Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022
158. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the carbon emission savings from deep retrofitting 1,000 homes under the national home energy upgrade scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9853/22]
View answerThe Government has approved a package of improved supports as part of the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit programme. These measures are aimed at making it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and emissions.
Included in these measures is the establishment of the new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, offering increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%).
Capital funding of €40 million has been allocated to the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme this year which is expected to deliver 2,000 deep energy retrofits to B2 level with a heat pump.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) estimates that this level of output could achieve annual savings of 6.3 kilotonnes of CO2. However, it is important to note that savings will depend on the characteristics of the homes availing of the grant measures, in particular size, as well as other factors such as existing levels of insulation and heating fuel type.
