Budget 2022 has allocated €202 million for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes and a further €10 million for the Solar PV scheme next year. Of this amount, €109 million will be used to provide free energy efficiency upgrades to households that are in, or at risk of, energy poverty.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date, over 143,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme. In the first six months of 2021, the average value of the energy efficiency measures provided per household was approximately €17,100. In addition to the significant capital allocation for the Warmer Homes Scheme next year, resources have been provided to expand the capacity of the SEAI to deliver the scheme. In addition, delivery capacity in the supply chain has increased due to a new, broader contractor panel that commenced at the end of 2020.
Window replacement was introduced as a measure under the Warmer Homes Scheme in 2018. Window replacement can be recommended in limited circumstances, subject to a technical survey by SEAI. This recommendation is typically where only single glaze windows exist and where wall insulation is also being installed.
The measures available under the scheme were selected as the most likely to deliver significant energy savings to homeowners as well as the best value for money for the Exchequer. Currently, there are no plans to make solar panels available under the Scheme. Separately, the SEAI operates a grant scheme since July 20218 to help domestic customers who install rooftop solar photovoltaic equipment on homes built and occupied before 2011. In addition, the National Retrofit Plan includes a commitment to review ways to improve how current energy poverty schemes target those most in need. Recommendations in relation to the implementation of changes to the scheme to better target those most in need will be finalised shortly. A BER grant is currently available under the SEAI Better Energy Homes Scheme.
