Residential Solutions

It depends. The payback period is different for different retrofit works. Grant availability also has an impact.

But, for example, retrofitting solar PV typically pays for itself within 5-7 years with a grant applied. Other works can have a longer or shorter payback period.

Upgrading attic insulation and cavity wall insulation typically has a shorter payback period of 1-2 years with grants.

A Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment or a Home Energy Assessment (HEA) will give you insight into required retrofitting solutions.

A BER is suitable for those that intend to make one or two upgrades, while a HEA is more suitable for those that intend to make more upgrades and use a One Stop Shop service.

There are many grants available through the SEAI for residential retrofitting.

Excluding specialist outliers, the grants are grouped into 3 “packages”: Better Energy and Solar PV Grants, National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme and the Warmer Homes Scheme.

Specific grants are available within each package / scheme.

The specific grants available for residential retrofitting include Solar PV, Solar Hot Water, Heat Pump Systems, Heating Control upgrades, Attic Insulation, Rafter Insulation, Cavity Wall Insulation, Internal Insulation, External Wall Insulation, Floor Insulation, Ventilation upgrades, Windows and Doors upgrades, Air Tightness, Project Management, BER and Home Energy Assessment grants.

It depends on the retrofit along with many other factors.

For example, we typically install solar PV within 1 day. There are outliers, however. Less standard and larger installs can take longer.

As a rough guide, attic insulation can take a day, cavity wall insulation can take 1-4 days, external insulation can take 1-4 weeks, while internal insulation can take 1-3 days per room. And to retrofit air-to-water heat pumps, it take approx. 1-2 days.

But again, it depends. House size, it’s condition and many other factors mean that the actual retrofit can be completed in a longer or shorter timeframe.