Amount: €10,000 - €18,000
Status: Future planning (post-Vacant Property Grant)
Authority: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
Website: seai.ie
SEAI Better Energy Homes provides grants for energy efficiency improvements. This will be our second grant application, after the house is habitable and insulated.
Sequence:
- First: Vacant Property Grant (essential work, budget boiler)
- Then: SEAI Grant (efficiency upgrades, heat pump)
Reasons:
- Property must be habitable for SEAI grant
- Heat pump requires proper insulation first
- Can't overlap grant funding for same work
- Allows phased financial approach
Grant Amount: Up to €6,500
Our Strategy: Replace budget boiler with heat pump
- Utilizes existing underfloor heating
- Significant long-term energy savings
- Requires adequate insulation first
- Must use SEAI-approved contractor
Grant Amount: Varies by type and amount
Priority: MUST DO before heat pump
- Attic/roof insulation: Up to €2,400
- Wall insulation: Up to €6,000 per wall type
- Required for heat pump efficiency
Grant Amount: Up to €2,400 + battery grants
Integration: With existing 400W system
- Battery storage grants available
- Grid connection considerations
- Can combine with existing panels
- Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment
- Heating controls upgrade
- Window/door upgrades (if energy efficiency related)
As of December 2024:
- ❌ No grant funding for standalone fossil fuel boilers
- ✅ Heat pumps and renewable systems only
Impact on Our Project:
This validates our two-phase heating approach:
- Self-fund budget boiler initially (Vacant Property Grant)
- Apply for SEAI grant for heat pump upgrade later
- Property must be occupied (can't be vacant)
- Built before 2011
- BER assessment completed
- Adequate insulation for heat pump
-
Insulation First:
- Attic: minimum 300mm
- Walls: adequate insulation
- Demonstrates property can retain heat
-
System Design:
- Professional heat loss calculation
- Properly sized system
- Compatible with existing heating (our underfloor)
-
Contractor:
- Must be SEAI-registered
- Specific heat pump qualifications
- Provides warranty/guarantee
- Install budget boiler
- Reconnect underfloor heating
- Pressure test system
- Get house warm and comfortable
- Live in house, identify insulation needs
- Install adequate insulation
- Get BER assessment
- Plan heat pump installation
- Apply for SEAI grant
- Select SEAI-approved contractor
- Install heat pump
- Remove budget boiler
- Enjoy efficient heating
- Existing PEX underfloor system ideal for heat pump
- Budget boiler provides immediate comfort
- Time to properly insulate before heat pump
- Spreads costs over time
- Maximizes grant funding
- Heat pumps work best with good insulation
Timing: After house is:
- Occupied and habitable
- Properly insulated
- Ready for heat pump installation
Estimated: Late 2026 or 2027
- Get BER Assessment (required)
- Get quotes (minimum 2) from SEAI-registered contractors
- Apply online through SEAI portal
- Receive grant approval
- Complete work within timeframe
- BER after work (must show improvement)
- Submit completion documents
- Receive payment
- BER certificate (before)
- SEAI-registered contractor quotes
- Property ownership proof
- Completed application form
- Work specifications
- Photos before/during/after
- Contractor invoices
- BER certificate (after)
Vacant Property Grant Covers:
- Structural work
- Electrical rewiring
- Budget boiler
- Basic plumbing
- Essential repairs
SEAI Grant Covers:
- Insulation
- Heat pump
- Solar panels
- Energy efficiency
No Overlap: Each grant funds different work
- Vacant Property: €50,000-€70,000
- SEAI Better Energy: €10,000-€18,000
- Total Potential: €60,000-€88,000
- 400W solar panels already owned
- Potential for expansion
- Battery storage consideration
- Solar PV grant: Up to €2,400
- Battery grant: Up to €2,400
- Export bonus available
- How to integrate existing panels
- Battery storage system
- Grid connection requirements
- Inverter considerations
See: Solar Panels
Earliest Application: Late 2026
Work Completion: 2027
Dependencies:
- House occupied ✓ (after Phase 1)
- Properly insulated ✓ (Phase 2 early work)
- Budget boiler operating ✓ (Phase 1)
- Ready for heat pump upgrade ✓
Last updated: December 18, 2024