Sir, – The seemingly counter-intuitive phenomenon of A-rated houses having similar energy usage levels to their G-rated counterparts has a very straightforward and logical reason.
Simply put, those who can afford to retrofit are in the same cohort of society as those who can afford to overheat their homes once retrofitted. It is simply a question of comfort and convenience.
This “backfire” or rebound effect is grounded in well-known behavioural change post retrofits. The entire house, often also larger, having been extended, will now be fully heated to a higher temperature throughout and for longer periods as the heat produced is no longer “going out the window or up the chimney”. T-shirts and shorts being worn in January indoors is no longer reserved for tropical climates for those who can afford it.
This does not mean that retrofitting should be abandoned. Rather than focusing on universal retrofit grants available to all, the Government should be focused on retrofitting all social housing first and providing fully funded retrofits targeting lower-income households.
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Not only will this provide the energy savings to those who need it most financially but it will also improve their living standards and long-term health outcomes. Otherwise the divide between those who can afford this comfort and convenience and those who cannot will continue to increase.
On an optimistic note for the future, as solar and battery technology and efficiency continues to improve, there is the real possibility that the carbon-intensive action of retrofitting will be rendered less critical as the green-electrical energy needed to heat our homes and hot water is readily produced on-site and in abundance. At that point we should all be equally able to wear T-shirts and shorts in January no matter what the weather outside. – Yours, etc,
ALAN BURNS, MRIAI,
Blackrock,
Dublin.
Sir, – Your article “EVs, solar panels and heat pumps concentrated in affluent areas of Ireland” (Climate Crisis, March 13th) hit home today. Electric Ireland called me about my application for the one-stop-shop home-insulation service.
Because my house is built before 1940, I must pay to have a conservation architect to the house before I am eligible for the grants. I was also told that taking out a gas boiler and fitting a heat pump – which is required for the one-stop-shop service – costs €18,000-€20,000.
I can now understand why heat pumps and solar panels are found in more affluent areas. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O’SULLIVAN,
Old Youghal Road,
Cork.
