We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/kan_chana

“The benefits of having gone from a D2 to an A1 have been multiple” - Why this homeowner wishes he’d retrofitted his home sooner

Read how one homeowner cut his energy bills and fossil fuel use thanks to a grant from SEAI.

YOUR HOME IS your castle – a phrase often used to attempt to define the relationship we have with our residence.

Your home should be your sanctuary, where you can be at peace and insulate yourself from the outside world. However, many homes in Ireland are not as cosy as they should be with the majority of homes having a Building Energy Rating (BER) of D or below. 

The Government has introduced a series of supports that looks to improve this figure, with 500,000 homes in Ireland to be upgraded to a minimum B2 BER rating by 2030. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), as the designated National Retrofit Delivery Body, is part of the solution and wants to see homeowners live in more energy efficient homes, rely less on fossil fuels, save more money and be more comfortable in their homes. 

The supports from SEAI include grants for individual home energy upgrades, a One Stop Shop service for a complete home energy upgrade in one go to bring your home to a B2 BER rating, and a dedicated focus on educating homeowners about the benefits of carrying out a home energy upgrade and how to start that journey, which can be read here

If you’re looking for inspiration on some home energy upgrades, or simply don’t know where to begin with upgrading your home’s BER, discover the story of Gary, a homeowner from Dublin, who transformed his home’s BER from a D2 to an A1 with SEAI’s support through its One Stop Shop service. 

Gary’s Journey From D to A

Gary moved into his home around 16 years ago. The BER was extremely low, due to the building standards during the time of construction. Currently, all new homes in Ireland are built to a much higher BER standard. 

I was the first person to move into this bungalow. It was a new build, it was a D2 BER rating so it could be quite cold at winter time,” Gary said. 

Gary works as a senior climate action officer with An Taisce’s environmental education unit, which gave him some understanding as to why his house was cold and what could be done to fix it. After living in his home for a number of years, he decided to research viable energy upgrades that he could carry out to make his home more energy efficient.

As someone who’s been looking at heat pumps and renewable energies of all descriptions for a long time it was something that I really wanted to do,” Gary explained.

Gary discovered the One Stop Shop option offered by SEAI, which looks to carry out several energy upgrades at one time and bring your home to a minimum B2 rating. The One Stop Shop gives homeowners a chance to do a total overhaul of their homes and improve their BER rating in a short period. SEAI registered One Stop Shops manage the entire energy upgrade project in your home, which can range from insulating attics and installing heat pumps, to installing solar panels and upgrading doors and windows. 

Shutterstock / AlyoshinE Shutterstock / AlyoshinE / AlyoshinE

“I went on to the SEAI website and clicked onto the One Stop Shop option. Within a few clicks, I had my details uploaded and the guys got back to me pretty quickly after that,” Gary said.

Gary opted for a deep retrofit, which included adding ventilation and installing solar panels, triple glazed windows, and a heat pump. As a result, Gary’s home is more energy efficient and comfortable, and it has also increased in value as well.

Gary found the process extremely straightforward and helpful, with information about useful grants readily available.

“Not only was it more efficient and easy and it took all the headaches and hassle out of it for me but with the Micro Generation scheme as well, it just reduced everything so much as a result,” he said.

[It was] a very smooth process from start to finish.”

Gary had originally ruled out solar panels due to their cost, but thanks to the help of an SEAI grant, he could add them to the renovations. Another great benefit of SEAI’s One Stop Shop option is that the homeowner gets the grant upfront as it is deducted from the cost of works. This allowed Gary to, in his words, “get everything done,” and has seen the BER rating of Gary’s home jump to A1, the highest rating available for energy efficiency.

Thanks to the One Stop Shop and getting the deep retrofit done, my energy bills have reduced, I’m no longer using gas for my heating as it’s all gone to electricity now. My fossil fuel use has been reduced but definitely my bills have been reduced as well at the same time which is fantastic,” Gary said. 

“The benefits of having gone from a D2 to an A1 have been multiple,” said Gary, pointing out that the house is less damp and feels warmer on a day-to-day basis. Gary’s simple visit to SEAI’s website has led to a hugely improved living space that he now loves.

Shutterstock / Andrii Anna photographers Shutterstock / Andrii Anna photographers / Andrii Anna photographers

If you can, go for it, but I appreciate everyone’s in different situations so if that’s the case, maybe start off with doing what you can and that could be getting the attic insulated or getting the walls insulated first and doing it step by step, and then later on consider getting the heat pump and PV (solar panels),” he added. 

You can watch Gary’s full testimony below.

Start Your Energy Upgrade Journey Today

If his story has inspired you to get the ball rolling on your own home energy upgrades, or if your curiosity has been piqued, you can visit SEAI’s dedicated home energy upgrades site.

You can opt for step-by-step improvements with the Individual Home Energy Upgrade grants, or avail of a comprehensive home upgrade, like Gary did and use a SEAI registered One Stop Shop, the choice is yours, and with €8 billion in grants to be invested by the Government between now and 2030, now is the perfect time to investigate how you can improve the energy efficiency of your home, benefitting from increased comfort and health, as well as reducing your energy bills and adding value to your home.

For more advice on how to plan your home energy upgrade and to find out more about the SEAI Home Energy Upgrades, visit SEAI Home Energy Upgrades

Close
14 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Notty Tee
    Favourite Notty Tee
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 9:23 AM

    Dual use walking and cycling is a nightmare. Just walk down Caple street and you will see 95% still walking on the footpath because of commercial cyclists whizzing by.

    There should be a 10km speed limit or something. Commercial cyclists should all have to have a licence and insurance.

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan Mc
    Favourite Ronan Mc
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 10:55 AM

    @Notty Tee: Speed bumps for cyclist, NOW!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Notty Tee
    Favourite Notty Tee
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 11:17 AM

    @Ronan Mc: Your obviously wearing spandex

    4
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Kelly
    Favourite Alan Kelly
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 12:04 PM

    @Ronan Mc: agree! Speed ramps are great fun when cycling…great for doing wheelies!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Donoghue
    Favourite Trevor Donoghue
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 2:38 PM

    @Ronan Mc: We already have them, they are called pedestrians

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute UK Hurling Bloke
    Favourite UK Hurling Bloke
    Report
    Jul 6th 2025, 2:14 PM

    @Notty Tee: there’s a difference between knowing your shht and knowing you’re shht..

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute lastfewchocices
    Favourite lastfewchocices
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 8:01 AM

    This will be great if it works well. Such a lovely street view from the quays.

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 8:13 AM

    Good to see these streets closed to traffic. Capel St. is great, works well with all the food options there. another tram from Trinity, down Thomas st by the storehouse to Heuston, be perfect.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute p gert
    Favourite p gert
    Report
    Jul 5th 2025, 10:11 AM

    @Thesaltyurchin: There’s enough trams for the inner city. Pedestrianisation is what it’s about now.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lance Taylor
    Favourite Lance Taylor
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 8:27 AM

    I look forward to walking through it but only im daylight hours when safe to do so.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Paul
    Favourite John Paul
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 9:08 AM

    @Lance Taylor: Didn’t take long for the usual crowd to come in with their hysterical views.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O'Brien
    Favourite Thomas O'Brien
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 10:24 AM

    @John Paul:
    How is one person a crowd.

    13
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Paul
    Favourite John Paul
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 1:23 PM

    @Thomas O’Brien: Any article about dublin(in fact some not even about Dublin)and the usual crowd are in(culchies mainly)foaming at the mouth to whinge about Dublin.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O'Brien
    Favourite Thomas O'Brien
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 1:26 PM

    @John Paul:
    What makes you think he’s not from Dublin.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute k owens
    Favourite k owens
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 1:35 PM

    @Lance Taylor: don’t tell anyone but it’s bright till after 10 pm now

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O'Brien
    Favourite Thomas O'Brien
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 1:37 PM

    @k owens:
    Shit happens in broad daylight.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éamonn O'Kane
    Favourite Éamonn O'Kane
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 6:34 PM

    @Lance Taylor: as a 68 year old mobility scooter using man, I have no fear about being in Dublin at night

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O'Brien
    Favourite Thomas O'Brien
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 6:48 PM

    @Éamonn O’Kane:
    Remember Neil Shadwick.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank M
    Favourite Frank M
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 10:13 AM

    When can I stop paying my road tax . And when will there be a bike and E Scooter tax .

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 10:19 AM

    @Frank M: You think they’ll get rid of a tax?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maurice F Glennon
    Favourite Maurice F Glennon
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 10:39 AM

    @Frank M: What do 37,000 km. of separated cycle lanes get the Dutch?

    74 minutes of cycling per week per capita; preventing 6,500 premature deaths and €19 billion in healthcare costs each year.

    Ask not whether your country can afford to invest in cycling—ask whether it can afford not to.

    21
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O'Brien
    Favourite Thomas O'Brien
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 11:05 AM

    @Maurice F Glennon:
    Don’t go to Dallas, but if you do stay away from Dealey plaza.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Okiec 666
    Favourite Okiec 666
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 9:42 AM

    Dublin is such an anti car city, Sure just ban cars from crossing over the canals altogether.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RockyRoader
    Favourite RockyRoader
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 7:27 PM

    @Okiec 666: Great idea. Just buses and cyclists after 11am.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Linehan
    Favourite Paul Linehan
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 10:56 AM

    Parliment Street was always one of my favourite streets in Dublin. With City Hall one end and Grattan Bridge the other it is a lovely walk through area. Pedestrianisation is great, but I do believe that cyclists should not be allowed use it. This can be policed by pedestrian gateways. There is no need for commercial cyclists traffic and drug dealers whizzing up and down making it more dangerous than vehicular traffic.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eoin fitzpatrick
    Favourite eoin fitzpatrick
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 2:53 PM

    @Paul Linehan: how is it more dangerous than vehicular traffic? i only ever see motorists killing pedestrians in the news

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Linehan
    Favourite Paul Linehan
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 8:42 PM

    @eoin fitzpatrick: Whatever Eoin…. maybe if there was more data published for pedestrian injuries caused by cyclists you might understand the logic. Deaths by collision are not the be all and end all of road incidents.

    1
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute p gert
    Favourite p gert
    Report
    Jul 5th 2025, 10:15 AM

    @Paul Linehan: Commercial cyclists can cause incidents for sure but not rarely cyclists in general. They are seriously vulnerable on the roads. Data isn’t there for injuries caused by cyclists because they are few and far between.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas O'Brien
    Favourite Thomas O'Brien
    Report
    Jul 5th 2025, 11:06 AM

    @p gert:
    Cyclists usually hit pedestrians and keep going.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mojo
    Favourite Mojo
    Report
    Jul 4th 2025, 8:57 AM

    Capel st should have been better quality just like both Henry and Grafton streets.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Keenan
    Favourite Gerard Keenan
    Report
    Jul 5th 2025, 11:42 AM

    A retractable roof would be nice now but maybe the businesses on the street would pay for the bill as a result of this good fortune. (No money coming in if all their footfall were sitting on buses)

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel