Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI)

Better Energy Homes Scheme

The Better Energy Homes scheme (formally Home Energy Saving Scheme) is the grant programme for householders in Republic of Ireland.

The Irish Government, through SEAI, wishes to encourage people to improve the energy performance of their homes by incentivising the cost of installing various upgrade measures. The Better Energy scheme provides assistance to homeowners to reduce energy use, costs and greenhouse gas emissions and improve the comfort levels within their home. 

The objectives of the scheme are to:

• Support homeowners in making intelligent choices to improve the energy performance of their home
• Reduce energy use, costs and greenhouse gas emissions
• Build market capacity and competence by driving contractor standards and quality
• Stimulating market innovation

The incentive is in the form of a Cash Grant. Cash grants are fixed, irrespective of home size, though where actual expenditure is lower than the grant value only the lower amount will be paid. Payment is by Electronic Funds Transfer to the applicant’s bank. 

What grants are available?

Grants are available to eligible applicants for undertaking the following works, in accordance with the requirements contractor Code of Practice Technical Specification.

What Level of Funding is Available?

*Cash Grants are set value unless expenditure is below the set value, in which case the actual expenditure will be reimbursed.

**A Building Energy Rating (BER) is an integral part of all grant applications under the Better Energy Homes scheme, whereby homeowners must undertake a BER on their home after grant aided works have been completed. A homeowner is entitled to BER funding of €50 once per home. This funding will be applied to your grant application automatically provided you have never applied previously for BER funding. You will be informed during the online grant application process if BER funding is available for your home or as part of your Letter of Grant Offer if you have applied through the post. It is advisable that you apply for and undertake all planned grant aided works at the same time to minimise the costs of multiple BER assessments.

*** From December 8th 2011 internal and external wall insulation grants will no longer be one single amount, but rather be based upon the house type.

Please note the minimum grant amount for the first application must be €400. A BER grant, where applicable, does not count towards the €400 minimum.

In the instance where a Contractor is completing works within his own home then only the cost of materials will be deemed qualifying expenditure.

Grants are claimed after the measures are completed and the contractor has been paid by or entered a financing agreement with the homeowner.

How to Apply

There are 2 methods to apply for a Better Energy scheme grant.

• Online:  Response within 3 working days
• Application Form by Post:  Response within 20 working days

Before commencing

Before commencing application please have the following information available to hand:

• Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN). This number appears on your electricity bill, and is 11 digits long.
• The year in which your house was built (must be prior to 2006).
• The particular measures which you wish to undertake as part of the Better Energy scheme.
• You should have already selected an SEAI registered Contractor as you will need to know their name, address and SEAI registered number.
• Your bank details i.e. bank name, bank account name, bank account number and sort code. (Please note that currently we cannot process payments to Credit Union accounts.)
• For an online application you will need an email address. In the instance where perhaps you don’t have a personal e-mail address please ask a relative or trusted close friend for use of their e-mail address. You must be able to receive e-mails at this address in order to accept the grant offer.  Failure to accept the offer will result in the offer lapsing.

(NOTE:  It is very important that neither a Contractor nor an Assessor applies on your behalf as this contravenes the terms and conditions of their registration.)