upgrades this year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>Of the total government retrofit budget of \u20ac352 million, \u20ac203 million (58%) will be spent on dedicated energy poverty schemes and local authority retrofits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<h2>National climate action goals<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The suite of home energy upgrade programmes announced today will be central to the achievement of our broader climate targets, as a country. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ie\/en\/publication\/6223e-climate-action-plan-2021\/\">Climate Action Plan 2021<\/a> set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector \u2013 from 7 Mt CO2 eq. in 2018 to between 3.5-4.5 Mt CO2 eq. in 2030. Today\u2019s announcement is a key step on this journey. An evidence-informed approach will continually inform the scheme design over time, ensuring that the best supports are in place to support homes across Ireland to be more energy efficient and, ultimately, to decarbonise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>Speaking at the launch of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, the Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>&#8220;Today, the government is committing to support people in making their homes warmer and less expensive to heat, while also tackling our climate change crisis. The Irish people responded collectively, and with a sense of purpose, to the pandemic by helping protect the most vulnerable in our society. The climate crisis is just as critical for our children and future generations, as well as people at risk of fuel poverty now. This government\u2019s commitment to reaching our climate ambitions is clear, and today is another step along that journey.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The T\u00e1naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, said:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>&#8220;This scheme will create thousands of jobs in every county in the country making homes warmer, more comfortable and healthier. I\u2019m glad to see the move towards a much more streamlined, customer focused model, with the One Stop Shops making it much easier for people to see what they need to do and how they can get funding. The long term commitment of government funding and our investment in apprenticeships and skills training will allow the industry to build capacity, as well as all other aspects of the supply chain.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan, said:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>&#8220;The urgent nature of the climate crisis and the energy price crisis means that we must act to reduce our energy use and to reduce the cost of heating our homes. The unprecedent commitment from the government, and indeed all politicians in Ireland, to focus on improving our homes as a centre-piece of climate action is demonstrated here today. We have a 30-year task of transforming our homes. Today\u2019s launch is the one of the key steps we need to take to insulate ourselves from international price volatility and the geopolitics of international energy markets.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-sm\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Chief Executive Officer, William Walsh said:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 margin-bottom-xlg\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p>&#8220;SEAI, through government funding, has already supported 450,000 home energy upgrades. Today\u2019s announcement by the government demonstrates its commitment to assisting homeowners by making home energy upgrades more accessible and affordable. Through these new measures we look forward to supporting homeowners to achieve a warmer, cosier home, with lower energy bills, while also helping to achieve Ireland\u2019s ambitious climate targets.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ie\/en\/press-release\/government-launches-the-national-retrofitting-scheme\/#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more&#8230;.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Irish Government has approved support for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, addressing barriers to energy upgrades (retrofits) and reflecting the step-change needed to achieve a target of 500K home energy upgrades by 2030.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sector-newsblog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32665"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32666,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32665\/revisions\/32666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}