Retrofitting Ireland’s homes: An examination of existing retrofit programmes and supports, the householder retrofit journey and opportunities for success in Ireland’s retrofit industry

Project Description

500,000 homes in Ireland must undergo energy upgrades by 2030. To achieve this, many homeowners must be encouraged and enabled to retrofit and persistent retrofit barriers must be removed. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have a key role in driving retrofit delivery, providing various retrofit grant programmes and supports to help householders make their homes energy efficient, comfortable and environmentally friendly. Research examining the effectiveness and impacts of these programmes and supports, including how well they address retrofit barriers, is important for their future development and success.   

This research explores homeowners’ perceptions and experiences of engaging with SEAI’s residential retrofit programmes. Secondly, the research examines the householder retrofit journey, including the barriers and drivers that householders face, from initially considering a retrofit to completing the works, as well as their retrofit experiences and the benefits obtained. Finally, the research aims to understand the role of Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs), local groups set up to engage communities on their decarbonisation journey, as facilitators in the retrofit journey. This includes the challenges they face in this role and how they engage with SEAI and their programmes. To do so, in-depth semi-structured interviews with homeowners and SECs in Ireland will be conducted. The findings will provide insights and recommendations for the development of current and future retrofit programmes, supports and retrofit services, to help homeowners take part in Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon future, and help drive extensive retrofit delivery in Ireland.