SEAI Podcast
Housewarming
A new podcast from SEAI
Welcome to Housewarming, a brand new series, brought to you by SEAI, all about helping you to make your home a warmer, more energy efficient, and beautiful place to live.
We travelled across Ireland to chat with homeowners about their energy upgrades, interiors and sustainable habits. And we have design tips from Home of the Year winners and expert builders, advice on grants, finance and planning, and renovation stories from the likes of James Kavanagh, Fionnuala Jay, Ryan Baird, and Dermot Bannon.
A new episode will drop weekly from Tues 30th Sept.
Listen to our trailer and subscribe here (opens in a new tab)
How to Finance a Home Energy Upgrade
We all know a home energy upgrade isn’t cheap and is one of the main barriers to homeowners carrying out retrofit work. The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme has been introduced to make a home energy upgrade more accessible and affordable for homeowners. Kim sat down with SEAI’s Roisin Mulligan and SBCI’s Orla Ní Cholmáin about how this loan helps to finance a home energy upgrade.
Episode 10 - The Home of the Future, with Dermot Bannon and Wayne Kavanagh
It’s the final episode of this season of House Warming! To wrap things up, Kim is back with Dermot Bannon, to look to the future. How will sustainability and energy efficiency change how we live, and what does the home of the future look like?
Finally then, in our last homeowner visit, Kim travels to Blanchardstown in Dublin to meet Wayne Kavanagh. He had been living in his house for around ten years before a chat with some neighbours led to him going down the road of a full energy upgrade.
Episode 9 - Upcycled Furniture and Eco Homes, with Fionnuala Jay, Olof and Siobhan
We are back this week with podcaster, broadcaster and sustainability influencer, Fionnuala Jones, who has been renovating the house she bought in Dublin. In this episode, Kim chats to her about her work in sustainability, upcycling, her design style and lots more.
Then it’s off to Portarlington to visit the home of Olof and Siobhan. They wanted a warm, comfortable and eco-friendly house and Kim talks to them about how their energy upgrade has enhanced their lives.
Episode 8 - Traditional Homes, with Jenny Sheahan, Kate O’Driscoll, Stephen Farrell and Clifford Guest
Episode 8 - Traditional Homes, with Jenny Sheahan, Kate O’Driscoll, Stephen Farrell and Clifford Guest
Interior designers and podcasters, Kate O’Driscoll and Jenny Sheahan, are back on the podcast this week. They are joined by SEAI’s Stephen Farrell to talk about traditional homes: houses with character and history, but plenty of challenges too. Stephen talks us through the Traditional Home Pilot Scheme, run by the SEAI, and there’s lots of advice for anyone living in an older home.
Kim then travels to Tipperary to meet Clifford Guest, who has renovated a beautiful 200-year-old home which has been in his family for six generations. Clifford tells Kim about his vision for the house and how he transformed the place.
“Squishy Irish”, with James Kavanagh and Hilda O’Shea
We're back with James Kavanagh, for more on his fabulous new home in Kilkenny. Kim sits down with James to dive deeper into his renovation plans, to chat about his “squishy Irish” design style, and to see how he envisions life in his new home.
Kim then travels to Sligo to meet Hilda O’Shea. She is in the middle of transforming her 300-year-old house into a warm, energy efficient haven for her growing family. It’s an ambitious project, and Kim gets a full tour of the build in progress, before sitting down for a chat.
Getting the Most from Your Energy Upgrade, with Kieran McCarthy and Deirdre De Burca
Kim is back chatting to building engineer and fountain of energy upgrade knowledge, Kieran McCarthy. He gives his advice on how to get the best value for money on your energy upgrades, as well as sharing his thoughts on sustainable living and what the home of the future will look like.
Kim then heads out to Cabinteely, in Dublin, to have a chat in Deirdre De Burca’s recently retrofitted home.
Homes of the Year, with Kate O’Driscoll and Jenny Sheahan
On this episode of House Warming, host Kim Buckley sits down with interior designers and podcasters Kate O’Driscoll and Jenny Sheahan. Kate and Jenny were both competitors on RTE’s Home of the Year, but they went from competitors to collaborators and now co-host the interiors podcast Rip It Up.
Making Plans, with Dermot Bannon and Jerome O’Donovan
On this episode of House Warming, Kim Buckley is talking all things design and architecture, and who better than Dermot Bannon to get some top tips on upgrading your home.
Kim then heads to Cork, to sit down with Jerome O’Donovan in his three-bedroom bungalow in Blackrock.
Home Comforts and Expert Advice, with Ryan Baird and Kieran McCarthy
On this episode of House Warming, Kim Buckley sits down with Leinster and Ireland rugby star Ryan Baird, and Kieran McCarthy, building engineer and regular on TV and radio.
Ryan has just bought a new house by the sea in Dublin, and has big plans for the design and energy upgrade of his home. Meanwhile, Kieran has carried out extensive energy upgrades to his own house, as well as providing his expert advice to his clients and to the public on TV and radio.
Warm and Cozy with Fionnuala Jay and Niamh Kent
Welcome back to House Warming, where Kim Buckley is getting an inside look at two Irish homes. Fionnuala Jones, or Fionnuala Jay to her online followers, is a podcaster, broadcaster and sustainability influencer. Tired of living in a series of cold and draughty apartments, she’s bought a house in Dublin and has been renovating it to create a warm, cozy, and energy efficient home. And Niamh Kent who has also been renting and looking to buy.
Country Life with James Kavanagh & Ellie Hagenau
On this, the first episode of House Warming, host Kim Buckley sits down with two homeowners who’ve moved out of the city to renovate a house in the countryside. James Kavanagh – social media personality, entrepreneur, television presenter, and podcaster – is currently renovating his house in Kilkenny. And Ellie Hagenau recently moved into her stunning cottage in rural Cork.
Listen to 'Housewarming', a new lifestyle podcast exploring real-life energy upgrade stories across Ireland, brought to you by SEAI
Click to tweet (opens in a new tab)Season 5
Join Journalist Sinead Ryan for practical advice on reducing your energy bills, saving money and adopting a more energy-efficient lifestyle. Sinead chats to expert guests to address some of the key questions around Ireland's energy revolution, what renewable technologies are coming into our homes to help improve our lives and our communities and how we can prepare for a fossil free future.
Episode 12. Does Ireland really care about the climate?
In this episode, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment at the EPA, talks to Sinead about the key findings of the Ireland's Climate Change Assessment report (ICCA), as well as the 'Climate in the Irish Mind' report. Eimear talks about how there is still opportunity to reduce the impact of climate change, while also preparing to become climate resilient.
Episode 11. Local Communities Leading Ireland's Energy Revolution
In this episode of 180 Degrees we zoom in on the growing number of 'Sustainable Energy Community groups across the country, who are working towards reducing their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and making their communities more sustainable. These groups are not only adapting to more sustainable energy behaviours, but they are also investing in large-scale energy projects that are benefiting all members of the community.
Episode 10. Turbines talking to Toasters through Smart Grids and Smart Networks
Enter the realm of Smart Grids and Smart Networks: a technological landscape where the smart grid, an advanced electricity network, facilitates seamless communication between electricity generators and users. This intricate web ensures optimal balance in meeting electricity demands for household activities like washing, cleaning, charging, and beyond.
Episode 9. Going Green is the next step for Irish Businesses
In this episode we discuss how SEAI is supporting businesses to decarbonise and save on energy costs with Fergus Sharkey of SEAI and Tina Dowling, CEO at the Watershed, home of sport and Leisure in Kilkenny. The Watershed, who provide a host of indoor and outdoor sporting facilities and swimming, were finalists in the SME category at the SEAI Energy Awards. Tina discusses how they got started on their energy journey and more importantly, why.
Episode 8. Do Data Centres align with Ireland's Climate Goals?
Data centres are adding more demand onto Ireland's electrical grid, but can our grid keep up with the scale of the demand, or do we need to add more capacity? In this episode we discuss how increased demand on our data centres impacts our Climate Action plan. Can we reach our 2030 goals while increasing capacity, and what does that mean for Ireland's energy future.
Episode 7. District Heating; learning from our neighbours
One of the oldest methods of heating buildings, District Heating has played a key role in making cities like Denmark and Copenhagen some of the most sustainable in the world, while also lowering costs for customers. District heating currently delivers 9% of Europe's total heating demands. So how does it work and how can it be developed in Ireland? In this episode we talk about the plans to develop District Heating projects across Ireland's towns and cities while also looking at some examples of where it is working.
Episode 6. The Potential of Renewable Energy in Ireland
Renewable energy projects are key to helping Ireland reach net-zero. In this episode, SEAI's Director of Policy Research and Policy Insights, Margie McCarthy and Dr. Lee Carroll of SEAI speak with Sinead Ryan about how we can make the most of our natural resources, like wind, sea and sun to create our own energy in Ireland.
Episode 5. Transport; How you move matters
In this episode, we delve deep into the data surrounding our transportation habits. We unpack the design elements and infrastructure that have driven our car-centric culture and explore the solutions that will propel us toward a more sustainable, public and zero-carbon transportation system.
Episode 4. Energy in Ireland; why our targets matter.
The latest Energy in Ireland report shows that, our CO2 emissions are going up, again! But why does this matter to you? SEAI's Director of Research and Policy Insights Margie McCarthy and Dr. Lee Carroll, Programme Manager for SEAI's Energy Statistics team, chat about Ireland's energy and carbon emissions trends with Sinead Ryan.
https://audioboom.com/posts/8401149-mini-episode-cut-money-stress-and-home-asse…Episode 3. Electric Vehicles; Where are they taking us?
In this episode, we dig deep and get down to the real truths about EVs- how affordable are they in Ireland right now? What options do you have when it comes to owning or leasing an EV? What EV legislation is coming down the road in the next few years?
https://audioboom.com/posts/8401149-mini-episode-cut-money-stress-and-home-asse…Episode 2. Should I Switch to a Heat Pump?
Sinead Ryan and Brian McIntyre, joined by homeowner Pamela Potterton, return for episode two of our latest Podcast season, talking all things Heat Pumps - why they're a good renewable heat source, how they work, the grants you can receive to purchase one and more.
https://audioboom.com/posts/8401149-mini-episode-cut-money-stress-and-home-asse…Episode 1. Cut Money Stress and Home-Assess
Sinead chats with guests about ways to reduce your energy use in your home, saving you both money and carbon emissions. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.
https://audioboom.com/posts/8401149-mini-episode-cut-money-stress-and-home-asse…