Improving your homes energy rating doesn’t require a full renovation or huge budget. With a few smart, low-cost upgrades, you can reduce energy bills, improve comfort and boost your BER rating especially when you start with insulation and add solar PV. Here’s how to get the biggest impact for the lowest cost.

Start with Attic Insulation & Draught-Proofing (Biggest Impact, Lowest Cost)

If heat is escaping through your roof and gaps around doors, you’re wasting energy and money.
Why this works:
Attic insulation can reduce heat loss by up to 25%
Draught-proofing delivers instant comfort
Quick installation with minimal disruption
Improves your energy rating fast
This is usually the cheapest and most effective first step for most homes.

Add Solar PV to Cut Electricity Bills Long-Term

Once your home is better insulated, adding solar PV helps you generate your own electricity and further improve your energy rating.

Why solar PV makes sense:
Reduces reliance on the grid
Lowers annual electricity costs
Improves BER rating
Increases property value

When combined with attic insulation, solar PV delivers maximum value because you’re using less energy and generating your own.

Improve Controls & Small Efficiency Upgrades

Small upgrades add up, especially when paired with insulation and solar PV.

Low-cost improvements include:
Smart thermostats and heating controls (e.g. from Google Nest or Hive)
Insulating hot water pipes and cylinders
Switching to LED lighting

These changes reduce wasted energy and support a better overall energy rating.

Get a Home Energy Assessment (So You Don’t Waste Money)

The cheapest way to improve your energy rating is to spend in the right order.

A professional home energy assessment shows:
Where your home is losing energy
Which upgrades will improve your rating the most
The best time to install attic insulation and solar PV

In Ireland, guidance and grant-backed upgrade pathways are supported by SEAI. For most homes, the cheapest path to a better energy rating is to insulate first, seal draughts, improve heating controls and then add solar PV. This approach delivers lower bills, better comfort, and long-term savings.

Use our online cost calculator to get your project estimate today and let House2Home guide you through the process from start to finish.

📞 Get in touch today or visit House2Home.ie today.