ENERGY SAVING BLOG

From 1 January 2014, 3% of public buildings should be renovated each year, with the clear aim to save energy. Currently, the same percentage is renovated per year but in only half of the cases energy efficiency improvements are included (1, 5% energy related renovation rate). In practice, this could mean that walls are insulated, double glazing windows are installed in kindergardens, schools or townhouses, roofs are redone and inefficient heating boilers replaced.

THE LAST two Irish winters delivered plenty of snow and ice, and if solar scientists are correct we had better get used to it. The sun seems to have gone on strike and the result will be Arctic wintertime conditions across northern Europe for the next 50 years. The sun should be getting more lively, [...]

Better Energy will replace the three existing residential programmes: Home Energy Saving Scheme (HES), Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) and Greener Homes Scheme (GHS) under one umbrella, with the aim of making it easier for people to make an informed choice about the most suitable energy saving measure for them when retrofitting their homes.

However grant levels have been reduced (except for external wall insulation).

According to Irish Times low solar activity is expected to cause the winter jet stream to bring bitterly cold Arctic air. GLOBAL CLIMATE is warming, with 2010 expected to go down as yet another record year. You can count on our winters being colder than usual, however, at least for the next few years. “There [...]

ENERGY COSTS: More people are finding it impossible to pay their increased electricity bills, but claiming a grant for insulating a house is a way to get some money back from the State, as well as to cut long-term costs. ONE OF the most depressing and shocking things about the downturn has been the number [...]

From 8th June 2010, Building Energy Rating (BER) will be an integral part of all grant applications under the Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme, whereby homeowners must undertake a BER on their home after grant aided works have been completed. This will give homeowners a thorough and objective assessment of the energy performance of their [...]

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) today unveiled a five-year strategic plan with a mission of transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices, and a vision of making Ireland a recognised global leader in sustainable energy. Sustainable energy practices are already delivering significant savings to the Irish economy, [...]

We often receive phone calls from people enquiring if a BER is mandatory for the homes they occupy. The answer is: unless you are offering your home for Sale or to Let you do not need a BER Cert. However, chances are your home is leaking energy. A lot of energy and a lot of [...]

As confirmed by SEI on 08/07/2009 the HES (Home Energy Saver) scheme is still in operation and there is no “end date” set yet. SEI also confirmed to QR EnerStar that the funds are still available for homeowners interested in applying for a grant to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.

THE AVERAGE Dublin home is falling far short of the desired energy efficiency rating, a renewable energy summit in Croke Park was told yesterday. Director of sustainable energy agency Codema, Dr Gerry Wardell, said an estimated 160,000 homes in the capital have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of E1. Energy ratings are graded on a [...]