To make the retrofit of your building viable, it’s is important to receive a significant rebate on your

investment from the Utility service provider or a state authority. If you look for a grant (rebate) in Ireland, the granting authority is Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland(SEAI) who has the following programmes lined up for this purpose and encourages building owners togo for energy conservation retrofits.

Domestic Grants:

• Greener Homes Scheme

• "New" Home Energy Saving Scheme (Insulation Grants)

• Warmer Homes Scheme

Commercial Grants:

• Renewable Heat Deployment Programme

• Combined Heat & Power Deployment Programme

• Low Carbon Homes

• Incubator Programme

• Public Sector Programme

In addition the following R &D Grants too are provided by the SEI.

• RERDD Programme

• Sustainable Energy Incubator Programme

• Micro and Small Scale Generation Pilot

• Ocean Energy Development Unit

Of all the above what interests the sustainable home developer is the Domestic Grants on offer. The

following gives a basic idea of what each scheme means. All items unless listed in the SEAI’s list of

conforming equipment at the date of application will not be considered for the grants.

Greener Homes Scheme –

This is a residential Renewable Energy Grant. The technologies applicable in this programme are: Solar Heating – for space heating and /or Hot Water Heat Pump –Horizontal Collector, Vertical Collector, Well Water or Air Source Wood Chip or Pellet Stoves – With or without Integral Boiler Wood Chip or Pellet Boilers, Wood Gasification Boilers

• "New" Home Energy Saving Scheme –

This programme provides grants for those home owners desirous of retrofitting their homes in

order to make them sustainable. The retrofits that will be considered are as follows; Roof Insulation.

Wall Insulation- (Including Cavity Wall, Internal Dry Lining and external insulation)

Installation of High Efficiency Boilers-

The Boilers may be oil or gas fire and complete with a Heating controls upgrade. The Efficiency should be more than 90%.

Heating Controls upgrade –The up grade should have the minimum of two zones for space and water, seven day programmer for time and temperature, boiler interlock, Time and Temperature control of electric immersion heaters and either one more zone control or three Thermostatic Radiator Valves. BER Certification – A grant is available for one if certifications are obtained before and after the retrofits.

Warmer Homes Scheme –Grants are provided to assist homes in or at risk of fuel poverty to

improve the sustainability. The scheme is meant for home owners in receipt of the Fuel

Allowance payment.

The tasks covered under this scheme include;

• Attic Insulation

• Weatherization

• Lagging Jackets

• Low Energy consuming CFL lamp retrofits

• Cavity wall insulation

The home owner typically invests Euro 100 and the excess cost is born by the Warmer Home Scheme.

An important thing to remember is that these funds are not unlimited! Therefore the first come is

always served first.