Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
137. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the better energy warmer homes scheme in 2022 and 2023. [54970/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra138. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the across all SEAI schemes in 2022 and 2023. [54971/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together.
The Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 and to install 400,000 heat pumps in existing buildings by the end of 2030.
In February 2022, the Government approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills.
In 2022, 8,481 homes supported under the SEAI schemes were upgraded to a post works BER B2 or better. This is almost double the 2021 levels. More detailed information is available in the SEAI Home Energy Upgrades 2022 Annual Report available at: www.seai.ie/publications/SEAI-Retrofit-Annual-Report-2022.pdf. To date, in 2023, the number of homes upgraded to a BER B2 currently stands at almost 15,800 across all SEAI schemes, equating to a 85% increase on 2022 levels.
The costs of a retrofit/home energy upgrade depends on a range of factors including the size and type of home as well as the age and starting condition of the property and the retrofitting works required or recommended. Depending on the scheme the retrofit can consist of a single energy efficiency measure, multiple measures or a whole home upgrade to B2 and the costs will vary accordingly.
Furthermore, the works costs are based on declarations from the homeowners and contractors. The costs can vary depending on the factors outlined above. Additionally, homeowners may carry out non-grant aided/non energy related works as part of the same upgrade. Therefore, the costs set out below may be in excess of the costs relating to the retrofit works only. The amounts paid out per grant-aided measure by SEAI are fixed irrespective of the costs declared.
The SEAI Q3 2023 Performance Report on the residential and community energy efficiency schemes shows that under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, the average cost of works to upgrade a property to a post BER of B2 or better and achieve a 100kWh/m2/yr for a private home is €62,099 (average cost after the grant is €39,388). For Approved Housing Body properties, the average cost of works is €28,795 (average cost after the grant is €13,169). More detailed information is available at: www.seai.ie/publications/SEAI-Retrofit-Quarterly-Report-Q3-2023.pdf
The Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to households at risk of energy poverty. The depth of retrofits delivered under the scheme in recent years can be seen in the increase in the average cost of the upgrades which has risen from €2,600 in 2015 to €24,000 in 2023. The most recent data from SEAI shows that in the first half of 2023, the average cost of a deep retrofit was €25,660 and €40,550 for a deep retrofit with heating system.
The average cost of achieving a B2 BER cost optimum standard in the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is not routinely reported by SEAI to my Department, therefore I have asked for this data to be sent to the Deputy directly by SEAI as soon as possible.
