Irish householders can avail of grants of up to 40% of the cost of energy efficiency improvement measures under the Irish Government’s Home Energy Saving Scheme (HES).
This Scheme, which is administered by SEI, provides grant assistance to homeowners for retrofit energy efficiency measures such as attic and wall insulation, very high-efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments. The scheme is open only to owners of a house that was built prior to 2006
The HES was allocated €49 million in 2009 but only €16.2 million was paid out in grants. The Scheme attracted 40,724 applications in 2009 – of which 36,454 were approved for grant aid. The grants were used to upgrade 18,183 homes.
For 2010 €29.5m has been allocated for the Home Energy Savings Scheme.
You can find out more on sei.ie
There is a new scheme in the pipeline – the National Energy Retrofit Programme which was announced in the 2010 Budget . Details are yet to be defined – but In broad terms the Retrofit Programme will bring together the Home Energy Saving Scheme and the Warmer Homes Scheme as well as the support programme for business and the public sector. It will also also involve the development and promotion of energy services by the energy companies.