Retrofitting Ireland: '70s style house renovated into A-rated home

SEAI’s Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme

The SEAI grant programme was launched in 2017 to investigate the challenges and opportunities of deep retrofit in Ireland. The Deep Retrofit of a home means carrying out multiple energy upgrades all at once to achieve a BER of A-rating. The findings to date are informing our approach towards a large-scale deep retrofit of our housing stock. We are committed to sharing learnings from the pilot programme and we hope our case studies will help you understand better the measures carried out and the resulting uplift in the BER.

About the Project

This detached bungalow in Rathnew, Co Wicklow  built in 1973  was a typical build of this decade - fossil fuel reliant, with little insulation and low performance windows and doors. Before the project started, this home had a building energy rating (BER) of E1.  

The initial phase of the deep retrofit involved thorough insulation of the external walls, ceilings and of the suspended timber floors.Sustainable energy installations in this phase included the fitting of high performance triple glazed windows and a composite door to keep the heat in. Insulation is the first and most important step of the retrofitting process. The next phase included installing and integrating renewable technology to decarbonise the home.

The provision of heating and hot water via an air to water heat pump replaced the old oil boiler.. The integration of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery resulted in improved air quality  for the homeowner as well as reducing carbon emissions and household costs. A highly efficient wood burning room heater replaced the multi-fuel stove and 100% LED lighting were installed throughout the home.

Results

The bungalow received a post works BER of A2, making it highly energy efficient.

There was a significant level of disturbance and upheaval for the occupants of the home because they effectively had to gut, replumb and rewire the entire house, with the works ongoing for just over five months from start to finish. The project had to be completed within a certain timeframe  to meet the deadline for the retrofit grant.