Homes built before 1940 are not precluded from applying to the Warmer Homes scheme (providing free, fully-funded upgrades), or any of the grant supported residential and community energy efficiency schemes administered on behalf of my Department by the SEAI.
However, homes built before 1940 were generally constructed using traditional methods, which can include walls constructed of stone, single-leaf masonry or composite wall construction. This means that standard/modern retrofit solutions are often not suitable for these buildings, as it can lead to adverse and unintended consequences for the building’s fabric (i.e. damp, mould) and the health and wellbeing of its occupants.
Wall insulation is therefore not currently recommended under any of SEAI’s residential energy efficiency schemes for dwellings built before 1940 (that use the wall construction types referred to above). All of the SEAI approaches are determined by the Building Regulations, incorporating the relevant NSAI Code of practice for energy-efficient retrofitting of dwellings.
Under the Warmer Homes scheme, all eligible homes are assessed and works are recommended in line with the scheme’s Terms and Conditions. While insulation might not be recommended for the walls, other measures such as attic insulation may still be recommended and provided to those homes.
The Government fully agrees that it is essential that we have both the standards and the supports in place for retrofitting all types of housing – to ensure that the principles of universality and fairness underpinning the National Retrofit Plan are met. A new guidance document focused on ‘Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings’ is being developed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to support the upgrading of such buildings. It is intended that the guidance will published at the end of Q3.
The additional specific information requested is not routinely supplied by SEAI to my Department but is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
