SSE Airtricity has partnered with An Post to deliver the Generation Green Home Upgrade which aims to demystify the process of home retrofit for customers and to make it more accessible.
The new initiative will bring together the best partners in project management and low-cost green finance to support customers in upgrading their homes to the highest standards of energy efficiency.
There are many benefits of retrofitting: a warmer home that costs less to heat; a potential increase in the future sale value of the property and knowing you’re reducing your carbon footprint and helping to tackle climate change. But often homeowners feel it is inaccessible to them or they don’t understand the process.
The new initiative will streamline the entire process of home retrofitting
“This cuts out the complexity for customers in terms of going to different providers and seeking different solutions – with us they can access the full suite under one roof at the An Post Green Hub,” Klair Neenan, managing director of SSE Airtricity, says.
The new initiative will streamline the entire process of home retrofitting by bringing together the best partners in project management and low-cost green finance to support customers in upgrading their homes to the highest standards of energy efficiency. Market-leading rates on green loans will be available at the An Post Green Hub and SSE Airtricity will then manage each project from end-to-end for the customer, including the SEAI grant application system.
She explains how the upgrade works. "Our finance partner, An Post has developed a market-leading low-cost lending option that can see customers borrow up to €75,000 with rates as low as 4.9 per cent. SSE Airtricity then manages each project from end-to-end for the customer. Homeowners can go online and complete an upgrade assessment of their homes."We have ambitions to support the retrofit of up to 30,000 homes in Ireland over the next 10 years. Once delivered, this will equate to approximately €20m in reduced energy costs every year for Irish households. For over a decade SSE Airtricity has been a leader in driving Ireland's green energy revolution and we're ready to play our part in supporting the Government's ambitions to retrofit up to 500,000 homes by 2030," Neenan says.
“Our innovative online tool will inform you of the type of upgrades you could make to your home. Appointments can then be made with members of our experienced survey team who will meet customers in their homes for a consultation, offering the best advice based on the individual needs. Our priority is always to support our customers as best possible, so homeowners partaking of the home upgrade will also be assigned a dedicated project manager to guide and advise them throughout their retrofit journey,” she adds.
The Home Upgrade offers a range of options but the first step involves an assessment, for which the company utilises the BERWow tool. This technology allows them to work with homeowners to map out their needs and to design the most effective solutions for them. These works range from full retrofit to partial retrofit, which can include glazing, insulation, installation of heat pumps and solar PV panels.
There is also the added benefit of knowing you are reducing your carbon footprint and helping to tackle climate change
Retrofitting is very much an investment in the home, both for now and for the future and research from the SEAI has shown that each BER rating improvement in a home will increase the prospective future sale value, for example.
“In addition to this, homeowners will be able to live in warmer homes here and now, that cost less to heat. Under the Home Upgrade programme, depending on the investment and scale of it, customers could see their energy costs reduced by up to 50 per cent.
“There is also the added benefit of knowing you are reducing your carbon footprint and helping to tackle climate change by increasing the energy efficiency of your home. We know that this is something that is becoming increasingly important to Irish homeowners as they seek to make greener lifestyle choices,” Neenan says.
The cost is entirely dependent on the individual homeowner’s needs and the measures that they wish to put in place.
“We recognise that upfront cost can be a concern for customers and so a market leading rate on green loans from our partners at An Post will reduce the cost for customers versus other finance providers. Depending on the measures undertaken, customers could also see their energy costs reduced by up to 50 per cent. This could mean up to annual savings of between €850 to €1,000 on this element alone. This future-proofs homes from an energy point of view and ensures that they are warmer and more energy efficient in the longer term,” she says.
The programme will create 40 new skilled jobs including project managers, surveyors, and administrators, while indirectly supporting and generating up to 150 additional jobs across their contracting partners and suppliers, which include Kingspan, Munster Joineries and Activ8 Energies.
Tackling climate change and supporting the transition to net zero was also at the forefront of their minds as they developed this programme. “We believe that businesses like ourselves have the assets and the expertise to help lead the way on tackling climate change. We see ourselves as a partner to our customers, to government, policymakers and local authorities as they respond to the climate crisis,” she says.
SSE recently published its Greenprint for Economic Recovery: a five-point action plan outlining how companies like theirs could work with government to create jobs and growth by building a cleaner, more resilient, more sustainable economy.
“As we rebuild post Covid-19, we believe more than ever that a green recovery can provide a win-win for the economy and society if we maximise the opportunities in investing in low-carbon infrastructure while tackling climate change,” she concludes.
For more information, visit www.sseairtricity.com