If your home has a low BER rating, you may be wondering what is the cheapest way to improve your BER rating in Ireland and which energy upgrades will give you the best return for your budget.
The answer depends on your home.
At House2Home, we work with homeowners across Ireland to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties through home insulation, heat pumps, windows and doors, solar PV and complete home energy retrofits.
For some homes, relatively straightforward insulation upgrades can make a significant difference. For others, particularly older homes with a D, E, F or G BER, achieving a B2 or A rating may require a combination of measures.
Here are some of the most cost-effective places to start.
Attic Insulation
Attic insulation is often one of the cheapest ways to improve the energy efficiency of an Irish home.
A poorly insulated attic allows heat to escape through the roof, meaning your heating system has to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Upgrading attic insulation can help:
- Reduce heat loss
- Keep your home warmer
- Reduce heating demand
- Improve energy efficiency
- Contribute towards a better BER rating
For homes with little or no existing attic insulation, this can be one of the first measures worth considering.
SEAI grants are also available for attic insulation, subject to eligibility.
Cavity Wall Insulation
If your property has suitable cavity walls, cavity wall insulation can be one of the most cost-effective wall insulation options.
Insulation is pumped into the cavity between the internal and external walls, reducing the amount of heat escaping through the building.
It is generally less disruptive than internal or external wall insulation and can offer excellent value where the construction of the property is suitable.
However, not every Irish home has cavity walls, and the condition and construction of the property need to be assessed before recommending this type of insulation.
Internal or External Wall Insulation
For homes without suitable cavity walls, improving wall insulation may require internal wall insulation (dry lining) or external wall insulation.
These are more substantial investments than cavity wall insulation, but walls can represent a major source of heat loss in older Irish homes.
Internal Wall Insulation
Internal insulation involves applying insulation to the inside of external walls.
It can be particularly relevant for older solid-wall properties where cavity insulation isn’t possible.
External Wall Insulation
External wall insulation involves wrapping the exterior of the property in a layer of insulation before applying a new external finish.
Although it represents a larger investment, it can significantly improve the thermal performance of suitable homes while also transforming the exterior appearance.
There are SEAI grants available towards eligible wall insulation measures, which can reduce the overall cost to the homeowner.
Improve Airtightness and Ventilation
Insulating a home is only part of an effective retrofit.
Uncontrolled air leakage through gaps around floors, walls, windows and other parts of the building can allow valuable heat to escape.
Improving airtightness can therefore help reduce heat loss and improve comfort.
However, airtightness and ventilation need to be considered together.
As homes become better insulated and more airtight, an appropriate ventilation system is important for maintaining indoor air quality and managing moisture.
For this reason, House2Home considers the property as a whole rather than simply installing individual measures without considering how they interact.
Upgrade Your Windows and Doors
Replacing windows and doors is a larger investment, but it can be worthwhile where existing units are old, draughty or performing poorly.
Modern energy-efficient windows and doors can help reduce heat loss and improve comfort, particularly when combined with insulation and airtightness improvements.
For homeowners considering a more comprehensive retrofit, windows and doors may form part of the overall package of measures required to reach the desired BER.
SEAI grant support may also be available for eligible window and door upgrades through the One Stop Shop route.
Consider a Heat Pump
A heat pump isn’t usually the cheapest individual BER upgrade, but it can have a major impact on the overall energy performance of a suitable property.
Heat pumps provide highly efficient heating without relying on a traditional oil or gas boiler.
The important point is that the home needs to be suitable for a heat pump.
In many older properties, insulation, airtightness and other fabric upgrades need to be addressed first.
Installing a heat pump should therefore form part of a properly planned retrofit rather than automatically being the first upgrade undertaken.
Add Solar PV
Solar PV is another popular way to improve the energy performance of an Irish home.
Solar panels generate renewable electricity that can be used within your property, reducing the amount of electricity you need to purchase from the grid.
There is also an SEAI grant available for eligible Solar PV installations.
Solar can contribute towards a better BER, but if your home has a very poor energy rating, addressing insulation and heat loss may provide a better starting point.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Improve a BER Rating?
For many homes, the most cost-effective approach is to start with the building fabric.
That means reducing the amount of heat escaping from the property before investing heavily in heating and renewable technologies.
Depending on the home, this could include:
Attic insulation → wall insulation → airtightness and ventilation → windows and doors → heating system → solar PV
However, there is no single combination that works for every property.
A 1970s detached house with cavity walls may require a completely different retrofit specification from a 1930s semi-detached home or a Victorian solid-wall terrace.
That’s why understanding the existing property is so important.
How Can I Improve My BER from D to B?
This is one of the most common questions we receive from homeowners.
Moving from a D-rated home to a B-rated home will usually require more than one energy upgrade.
Depending on the property, a combination could include:
- Attic insulation
- Wall insulation
- Floor insulation
- Airtightness improvements
- Appropriate ventilation
- Energy-efficient windows and doors
- A heat pump
- Solar PV
The exact measures required depend on the existing construction and energy performance of the home.
For homeowners undertaking a significant retrofit, the objective is often to achieve B2 or better, particularly where the project is being completed through the SEAI One Stop Shop scheme.
How Can I Improve an F or G BER Rating?
An F or G-rated property typically has considerable scope for improvement.
These homes may have limited insulation, older windows and doors and inefficient heating systems.
While this means more work may be required, it also means a well-planned retrofit can potentially make a substantial difference to how the home feels.
Rather than choosing upgrades individually, we would generally recommend assessing the whole property and identifying the combination of measures needed to achieve the desired result.
Should I Get a Home Energy Assessment?
If you’re considering a significant home energy upgrade, a Home Energy Assessment (HEA) is an important first step.
The assessment allows the existing property to be evaluated and helps establish:
- The current energy performance of the home
- Where heat is being lost
- Which retrofit measures are appropriate
- Which SEAI grants may be available
- The potential BER following the proposed upgrades
This gives you a much clearer retrofit plan before committing to substantial works.
SEAI Grants for Improving Your BER
The cost of improving your BER can be significantly reduced through SEAI home energy grants.
Depending on the property and project, grant support may be available towards measures including:
- Attic insulation
- Wall insulation
- Floor insulation
- Heat pumps
- Windows and doors
- Solar PV
- Ventilation
- Other qualifying retrofit measures
For homeowners completing several measures together, the SEAI One Stop Shop scheme provides a route to a more comprehensive home energy upgrade.
As an SEAI registered One Stop Shop, House2Home can manage the retrofit process, including assessment, grant administration, upgrade works and the final BER.
How Much Does It Cost to Improve Your BER?
The cost can vary considerably depending on the property.
The size and age of your home, existing BER, wall construction, heating system and upgrades required will all influence the final cost.
That’s why comparing your home with a generic retrofit price online isn’t always particularly useful.
Instead, you can get an initial indication based on your own property using the House2Home Retrofit Cost Calculator.
Get an Indicative Retrofit Cost
Our online calculator allows you to enter details about your home and explore the potential cost of different energy upgrades.
You’ll receive an indication of:
- Recommended energy upgrades
- Estimated project costs
- Potential SEAI grant support
- Potential BER improvement
Use the House2Home Retrofit Cost Calculator:
https://house2home.ie/calculator/
It only takes a few minutes and can give you a useful starting point before progressing to a full Home Energy Assessment.
Improve Your BER with House2Home
The cheapest way to improve your BER isn’t necessarily about choosing the cheapest individual upgrade.
It’s about identifying which improvements will make the biggest difference to your particular home and ensuring the money you spend now works towards your longer-term energy goals.
At House2Home, we specialise in complete home energy retrofits and help homeowners navigate the process from the initial assessment through to the completed works and final BER.
Whether you’re trying to move from a D rating to B2, transform an F or G-rated property, or work towards an A-rated home, the first step is understanding what your property actually needs.
Find out what your home could cost to upgrade with our Retrofit Cost Calculator:
https://house2home.ie/calculator/