‘Exponential’ growth needed to hit retrofitting targets

The Government has been warned that “exponential” growth is needed to hit targets outlined in its flagship retrofitting strategy, launched on Tuesday.

Under the €8 billion initiative, grants of up to half the project cost of retrofitting homes to improve their energy efficiency will be available to householders.

Ministers were told a step-change in the pace and scale of delivery is needed to achieve the aims of the programme, which envisages 500,000 “deep” retrofits being completed by the end of the decade.

A memo brought to Cabinet by Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan outlined how 75,000 such retrofits will have to be done on average every year in order to hit targets.

Low-cost loans for deep home retrofits will not be available until summer

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While 15,500 energy upgrades were completed last year, only 4,600 homes were given a “deep” upgrade to B2 standard in the State’s energy-rating system. Just 8,600 upgrades to B2 are expected this year.

The number of skilled workers needed to complete the programme is estimated at about 17,000, quadruple the level currently available.