People in receipt of certain social welfare payments have been reminded they can get their home retrofitted entirely for free. 

With temperatures dipping below zero this week, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has urged people to look into improving the energy efficiency ratings of their property. 

The more energy efficient a home is, the lower the occupants’ bills are and the less carbon it emits. 

On Lunchtime Live, SEAI spokesperson Brian McIntyre said there have a number of grants people can apply for when they retrofit a property. 

“The longest running one would be for people at highest risk of fuel poverty and that was originally called the Warmer Home Scheme,” he said. 

“That’s free; it’s fully funded by the State and [it is] for people who are in receipt of certain welfare payments - the likes of the Fuel Allowance, for example. 

“Someone from SEAI goes out, does a survey of the house and puts together a package of work and that’s done for them at no cost to the homeowner.” 

A bungalow with solar panels on the roof. Picture by: Alamy.com 

Those who are not in receipt of social welfare can still apply for grants but they will not cover the entire cost of the work. 

People can also apply for a Government backed, low cost ‘green energy loan’ of up to €75,000 to cover the cost of upgrading their home. 

“You can apply for individual measures,” Mr McIntyre said. 

“That’s been in place since 2009; that would be for, say, attic insulation, wall insulation or solar panels or a heat pump. 

“It allows people to build it up over time and they can do it on a piecemeal basis.” 

A man putting down loft insulation. Picture by: Alamy.com 

For those who do not want to spend a large amount of money retrofitting their home, Mr McIntyre said the first thing to look into is insulating the property. 

The State will subsidise the cost of insulating your attic by as much as €1,500 and the result will be a significantly warmer property. 

“Insulation is to a house what clothes are to people,” Mr McIntyre said. 

“So, when it’s cold like it is now, you’re putting on a lot of layers and heavier jackets and you’re keeping the heat inside that. 

“A poorly insulated house in this weather is like going out in a t-shirt.” 

According to the SEAI, every increase in a property's Building Energy Rating (BER) adds 1% to its value.

Main image: An elderly lady with a hot water bottle. Picture by: Alamy.com