New Consumer Features to be introduced to HES Scheme

07 June 2010    

Media Release

 ~Online Home Energy Self Survey and Building Energy Rating Integrated into Grant Scheme~

On June 8^th, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will introduce two new features to the Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme, designed to further empower consumers, first by guiding them on suitable upgrade works and secondly informing them of the impact of works undertaken.

The Home Energy Saving scheme, administered by SEAI provides grants to homeowners for insulation and heating system upgrades and continues to prove very popular with over 58,000 homeowner applications approved since the scheme was launched in March 2009.

Online Home Energy Self Survey

The smart online Home Energy Self Survey will only take minutes to complete, taking homeowners through a number of simple steps to identify the current condition of their home and guiding them towards the most suitable upgrade works.  This new survey will be offered to all applicants at the start of the online application process and will also available in hard copy on request from the SEAI call centre.  The survey complements the existing fast track online application system and links directly to SEAI’s other resources including the Buyers’ Guides.

Integral BER Requirement

At the same time a Building Energy Rating (BER) is to become an integral part of all grant applications under the HES scheme, whereby homeowners must undertake a BER to measure the impact of works undertaken.  This will give homeowners a thorough and objective assessment of the energy performance of their home following upgrade works, including a BER certificate with a A-G performance rating.  The first such BER assessment will attract grant aid of €100.

At the time of completing the BER, the assessor will also provide an estimate of the energy performance of the home before upgrade works, based upon the pre-works condition of the house.  This will inform the homeowner of the effectiveness of the upgrade works in terms of energy and CO2 emissions improvements. 

Householders making applications  on or after Tuesday 8^th June will be required to use the new application system or  the new application forms.

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Editors Notes:

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has a mission to play a leading role in transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices. SEAI is financed by Ireland’s EU Structural Funds Programme co-funded  by the Irish Government and the European Union.

About the Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme

What is the Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme?

The Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme provides assistance to homeowners who are interested in improving the energy efficiency of their home in order to reduce energy use and costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

Assistance will be provided by way of fixed grants towards the costs of implementing upgrade measures. The types of measures currently eligible under this scheme are roof insulation, wall insulation and heating system upgrades. A Building Energy Rating (BER) is an integral part of all grant applications under the Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme, whereby homeowners must undertake a BER on their home after grant aided works have been completed.  This will give homeowners a thorough and objective assessment of the energy performance of their home following upgrade works.  Only one BER assessment will attract grant aid of €100.

Who Can Avail of the Scheme?

It is a National scheme and therefore all homeowners of dwellings built before 2006* may apply. Landlords and owners of multiple properties may also apply, however they must submit a separate application form for each property. If you are a landlord or a management company considering an entire building upgrade, please contact SEAI before applying online for the grant. [*Homes built from 2006 onwards should have been constructed to the 2003 Building Regulations and so should not require significant insulation or heating system upgrades.]

What Measures are Eligible?

Grants will be provided to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements in the following area(s):

• Roof Insulation
• Wall Insulation - this includes either cavity wall, internal dry lining or external insulation
• Installation of a High Efficiency (> 90%) Gas or Oil fired Boilers with Heating Controls Upgrade*
• Heating Controls Upgrade*
• Building Energy Rating (BER) – is an integral part to the scheme and is undertaken after grant aided works are completed **

 [*The minimum heating controls upgrade which will qualify for a grant is:

• Two zones (space and water) with seven day programmer (time and temperature) control and boiler interlock, PLUS
• Time and temperature control of electric immersion heater PLUS
• Either one more zone control or three Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRV's).]

[**This comes into effect from the 8^th of June 2010.  As a BER certificate is required for each application, it is advisable that homeowners apply for, and undertake, all planned grant aided works at the same time to minimize the costs associated with multiple BERs.  Note that grant payment can only be claimed once all measures associated with your application have been completed, including the BER assessment.]

What Level of Funding is Available?

The levels of grant support available for each technology are as follows:

Notes:

·         Please note the minimum grant amount for the first application must be €500.  The €100 grant provided for the post works BER cannot count towards the €500 minimum.

·         These amounts may be subject to change and the current grant levels will be those published on our website at www.seai.ie/hes at the time of receipt of application.