Lower bills and a warmer home
Plan upgrades around the way your home uses energy
With household energy costs remaining an important concern, improving energy efficiency can reduce waste, increase comfort and make a home easier to heat. The right starting point depends on the building, its BER, existing insulation, heating system and budget.
Whether you are considering attic insulation, wall insulation, replacement windows and doors, modern heating controls, solar panels or a heat pump, the goal is the same: keep useful heat inside, avoid using energy when it is not needed and choose equipment that suits the property.
For grant-supported work, review the current rules on the Trade Source IRE SEAI Grants Ireland guide and confirm every detail directly with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland before ordering materials or starting work.
How much could you save?
SEAI publishes useful benchmark figures for common upgrades. They are best treated as planning indicators, not a quotation or promise for a particular property.
Insulation
SEAI says a home can lose up to 30% of its heat through poorly insulated roofs and walls. Well-insulated walls and attic space can save up to €600 per year on heating bills.
Read SEAI insulation guidance →Windows and doors
Poorly performing windows, doors and uninsulated floors can account for around 10% of home heat loss. Upgrades can reduce draughts and improve comfort, especially after the main insulation work is addressed.
Check windows and doors guidance →Heating controls
SEAI states that heating controls can reduce home-heating energy use and bills by up to 20% by matching heating and hot-water schedules to how the household uses the property.
See heating-controls guidance →Solar PV panels
SEAI's example of a well-located 3 kW home system produces about 2,600 kWh a year - more than 40% of the average annual electricity demand of an Irish home. Output and bill savings vary by roof, system size and daytime use.
Read the Solar Panels Ireland 2026 guide →Heat pumps
Heat pumps use electricity to collect heat from the air, ground or water. SEAI says they are best suited to well-insulated homes and can use less than a third of the energy of an oil or gas boiler. A technical assessment may be required before grant-supported work.
Learn how heat pumps work →Choose the order of work carefully
A major heating or renewable-energy system will work best when the building fabric is already performing well. A sensible plan often follows these steps:
- Assess the home.Review the BER, insulation levels, ventilation, heating system and the areas where heat is escaping.
- Improve the fabric first.Prioritise attic, wall or floor insulation and address draughts before sizing a new heating system.
- Match the technology to the property.Choose heating controls, solar PV or a heat pump based on a proper survey rather than a headline saving.
- Confirm grants and credentials.Apply for the required SEAI approval before work begins and independently check registration, insurance, qualifications and references.
- Compare written quotations.Check the scope, products, warranties, exclusions, VAT, payment schedule and expected completion documentation.
Why choose Trade Source IRE?
One enquiry for the trades your upgrade may need
Trade Source IRE helps homeowners across Ireland submit project details and ask to be connected with potentially suitable tradesmen where available. Energy-upgrade enquiries can involve several different trades:
- Insulation contractors
- Solar PV installers
- Heat-pump and heating professionals
- Window and door installers
- Electricians
- Builders
- Plumbers
- Roofing contractors
- Painters and decorators
- Property maintenance tradesmen
Checks to make before appointing a contractor
- Confirm the contractor is registered for the exact SEAI measure where the grant scheme requires it.
- Ask for current public-liability insurance and relevant qualifications.
- Check that the quotation states the precise materials, system size and performance specification.
- Confirm who is responsible for BER assessments, grant paperwork, electrical certification and commissioning.
- Ask for recent examples of comparable work and contactable references.
- Do not start grant-supported work until the required approval is in place.
Start your home upgrade today
If you are ready to improve your home's energy efficiency, tell Trade Source IRE what upgrade you are considering, where the property is located and your preferred timeframe. Include your BER, photographs and grant details where available so the enquiry can be assessed more clearly.
Ready to improve your home?
Submit your energy-upgrade project
Request help finding potentially suitable trade professionals across Ireland. Always complete your own registration, insurance and quotation checks before work begins.
Submit your projectFrequently asked questions
Can home energy upgrades really save hundreds of euro each year?
They can, but the result depends on the property and household. SEAI says well-insulated walls and attic space can save up to €600 per year on heating bills. Treat all headline figures as estimates, not guarantees.
Which home energy upgrade should I do first?
For many homes, start by assessing heat loss and improving insulation before investing in major heating or renewable-energy equipment. A BER assessor or suitably qualified advisor can help identify priorities.
Can heating controls reduce my bills?
SEAI says properly installed controls can reduce heating energy use and bills by up to 20%. Your euro saving depends on current usage, fuel prices and how well the controls are set up.
Do I need an SEAI-registered contractor?
For grant-supported measures, follow the current SEAI rules for the exact upgrade. Confirm the contractor's live registration and secure any required approval before work begins.
Does Trade Source IRE guarantee savings or a grant?
No. Trade Source IRE helps route enquiries to potentially suitable tradesmen where available. It does not assess technical performance, guarantee a saving or approve an SEAI grant.
Information sources
This guide was reviewed against public SEAI information on 6 August 2026. Scheme rules, grant amounts and guidance can change, so confirm the latest position directly with SEAI.