How long does a typical installation take?
A normal 3 or 4 bed semi- detached will take 2-3 weeks approx depending on weather and other building works.

While works are in progress, will it cause a mess to the inside of my home?
There will be little or no disruption to the inside of your home in most cases.

How much will it cost?
This will vary from house to house but generally 3 or 4 bed semi- detached will cost €10,000-€13,000 after grant

How is the finished product maintained?
Depending on the type of finish coat applied. Occasional washing with a brush and water from a garden hose.

I live in a semi- detached/terraced house, if my neighbour decides to get the work done as well will it work out cheaper for the two of us?
Yes. In most cases a discount of up to 10% will be offered.

What are the main benefits of insulating externally over other methods of insulation?
• Gives your home an "as new" look or if you wish can totally change its appearance
• Adds significant value to your home, with a greatly improved BER rating, making E.W.I. a solid investment
• Minimum disruption to your home throughout installation 
• Significant reduction in your energy bills
• Reduces your carbon footprint

What are Thermal Bridges?
The elements in the floor, wall or roof which are poorly or uninsulated and allow the passage of heat.

What is Thermal Conductivity or lambda value?
It is the measure used to determine a products ability to retain heat and is usually the same, regardless of thickness.

What is Thermal Resistance or R-value?
It is the value given to any material to resist the flow of heat for a given thickness of that material.

What is a U-value?
It is the heat loss value given to a building and its individual elements i.e. wall, floor. roof. The lower the U-value the better the insulation value of the building element.

Grants Available:
External Wall Insulation : Up to €3,600
Roof Insulation : €250
BER Assessment – BER after upgrade works : €50

How are the grants paid?
Grant approval must be in place before any purchase of materials or commencement of measures is undertaken. Grants are paid after the measures are completed and the contractor has been paid by the homeowner. In the instance where the cost of the work (vat inclusive) is less than the fixed grant amount, the actual cost will be reimbursed.

What is the Building Energy Rating (BER) requirement under BEH?
The Better Energy Homes provides grant aid to homeowners towards upgrades of roof and wall insulation and heating systems. In order to measure the impact of the programme SEAI has introduced a requirement for homeowners to undertake a BER after the upgrade works have been completed. The BER assessment is to be completed by a registered BER assessor following a site visit after BEH upgrade works have been completed. The assessor will furnish you with a certificate indicating the energy performance of your home based on an A-G scale. The assessor will also complete essential information on the BER Confirmation and Request for Payment form.

Why is a BER now required?
Ireland has ambitious energy reduction and climate change targets to be met in 2020. If achieved, our dependence on imported fossil fuels will greatly reduce along with lower energy bills for homeowners. To meet these challenging targets we need to both incentivise and inform householders about steps that can be taken to reduce energy usage, while understanding the thermal efficiency of Ireland’s housing stock. Making a BER mandatory will help deliver on both of these aims.

When must the BER be undertaken?
The BER assessment must be conducted after your BEH upgrade works are completed.

Do I need to undertake a BER before the upgrade works?
Only if you wish to. A before BER may help you in prioritising works to be undertaken, however it is not mandatory and the grant of €50 applies to the BER after upgrade works only.

How do I claim my grant?
You can only claim your grant payment when:
• All your contractors have completed the upgrade works and filled in the relevant declaration of Works form (DOW) and appropriate sections of the BER Confirmation and Request for Payment form
• Your BER assessor has undertaken a site visit, completed / published the BER and returned to you the completed the BER Confirmation and Request for Payment form
• You have fully paid all contractors and your BER assessor
• At that stage you should ensure that you also have signed all DOWs and BER Confirmation and Request for Payment forms all of which you then submit to SEAI with a view to grant payment.
• All paperwork (i.e. all Declaration of Works and the BER Confirmation and Request for Payment form) must be submitted together within the six month grant offer period.
Applications for grant payment with incomplete paperwork will be rejected, resulting in all documentation being returned to you for resolution. This may result in a delay and/or expiration of the grant offer. If for any reason some or all of the works were not undertaken, then please tick the cancelled box on the Declaration of Works form and return it with the rest of your grant claim.

How do I apply?
Applicants must first read the 'Better Energy Homes Application Guide' for an overview of the scheme and to aid them thereafter in filling out the Scheme Application Form. You can apply online by filling out the online application form. Alternatively you can download the application form, complete it and return it to:
Better Energy Homes
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
P.O. Box 119
Cahirciveen
Co. Kerry
Applicants must ensure grant approval is received before proceeding with any product purchase or installation work.

Do I require planning permission for External wall insulation?
External insulation works to your home under the Building Energy Home may be exempted from the planning code. However, it should be noted that external insulation of a structure would constitute exempted development under Section 4(1) (h) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 only if it “constituted works which do not materially affect the external appearance of the structure so as to render the appearance inconsistent with the character of the structure or of neighbouring structures”.

Please note also that, in the case of protected structures, proposed protected structures, and buildings within Architectural Conservation Areas, the usual exemptions from the requirements of planning permission may not apply and the advice of the planning authority should always be obtained by you before carrying out any works.

Are hollow block walls eligible for a BEH E.W.I. grant?
Yes hollow block walls are eligible for the external wall insulation grant of up to €3,600. The hollow block wall is not eligible for cavity fill insulation as this is an inefficient method of insulating this type of wall. The majority of heat is lost through the solid sections of the hollow block such as the ends and spine of the block. E.W.I. will reduce your heat loss by 90-95%; on the other hand blown insulation will only reduce heat loss by approximately 25%.

I am a landlord of an entire apartment block. Can I apply for a grant for all the apartments under the Better Energy Homes?
If you are a landlord or a management company considering an entire building upgrade, please contact SEAI before applying online for the grant. Grant provisions will be calculated on the basis of the total wall and/or roof areas to be insulated when compared to those of an average home envisaged under the BEH scheme.

Some of the walls in my home are cavity and others brick and/or wooden frame walls. What is the best insulation solution?
In cases where your home has different wall types, different insulation types may be required, to ensure your home is insulated to the optimum solution. SEAI would suggest that you discuss the best options for insulation for your home with your selected registered contractor.

Please note that where different insulation options are required, the BEH grant will only be valid for the majority insulation method used.

Please feel free to contact us at any stage regarding your project.