Home energy savings checklist (Ireland)

Home energy savings checklist (Ireland) for Ireland. Costs, grants, and practical guidance.

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Home energy savings checklist (Ireland)

Reducing home energy costs in Ireland requires a systematic approach across heating, electricity, insulation, and behavior. This checklist provides actionable steps organized by cost and impact, helping Irish homeowners prioritize energy-saving measures that deliver the best returns.

At a glance

  • Quick wins: Free or low-cost changes saving €100–€300 annually
  • Medium investments: €500–€3,000 with 3–8 year payback
  • Major upgrades: €5,000–€20,000+ with SEAI grants available
  • Typical savings: 20–40% reduction in annual energy costs possible
  • Best approach: Start with low-cost measures, build toward major upgrades

No-cost and low-cost actions (€0–€100)

These measures require minimal investment but provide immediate savings:

Heating and hot water

Turn down the thermostat by 1°C: Each degree reduction saves approximately 10% on heating costs. For a typical Irish home spending €1,500 on heating, this saves €150 annually at no cost.

Reduce hot water temperature: Set cylinder thermostat to 60°C rather than 65–70°C. This saves €30–€50 annually while maintaining adequate temperature for washing and bathing.

Use heating controls effectively: Program heating to come on 30 minutes before you wake and go off 30 minutes before bed. Most Irish homes overheat by running systems when unoccupied.

Bleed radiators: Trapped air reduces radiator efficiency. Bleeding radiators (a 5-minute task) ensures even heat distribution and can improve heating efficiency by 5–10%.

Close curtains at dusk: Heavy curtains reduce heat loss through windows by 10–20%. Simply closing them at dusk and opening at dawn maximizes this benefit at no cost.

Block drafts: Use draft excluders at doors and windows. These cost €5–€15 each and can reduce heating bills by €50–€100 annually in drafty homes.

Electricity usage

Switch off standby mode: Devices on standby consume 5–10% of total electricity. Switching off at the plug saves €40–€80 annually for typical households.

Use full loads for washing: Running full washing machine and dishwasher loads rather than half-loads reduces total energy per item washed. Saves €30–€50 annually.

Air-dry laundry: Tumble dryers consume significant electricity (2–3kWh per cycle). Air-drying when possible saves €80–€150 annually.

Switch to LED bulbs: LED bulbs use 85% less electricity than old incandescent bulbs and last 15–20 years. Replacing 10 bulbs costs €30–€50 and saves €60–€100 annually.

Defrost freezers regularly: Ice buildup increases energy consumption by 10–20%. Defrosting every 6 months maintains efficiency.

Boil only what you need: Overfilling kettles wastes energy. Boiling only required water saves €20–€30 annually for heavy tea/coffee drinkers.

Smart habits

Shower instead of bath: Showers use 40–60 liters of hot water versus 80–100 liters for baths. Switching to showers saves €100–€200 annually on water heating.

Reduce shower time: Each minute of showering uses 8–12 liters of hot water. Reducing shower time from 10 to 7 minutes saves €80–€120 annually.

Cover pots when cooking: Lids reduce cooking energy by 30–40%. This saves €30–€50 annually.

Keep fridge/freezer full: Empty space requires more energy to cool. Keep reasonably full (even with water bottles if needed) for best efficiency.

Check fridge temperature: Ideal fridge temperature is 3–5°C. Colder wastes energy without benefit. Simple adjustment saves €20–€40 annually.

Low-cost improvements (€100–€500)

These measures require modest investment with strong returns:

Heating improvements

Upgrade thermostat to programmable/smart model: Programmable thermostats (€80–€150) or smart thermostats (€150–€300) optimize heating schedules and save 10–20% on heating costs (€150–€300 annually).

Install thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs): TRVs (€15–€25 each) allow room-by-room temperature control. Installing on 6–8 radiators costs €120–€200 and saves €80–€150 annually by avoiding overheating unused rooms.

Service heating system: Annual boiler service (€80–€120) ensures efficient operation and can improve efficiency by 5–10% while extending equipment lifespan.

Insulate hot water cylinder: If your cylinder lacks insulation, a cylinder jacket (€20–€40) reduces heat loss and saves €40–€80 annually.

Insulate hot water pipes: Pipe insulation (€30–€60 for materials, DIY installation) reduces heat loss from pipes carrying hot water, saving €30–€50 annually.

Draught-proofing

Professional draught-proofing: For €200–€400, professionals seal gaps around doors, windows, floors, and ceilings. This can reduce heating costs by 5–10% (€75–€150 annually).

External door threshold seal: Better-quality door seals (€40–€80 installed) prevent cold air infiltration at floor level where drafts are strongest.

Letterbox cover: Internal letterbox covers (€10–€25) prevent significant heat loss through this often-overlooked gap.

Chimney balloon: For unused fireplaces, chimney balloons (€15–€30) block heat escaping up unused chimneys, saving €50–€100 annually.

Electricity efficiency

Smart plugs and timers: Smart plugs (€15–€30 each) automatically turn off devices when not in use. Six smart plugs cost €100–€150 and save €60–€100 annually by eliminating standby consumption.

Efficient appliances when replacing: When appliances need replacement, choose A+++ rated models. While slightly more expensive, they save €40–€100 annually over their 10–15 year lifespan.

Water-saving shower heads: Low-flow shower heads (€30–€60) reduce hot water consumption by 30–40% without noticeable pressure reduction, saving €100–€180 annually.

Laptop over desktop: If replacing computers, laptops consume 75% less electricity than desktop PCs. Saves €50–€80 annually for heavy users.

Medium-cost upgrades (€500–€3,000)

These improvements require significant investment but deliver substantial long-term savings:

Insulation improvements

Attic insulation upgrade: Upgrading from poor to good attic insulation costs €1,500–€2,500 (after €1,600–€2,400 SEAI grant) and saves €200–€400 annually. Payback: 4–8 years.

Cavity wall insulation: If your home has unfilled cavity walls, insulation costs €2,000–€3,500 (after €2,500–€4,000 SEAI grant) and saves €250–€450 annually. Payback: 5–10 years.

Internal wall insulation: For solid walls without cavities, internal insulation costs €50–€90 per square meter (grants available) and saves significant heating costs in previously uninsulated homes.

Heating system upgrades

Heating controls upgrade package: Complete controls upgrade including smart thermostat, zone valves, and TRVs costs €400–€800 and saves €200–€350 annually through better heating management.

Hot water cylinder replacement: Modern, well-insulated cylinders (€600–€1,200 installed) reduce standing heat loss by 50–70% compared to old models, saving €80–€150 annually.

Windows and doors

Secondary glazing: Adding secondary glazing to single-glazed windows costs €200–€400 per window and reduces heat loss by 40–50%. Payback varies but typically 8–15 years.

External door replacement: Replacing old external doors with insulated modern doors costs €800–€2,000 per door and reduces heat loss while improving security and appearance.

Major investments (€5,000–€20,000+)

These upgrades transform home energy performance with SEAI grant support:

Comprehensive insulation

Full building fabric upgrade: Combining attic, cavity, and external wall insulation can cost €8,000–€15,000 after grants and reduce heating needs by 40–60%, saving €600–€1,200 annually. Payback: 8–15 years.

External wall insulation (EWI): For solid-wall homes, EWI costs €12,000–€25,000 (grants cover 35–50%) and dramatically improves thermal performance, saving €400–€800 annually.

Heating system replacement

Heat pump installation: Air-to-water heat pumps cost €12,000–€18,000 (after €6,500 SEAI grant) and reduce heating costs by 30–50% (€450–€900 annually) compared to oil or LPG. Payback: 10–18 years.

Condensing boiler replacement: If your boiler is over 15 years old, a new condensing boiler costs €3,500–€5,500 (€700 grant available) and saves 20–30% on heating costs (€300–€450 annually). Payback: 8–12 years.

Windows

Full double glazing: Replacing all single-glazed windows with A-rated double glazing costs €8,000–€15,000 (no specific grants but may qualify as part of deep retrofit) and saves €250–€500 annually. Payback: 15–30 years.

Triple glazing: For new builds or major renovations, triple glazing costs 20–30% more than double glazing but provides 10–15% additional energy savings.

Renewable energy

Solar panels: 4kW solar panel system costs €7,600–€10,000 after €2,400 SEAI grant and saves €700–€1,000 annually on electricity. Payback: 8–12 years.

Solar panels with battery: Adding €3,900–€6,500 battery storage (€600 grant) increases self-consumption and savings to €900–€1,400 annually. Combined payback: 10–14 years.

Solar water heating: Solar thermal panels cost €3,000–€5,000 (after €1,200 grant) and save €200–€350 annually on water heating. Payback: 10–18 years.

Prioritizing improvements

Not all measures suit every home. Prioritize based on:

Start with these if present:

No attic insulation: This should be the first major investment. The return is excellent and grants cover most costs.

Single-glazed windows in main rooms: At minimum, address living areas and bedrooms. Full replacement can wait.

Boiler over 20 years old: Efficiency declines dramatically with age. Replacement should be a priority.

No heating controls: Even basic programmable controls deliver 15–20% savings immediately.

Address these next:

Unfilled cavity walls: If your home was built between 1930–2000 with cavity walls, this is usually cost-effective.

Poor external doors: Significant heat loss occurs here, and replacement improves comfort dramatically.

Old inefficient appliances: When replacement is needed anyway, choose efficient models.

Consider these later:

External wall insulation: Expensive and disruptive but essential for solid-wall homes seeking deep energy savings.

Heat pump installation: Makes most sense when boiler needs replacement and you have good insulation already.

Triple glazing: Premium option delivering marginal improvements over good double glazing in Irish climate.

Using SEAI grants effectively

The SEAI Better Energy Homes scheme provides substantial grant support:

Available grants (2025 amounts)

Insulation:

  • Attic insulation: Up to €1,600–€2,400
  • Cavity wall insulation: Up to €2,500–€4,000
  • External wall insulation: Up to €8,000–€13,500
  • Internal wall insulation: Up to €5,000–€8,000

Heating:

  • Heat pump: €6,500
  • Heating controls upgrade: €700
  • Solar thermal: €1,200

Renewable energy:

  • Solar PV: €2,400
  • Battery storage: €600

Grant application tips

Use registered contractors: Only SEAI-registered contractors qualify. Check the SEAI website for registered contractors in your area.

BER assessment required: Most grants require a Building Energy Rating assessment before and after work. Factor €200–€350 for BER certs into project costs.

Bundle improvements: Doing multiple improvements together often qualifies for higher grant amounts and reduced total costs through economies of scale.

Energy poverty scheme: Lower-income households may qualify for free or heavily subsidized upgrades through Energy Poverty schemes. Check eligibility on the SEAI website.

Plan ahead: Grant funding can run out later in the year. Apply early in the budget cycle for best availability.

Behavioral changes that compound savings

Technology and insulation provide the foundation, but daily habits significantly impact total savings:

Temperature discipline: Maintaining lower temperature settings (19–20°C living areas, 18°C bedrooms) rather than drifting upward saves consistently over time.

Seasonal adjustment: Different heating schedules for different seasons. Winter may require two heating periods daily; spring/autumn often need only one.

Zone heating: Heat only occupied rooms. Close doors to unoccupied spaces and turn off radiators there.

Hot water efficiency: Shorter showers, fuller washing loads, and avoiding unnecessary hot water use compound over time.

Electricity awareness: Consciousness about leaving lights on, devices charging unnecessarily, and standby consumption creates ongoing savings.

Regular maintenance: Annual boiler service, radiator bleeding, filter cleaning, and similar maintenance ensures systems operate at peak efficiency.

Monitoring and measuring success

Track improvements to maintain motivation and identify issues:

Read meters weekly: Weekly meter readings show consumption patterns and highlight unusual usage.

Keep energy bills: Compare bills year-over-year to see actual savings after improvements. Account for weather differences between years.

Use smart meters: If you have a smart meter, use the display unit to monitor real-time consumption and identify high-use periods.

Temperature logging: Note indoor temperatures in different rooms to ensure even heating and identify cold spots needing attention.

Document improvements: Keep records of all improvements, dates, costs, and expected savings. This helps with future decisions and adds value if selling.

Common mistakes to avoid

Several pitfalls undermine energy-saving efforts:

Overheating: Adding insulation but maintaining the same high temperatures wastes much of the benefit. Expect to reduce thermostat settings after insulation improvements.

Ignoring ventilation: Improved airtightness requires adequate ventilation. Don’t seal homes so tightly that air quality suffers. Trickle vents and mechanical ventilation may be needed.

Skipping maintenance: Neglecting annual boiler service, radiator bleeding, or filter cleaning gradually erodes efficiency gains.

Incorrect priorities: Installing expensive solar panels in a poorly insulated home delivers poor returns. Insulation and heating efficiency come first.

DIY disasters: Some jobs (electrical work, gas heating, structural insulation) require professionals. Poor DIY installation can cost more to fix than proper professional work initially.

Unrealistic expectations: Energy improvements deliver gradual, cumulative savings. Don’t expect dramatic single-month bill reductions. Track annually for accurate assessment.

FAQ

What home energy improvement gives the best return in Ireland?

Attic insulation typically delivers the best financial return, with payback periods of 4–8 years when including SEAI grants. After attic insulation, programmable heating controls and cavity wall insulation (if applicable) provide strong returns.

How much can I realistically save on energy bills?

Most Irish homes can reduce energy costs by 20–30% through low and medium-cost improvements (€1,000–€4,000 investment). With major upgrades including insulation, heating system replacement, and solar panels, savings of 40–60% are achievable but require €15,000–€30,000 investment even after grants.

Should I insulate or replace my heating system first?

Almost always insulate first. Adding insulation reduces your heating needs, allowing you to install a smaller, less expensive heating system later. Installing a new heating system in a poorly insulated home means paying for a larger, more expensive system than necessary.

Are SEAI grants worth the paperwork?

Yes, absolutely. SEAI grants typically cover 30–50% of improvement costs. For a €10,000 insulation project, a €3,500–€4,500 grant dramatically improves financial returns. The paperwork is manageable and usually handled largely by contractors.

What if I can’t afford major upgrades?

Start with free and low-cost measures. Behavioral changes and improvements costing under €500 can still save €200–€400 annually. Build savings from these measures toward larger investments over time. Consider energy poverty schemes if income-qualified.

Reducing home energy costs requires a systematic approach combining no-cost behavioral changes, targeted low-cost improvements, and strategic major upgrades. Start with quick wins, build toward comprehensive improvements, and use SEAI grants to reduce costs and improve returns.

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