With the cost of living rising, the impact of climate change becoming clearer and the Government introducing climate action plans, there has never been a better time to deep retrofit your home to improve energy efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint. This is a great solution for many homeowners, particularly those who cannot or do not want to move to an energy efficient new build.
Retrofitting is a process of improving the way in which your home operates, upgrading its potential to run on renewable energy, through options such as solar power, increased insulation and ground source heating. This is an increasingly popular option for older commercial and domestic properties, and the process can help you to unlock the potential in your home.
What is Deep Retro-fitting?
We no longer live in an age where half measures are enough. The extent of the climate crisis and the fast development of technology means we need to take extensive action for the best results, and a deep retrofit does exactly that. Rather than simply replacing your boiler or adding insulation to your roof, a deep retrofit takes a holistic approach and enables you to make multiple upgrades to your home at the same time to maximise its potential and achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency.
A deep retrofit might include:
• Exterior wall insulation, which retains heat to reduce energy loss.
• Interior wall insulation, including in the attic, to avoid wasted energy and keep your home warm.
• Installing solar panels, including battery storage, is a highly efficient way to power your home.
• Improving air tightness, upgrading your windows and doors to improve heat retention in your home and reduce draughts.
The goal of your deep retrofit is to increase the energy efficiency in your home, improving your BER rating, which categorises how efficient your home is.
Why do a Deep Retrofit?
A deep retrofit or renovation of your home will have many benefits for your lifestyle and your pocket. Retrofitting your house will:
1. Save energy. Improving the energy efficiency in your home will lower your carbon footprint significantly, reducing your usage of fossil fuels and helping you to do your bit for the environment. Emissions from home heating and lighting contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland and deep retrofitting will be important in reducing these on a national level.
2. Save money. Using less energy in your home will not only contribute to a healthier planet but will also save you money overtime. You will begin to make savings on your fuel bills immediately, and this is an important consideration given the huge increase in the cost of living in recent years. Fuel prices have increased exponentially in the last few years, and properties that are not energy efficient are paying a hefty price for this. Alternatives such as heat pumps, solar panels and passive house technology can make your system more sustainable, more stable and much more affordable to run.
3. Improve your health. Did you know that new air circulation and ventilation systems can have a big impact on your health, particularly if you have allergies or sensitivities in your family? For instance, improving the air tightness in your home will influence the way air is stored and recycled to reduce pollen levels in the air and create a cleaner environment. Improved insulation and more efficient boilers will help to ensure that your space is a pleasure to use all year round.
4. Raise the value of your property. As Government initiatives are introduced to combat climate change, the demand for houses that can offer higher levels of energy efficiency will continue to grow. A deep retrofit that makes your home as energy efficient as possible will increase the value of your property, whenever you come to sell it. Upgrading your property in this way may also make you and future homeowners eligible for ‘Green mortgages’, which offer favourable interest rates on more sustainable properties.
5. Benefit from a grant. The National Retrofit Plan was introduced by the Government in Ireland to make energy efficiency more accessible, and this includes initiatives that target local authorities as well as the National Home Energy Upgrade System. Homeowners can access SEAI Home Energy Upgrade grants to cover up to 50% of the cost of a deep retrofit that takes your home to a B2 BER rating. It is possible for those who are at risk of energy poverty to access more extensive grants to make their homes more energy efficient. You can also explore the possibility of low-cost loans to spread the costs of a deep retrofit over a longer time period.
While a ‘shallow’ retrofit can target certain elements of your home and covers small improvements such as upgrading your lighting system, the potential benefits of a deep retrofit are significantly better. This is an approach that can seriously improve your property and your lifestyle, and the current initiatives make this a great time to take this step.
Deep Retrofit Your Home in Cork, Ireland
At Ecotech, we have many years of experience in building and upgrading homes with a focus on energy efficiency. We know that sustainable homes are the way forward, and we build and design timber frame homes that are energy efficient as well as offering deep retrofits to make older homes more sustainable. We are committed to the highest standards of work, and we use only the best and most reliable energy technology available today.
Our professional team specialises in deep retrofits as well as Timber Frame, Eco and Passive House technology, and we can show you some of the beautiful projects we have completed in the Cork area. We want to ensure that energy efficiency is accessible to everyone, and we will be happy to talk about the options for upgrading your home today.
