Most energy grants cover part of a job and you pay the rest. The Warmer Homes Scheme is different: for eligible households the State pays for the whole upgrade, and you do not spend a cent. Here is who it is for, how to check your BER, and a few cheap ways to keep the house cool while the good weather lasts.
The Warmer Homes Scheme: a full upgrade, paid for by the State
Run by SEAI on behalf of the Government, the Warmer Homes Scheme provides free home energy upgrades to lower-income households. The average package is worth around €29,000 at no cost to the homeowner.
- It typically covers wall and attic insulation and a heating upgrade. Since 2025 a new heating system means a heat pump, not a new oil or gas boiler.
- You qualify if you receive a qualifying payment (Fuel Allowance, Working Family Payment, Carer’s Allowance and several others), your home was built before 2006, and it has a BER of C or lower.
- Demand is high and the waiting list is long, currently around 24 to 26 months, so the sooner you apply the better.
- New this year: pensioners on Fuel Allowance can also claim individual attic (€2,500) and cavity wall (€2,300) grants without losing their place in the Warmer Homes queue.
- Even if it is not for you, it may suit an elderly parent, relative or neighbour, so it is worth passing on. You apply through seai.ie.
Know your BER, and why it matters
The scheme, and a lot else about your home, comes back to your BER. It is worth two minutes to understand it.
- Your BER (Building Energy Rating) is an A to G rating of how much energy your home uses, a bit like the energy label on a fridge. A is best, G is worst.
- You can look up your home’s current BER on the SEAI website if it has ever been assessed, or arrange a new assessment from a registered BER assessor.
- It decides what you qualify for. Warmer Homes needs a C or lower, and knowing yours tells you where to improve first.
- It also matters at resale or re-letting, where a better rating is worth real money and must be shown by law when advertising.
Keeping cool without cranking the bill
It is warm out, so here are a few no-cost and low-cost ways to keep the house comfortable without an expensive cooling unit.
- Close blinds and curtains on the sunny side of the house during the day to keep heat out, then open up to ventilate in the cooler evening.
- A fan uses a tiny fraction of the power of any air-conditioning unit, so reach for that first.
- Swap old halogen spotlights for LED. Halogens throw out real heat and burn far more power, while LEDs run cool and use up to 80 percent less for the same light.
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Review us on TrustpilotAbout Shamrock Electrical Supplies
Shamrock Electrical Supplies is an electrical retailer and wholesaler based in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co. Dublin. We supply homeowners and professional contractors across Ireland, with free delivery from the first euro.
Find Us
Shamrock Electrical Supplies
Unit 22, Block 613, Jordanstown Road
Greenogue Business Park
Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, D24 TX98
Opening Hours
Monday to Thursday: 7am to 5:30pm
Friday: 7am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 1:30pm
Sunday: Closed