The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme, which includes the following strands: Better Energy Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes Area-based programme, which has been merged with the Better Energy Communities programme this year. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. The Better Energy Warmer Homes (Warmer Homes) scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low-income private households who are vulnerable to energy poverty. The Better Energy Areas scheme complements the Warmer Homes scheme in delivering energy upgrades to low-income homeowners experiencing extreme energy poverty in all housing sectors including Local Authority houses, Housing Associations and private homes. The Better Energy Communities programme supports sustainable energy upgrades to existing buildings, services, facilities and processes in the community sector. The following table details the number of households/projects which received grants under the Better Energy programme from 2009 to 2013.
Number of Homes / Projects
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Scheme
Total
|
BE Homes
|
18,203
|
45,946
|
49,229
|
26,423
|
13,710
|
153,511
|
BE Warmer Homes
|
16,240
|
24,291
|
20,388
|
12,175
|
9,803
|
82,897
|
BE Communities (projects)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
18
|
47
|
65
|
BE Communities - Area Based (projects)
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
27
|
37
|
64
|
The following table details the total value of grants paid from 2009 to 2013 under the Better Energy programme.
Grant Spend (Millions)
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
Scheme
Total
|
BE Homes
|
€16.3
|
€45.2
|
€57.6
|
€28.9
|
€13.2
|
€161.2
|
BE Warmer Homes
|
€12.0
|
€30.0
|
€21.4
|
€20.5
|
€17.5
|
€101.4
|
BE Communities
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
€1.8
|
€7.8
|
€9.6
|
BE Communities - Area Based
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
€4.1
|
€6.9
|
€11.0
|