LAN 40 No 5:Layout 1
12/03/2022
11:09
Page 18
Government launches the National Retrofitting Scheme 1. New Home Energy Upgrade Scheme 2. Increased grant rates and supports for step-by-step home upgrades 3. Free home energy upgrade: Protecting people at most risk of energy poverty 4. Grants, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation 5. Community schemes: Improving buildings across the country 6. Long-term funding commitment: Providing certainty for the home energy upgrade sector 7. National climate action goals 8. Notes The government has approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The measures address barriers to undertaking energy upgrades (retrofits) reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change needed – in pace and scale of delivery – to achieve our target of 500,000 home energy upgrades, to B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) standard, by 2030. 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. The key measures include: 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) One Stop Shops to offer a hassle-free, start-to-finish project management service, including access to financing, for home energy upgrades a significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty (400 per month – up from an average of 177 per month in 2021) 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 governmentʼs response to current exceptionally high energy prices 50an Exchequer investment of €8 billion to 2030 will enable the supply chain to scale up, creating thousands of high quality jobs and delivering on this critical national objective The Schemes will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (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. The main features of todayʼs announcement are as follows: New Home Energy Upgrade Scheme The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme offers 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-toend 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. 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.
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