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Irish homeowners eligible for little known 8,000 energy grant in cost of living boost

Certain Irish homeowners and landlords can get grants of up to 8,000 to improve home energy efficiency and reduce winter heating costs.

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Improving your home's energy efficiency could be one of the most effective ways to cut costs

With the colder months setting in, people across Ireland are once again bracing for the financial strain of keeping their homes warm.

With gas and electricity prices higher than in previous years, improving your home's energy efficiency could be one of the most effective ways to cut costs - and the good news is that there's help available.

The National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, run by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), offers generous grants to help homeowners, landlords and housing bodies make their properties warmer, cheaper to heat and more environmentally friendly.

The goal is to bring homes up to a minimum energy rating of B2, which can dramatically reduce heating bills over time. Whether you're planning a full retrofit or smaller energy-saving improvements, the scheme - also known as the One Stop Shop Service - provides both financial help and project management support through SEAI-approved contractors.

These registered 'One Stop Shops' oversee the entire process, from initial assessment and grant application to completion of the work, and cover everything from insulation and new windows to renewable energy systems like heat pumps and solar panels.

How much could you get?

The level of grant support varies depending on the type of home and the upgrades being completed.

• Homeowners and private landlords can receive between 350 and 8,000 in grant funding.
• Approved housing bodies can access up to 10,000.

The final amount depends on your home's size, age, current energy rating and the specific upgrades you're undertaking.

Who qualifies?

To be eligible for funding under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, you must:

• Own a property built and occupied before 2011 (for insulation, heating control systems and renewable energy grants).
• Have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B3 or lower before work begins.
• Achieve at least a B2 rating after upgrades and improve energy performance by 100kWh/m2 per year.
• Not have previously received SEAI grants for the same type of work.
• Use a registered SEAI One Stop Shop to carry out and manage all upgrades.

What upgrades are covered?

The scheme covers a wide range of home improvements, including:

• Attic, rafter, wall and floor insulation
• Heating control systems
• Solar panels and solar thermal systems (for water heating)
• Heat pump systems and related central heating upgrades
• New windows and external doors
• Air tightness and mechanical ventilation systems
• Home energy assessments and full project management

How to apply

To get started, homeowners should contact an SEAI-registered One Stop Shop. These approved providers will assess your property, determine what grants you qualify for and manage the application and upgrade process on your behalf.

You can find a full list of registered One Stop Shops and more details about the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme on the official SEAI website at www.seai.ie.

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