Blog

With Room to Improve back on our screens on Sunday nights, we thought we’d revisit our chat with Dermot Bannon who joined us last October on our House Warming podcast. It was great to chat to Dermot about the role of the architect when it comes to a home energy upgrade. We also chatted about how home grants and other incentives have changed how we think about energy efficiency in the home and what to do if you’ve bought a new home but can’t afford to renovate.

Can you still run your house on electricity generated from solar panels during a power cut? It’s possible but here are some things you need to know.

Last year was a record year for us at Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). We helped more homeowners, businesses and communities reduce their energy costs than ever before.

Ireland’s energy demand is growing unsustainably, perpetuating a range of social, economic, and environmental issues, and risking failure for binding climate obligations.

We have increased the depth of field on our emissions estimates, and now other greenhouse gases step into focus, alongside carbon dioxide.

In summer 2024 we replaced a 20-year-old oil boiler with a heat pump. Our initial impression post installation was positive. But what’s it like just over one year later, during our second heating season?

In one word – great.

The Traditional Homes pilot was launched in October 2024, the initiative supports homeowners improving the energy performance of traditionally constructed dwellings while acknowledging their particular conservation needs.

Feeling the chill? You’re not alone — keeping your home warm and cosy during winter can be challenging, especially with rising energy costs.

Energy labels are helping smartphone users to choose well. The new label rates smartphones and tablets on energy efficiency, durability, and repairability

Kieran McCarthy is an engineer and builder from Cork. He runs a building company, KMC Homes, and has also renovated his own cottage in Cork availing of all the grants on offer from SEAI. He joins us on our new podcast House Warming to answer all your home energy upgrade questions.

Energy users in Ireland feel positive about demand flexibility and smart energy services, but are largely unaware of the environmental benefits.

Foolish or Fuel-ish – How can we shift our focus and our journeys towards away from private car dependence and towards a more varied and sustainable portfolio of transport options?

While carrying out retrofit works, it is important for the contractor to check for nesting sites on the dwelling. This is particularly important before carrying out external wall insulation.

To keep transport emissions on track in the first carbon budget, Ireland would need to take every car, van, lorry, and bus off the road for the rest of the year – how can we change lanes to do better in the second carbon budget?

Whether it’s topping up your attic or wall insulation, replacing old drafty windows and doors with more efficient ones, or swapping out your oil / gas boiler for a heat pump, energy upgrades are a smart investment for you and our planet.

Like Dickens’ London and Paris, Ireland’s two key energy supply streams of imports and indigenous production exhibit a strong duality in their quantity and environmental impact.