An Energy Master Plan helps communities understand the energy demand and supply. Every community is encouraged to look at energy efficiency first. This is because energy efficiency work is typically low risk and has high payback. The Energy Master Plan is also a live record of the community’s energy status and achievements. It will evolve to form the foundation for other applications and projects. For more information on the SEAI’s Energy Master Plan initiative, please go to this link

Individual actions for homeowners

…some quick and easy sustainability ‘wins’ to save you energy and money as well as reducing carbon emissions

Step 1: Do Your Own Audit:

• Check windows, external doors, vents, floor spaces, fireplaces, and stoves with a stick of incense: and track down and eliminate draughts.
• Check insulation levels in attic, basement, walls (including the meter box), and floors
• Check your boiler and stove; what age are they? When were they last serviced?
• Collect energy bills and scrutinise them over a year or 2.
• To save money in the short term see if you need to change your electricity supplier.

Step 2: Actions to save 12% of your energy costs and fossil fuel use:

• Turn everything off – don’t leave on standby (2%)
• Use a clothes line when possible – no tumble dryer (7%)
• Wash clothes @ 30 degrees (1%)
• Turn off lights when not in a room, replace bulbs with highest rated LEDs possible (A+ read the lables not all LEDs are the same) – change as they go so as to spread the cost (2%).

Step 3: Save energy by thinking about the way you control and use heat

• Maintain room temperature 190C (this can save up to €350 every year for each degree lower you heat the house)
• Close the curtains at dusk to keep heat in the room that would otherwise be lost through the cold windows, and you could save up to 10% of your heating costs.
• Consider fitting shelves above radiators as they redirect the warm air that rises from them back into the room.
• Ventilate your house 3 to 5 minutes, a couple of times a day, instead of opening windows a little bit all day. Shut off your heating, during ventilation. This can reduce heat loss by 16%.
• Bleed your radiators regularly. If there is air in your radiator your boiler burns longer. Always start with the lowest and end with the highest radiator.

Home Retrofits: Make your home cozier, save money and reduce carbon emissions

*Costs are based on 2025 industry levels, grant amounts on 2025 one-stop-shop levels which can be found at this link. Actual costs and grants may vary according to building specifics

Fully Funded Upgrade

The Community Grants Scheme: It’s for everyone.

Milltownpass SEC is now organising a Community Grant Application. It is bringing together 10 homes, one community building and one SME in a joint energy retrofit project: it is calling for homeowners to join up.

The grant application, the appointment and supervision of a contrator and the sourcing of co-financing and grants will all be done through the SEC with the help of an independent and experienced local project co-ordinator. This will make the process of retrofitting your home easier and be better value for all. It will also spread the benefits throughout the community. 

All you have to do now is sign up and declare your interest in joining the application: the SEC and the Project Co-ordinator will get in touch with you for additional information to make the application.

Join the Community Grant Application

Photovoltaic (PV) in the home: make your own electricity and save money

A domestic solar PV system consists of a number of solar panels mounted to your roof (or in your garden or adjacent field) and connected into the electrical loads within your building. Solar PV systems are rated in kilowatts (kWp). A 3kWp solar PV system would require about 12 solar panels on your roof needing about 8m² of space, and will generate about 2,900 units of electricity (kWh) a year.

Since you pay about €0.31 per kWh to your electricity provider, a 3kW PV panel system  (if the home is occupied during the day) could save the homeowner about €637 per year. There would also be an additional payment from the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) Tariff (of up to €140 per year in this case). On an installation costing €4,800 (nett of SEAI grant of €1,600) this would achieve a simple payback of 6.1 years.

There is a significant grant incentive available from the SEAI for PV installation for homeowners. The full details are available at this link.

Milltownpass SEC Solar Meitheal

Members of the Greystones and Delgany SEC Solar Meitheal, Co. Wicklow. PIC: greystonesgreenenergy.ie

Express your interest in joining a Solar Meitheal in The Milltownpass SEC area

EV Comparison Details [1]

[1] Comparison is from the SEAI’s tool available for hundreds of models and makes LINK

Non-Domestic Buildings Support scheme for energy audits: €2000 voucher

Includes Schools, Community Buildings, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

SEAI’s support scheme for energy audits (SSEA) offers SMEs a €2,000 voucher towards the cost of a high quality energy audit. In most cases, this will cover the total cost of the audit. Application to the scheme is easy, with automatic approval for eligible businesses.

Eligibility

Businesses applying to the scheme must be:

• non-obligated entities
• tax compliant
• registered in the Republic of Ireland
• spend at least €10,000 on energy (exclusive of transport energy costs) per year at the site being audited
• There is a limit of 1 audit voucher per Applicant/Company

An organisation will typically save 30% on it’s energy costs from the audit advice for minimal spend.

Payback for 70-80% energy saving works is usually less than 10 years.

EMP Launch Presentation