Astrid Madsen
Despite grant supports, retrofits continue to cost in the tens of thousands of euros.
Experts’ estimates of whole house energy efficiency upgrades have increased significantly in the past four years.
Despite the recent increase in energy upgrade grant amounts, a whole house energy upgrade continues to require an out-of-pocket investment of tens of thousands of euros.
The head of one of Ireland’s largest house builders recently said it could cost up to €70,000 to retrofit a second hand home up to the A building energy rating standard that is required for new builds.
Four years ago, experts estimated the average retrofit costs were half that amount.
Stephen Garvey, chief executive of Glenveagh Properties, told an Irish Times podcast his figure of €70k was based on an exercise the company undertook to identify the costs of retrofitting an older home to bring it up to the standard required for new units that his company is building.
Meanwhile the Irish Examiner reports that a similar Electric Ireland Superhomes analysis showed that a full upgrade will vary depending on the house type and state it’s in, but in one detailed example it would take €65k to upgrade a 108sqm older property from a G energy rated home to a B1 with heat pump.
That’s excluding general builder’s work for decorating etc., also excluding the Superhomes fees (Survey and Report, €475; Design and Application, €950; Supervision and grant management, €950).
To soften the blow, for that project grants were estimated to be in the order of €14k.
The retrofit action plan expects it will take anywhere between €14k and €66k to bring up a home to at least a B rating.
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