Article updated: 16.02.2024
Rising energy bills have taken a real toll on homeowners in recent years. No wonder a lot of us are looking for ways to lessen the impact of increased costs of living. At the same time, we are more and more aware that windows and doors play a major role in energy loss in our homes. Taking advantage of door and window replacement funding is the best way to upgrade the energy efficiency of one’s own home – without spending enormous sums of money on it.
In 2023, home energy grants in Ireland have been an especially heated issue. At Fenbro, we were (and still are!) flooded with window replacement funding-related questions from our customers on a daily basis. As a result, we prepared the article with all the relevant information and tips on the available grants for new windows and doors in 2023 – and it was the most frequently read post on our blog ever! As many of you in 2024 are still asking: Are there any grants for renovations? We are happy to report: Yes, there are! We have again gathered all the grants for windows and doors in this article, including SEAI grants 2024. The big news is that this time our article is not only all about window grants Ireland 2024 but also the government funding in the UK! Read on to learn more about grants for windows and doors in 2024!
What does the house grant consist of?
In 2023, we advised our Irish customers who wanted to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient to take an interest in SEAI home grants. In 2024, our window and door grants
recommendations do not change.The SEAI abbreviation stands for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and it is an Irish governmental body established to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. In order to help homeowners and business owners reduce their energy costs and greenhouse emissions, SEAI offers windows and doors funding, such as grants for new windows and replacement window funding. These window and door grants are dedicated to those citizens who find it challenging to come up with the funds needed for the home energy upgrades. And we do not have to highlight how important the latter are in terms of increasing the levels of your living comfort, do we?
A full home energy upgrade, achieved with, among others, government funding for new windows and doors, has numerous benefits. It enables you to enjoy a warmer and cosier home, save on energy bills, reduce your emissions and carbon footprint and – last but not least – increase the value of your property. When it comes to SEAI grants 2024, we can divide them into three main categories – each of them depends on your situation and current needs:
- Fully Funded Energy Upgrade: 100% funded home upgrade grants
- Individual Energy Upgrade Grants: Up to 80% funded home energy upgrades
- One Stop Shop Service: Up to 50% cost
What does the 2024 window replacement program cover?
Similarly as in 2023, the grants for windows and doors from government 2024 will help you manage your home energy upgrade. However, each of them covers different home improvements and is directed at different recipients. Below we describe the available SEAI home grants in Ireland in 2024 – it’s up to you to decide which one will be the most beneficial for you!
Fully Funded Energy Upgrade Grant provides free energy-efficient home upgrades for homeowners who receive certain welfare payments. An SEAI surveyor will assess their property and recommend the most suitable upgrades to help make their home warmer, healthier, and cheaper to run. The suggested solutions will depend on the age, size, existing heating system and condition of the property. Apart from replacement windows funding, the covered home improvements generally include: attic insulation, cavity wall insulation, external as well as internal wall insulation, heating system upgrade, draught proofing, ventilation and lagging jackets. After the works are completed, SEAI registered assessors will carry out a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment to rate home’s energy performance on a scale between A and G (where A-rated homes are the most energy efficient).
One Stop Shop Service is the only scheme that allows for a complete home energy upgrade. It includes not only windows and doors funding but also a wide range of SEAI grants for external insulation, internal and cavity wall insulation, floor insulation, rafter insulation, attic insulation, heat pump systems, solar panels, heating controls, mechanical ventilation, central heating system and many more. The access to this grant is possible only through registered SEAI contractors (called One Stop Shops). They take care of the entire project: from the initial assessment, through placing the SEAI grant application and conducting the work to providing a Building Energy Rating of at least a ‘B2’ at the completion of works.
Grants for windows and doors from government 2024 Ireland
If you are looking mainly for funding to replace windows and doors, both Fully Funded Energy Upgrade Grant and One Stop Shop Service will be suitable schemes for you. Both of them recognise the importance of energy-efficient windows and doors in conserving energy and keeping your energy bills down.
Remember that if you are applying for windows and doors funding, you’ll need an up-to-date BER certificate. BER stands for Building Energy Rating. It shows the energy performance of your home: how much you spend on energy, how much carbon your home produces and how comfortable your home is. Thanks to the assessment, you will know the condition of your home and get guidance on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency. A valid building energy rating cert will be needed to complete the window and door grants paperwork. If you want to learn more about BER certificates, go to THIS blog article.
With the correct BER assessment conducted before applying for a new window grant, you will be able to decide whether to go for double glazing grants or decide on triple glazing. We often hear from our customers: Are there government grants for double glazing? If we are to be honest, we don’t see much sense in grants for windows with double-glazed units. Why? Well, simply because triple glazed windows are approximately 30% more thermally efficient than the double-glazed ones. Note: the price difference between double glazed and triple glazed windows is up to 15%.
Consequently, the energy savings will be much higher, meaning your heating bills will be lowered. When you are thinking about e.g. grants for uPVC windows, check the Fenbro offer . Go to a selected product page and learn about its Specifications, paying special attention to U-values. A good U-Value would be 1.3 for double glazing and around 1.0 for triple glazed windows. Always choose the most beneficial solution for your home!
Who can apply for a grant? – criteria for homes
Before deciding on window and door grants, make sure you are eligible for that particular type of support. In the case of Fully Funded Energy Upgrade Grant, you must own and live in your own home that was built and occupied before 2006. It is also obligatory for you to receive certain welfare payments, such as Fuel Allowance (as part of the National Fuel Scheme), Job Seekers Allowance, Working Family Payment, One-Parent Family Payment, Domiciliary Care Allowance, Carers Allowance or Disability Allowance.
One Stop Shop Service is intended for homeowners and private landlords whose houses were built and occupied before 2011. Such recipients should be prepared to upgrade their property to a minimum B2 BER and be able to pay for the works net of eligible grants.
Remember: the key to a successful application for grants for windows and doors from the government 2024 is fulfilling all the requirements of the chosen scheme. Read through the criteria for SEAI grants 2024 and if you think they may apply to you, don’t wait and make an online application!
How can I apply for SEAI grants 2024?
The SEAI grant application procedures are relatively clear and simple. Generally, they include a similar series of steps that may vary slightly, depending on the grant you’re applying for. Steps to follow for Fully Funded Energy Upgrade Grant include:
- Reading the Scheme and Application Guidelines
- Completing the Application Form and, if relevant, the Carers Allowance Confirmation Form
- Asking the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) to complete the relevant section of the application form
- Submitting your application by post to:
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
PO BOX 119
Cahirciveen
Co. Kerry
When it comes to applying for One Stop Shop Service, you should contact an SEAI registered One Stop Shop first. The list of all the providers is available on the SEAI website. Try to find out more about their offer and ensure this is the right scheme for you. In case of any additional questions, you should also send your inquiry to the above mentioned SEAI postal address.
Window replacement funding in the UK
In the UK, 2024 grants for home improvements and repairs are available to homeowners under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) scheme. It provides home insulation grants for energy-efficient upgrades to homes reducing emissions, electricity and energy bills. These grants help to fund heating systems like boilers, loft or cavity wall insulation and other measures (including double glazing) designed to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.This UK-wide scheme is running until 31 March 2026 and it targets mainly low-income households. It is one of many mechanisms the UK government has established to help households to achieve their goal of going 100% carbon neutral.
The eligibility criteria for window replacement funding under the ECO4 scheme is based on receiving income-related benefits. Generally, if you own or rent a property that is heated with electricity and receive income-related benefits, you are very likely to qualify for a government grant. Go to THIS website to check if you meet the required criteria.
However, if you live in the UK and don’t receive any income-related benefits, you may still qualify for replacement window funding under the Local Authority Eligibility Flexibility (LA Flex) scheme. It is the support directed at those who do not qualify for ECO4 but live in fuel poverty or on a low income. The funding includes costs for double glazing, loft insulation, and heating upgrades and the application process is handled by Local Authority (council) as opposed to energy suppliers in the ECO4 scheme.
How can Fenbro help you with a grant?
As we have already explained before, it is you who apply to SEAI or ECO4 for chosen windows and doors funding. The qualified and certified surveyors and assessors pay you home visit to conduct an inspection of your home’s energy efficiency measures and make energy upgrade recommendations. At this point, feel free to contact Fenbro Sales Team anytime to ask for the energy-efficient window and door models that meet the project requirements. Our specialist will offer their expertise and thorough product knowledge to help you make the best possible purchase choices.
What is more, we can provide you with all the necessary purchase documentation: invoices, sales contract and product certificates. All of this is to prove that windows and doors bought from Fenbro are characterised by the highest quality and thus, perfectly complement your home energy upgrade in 2024!
