Tipperary Energy Agency has launched a pilot funding project that aims to deliver a deep retrofit for homes funded with a repayable loan and significant capital discounts. The project aims to move away from shallow retrofit and test applications of whole house retrofit focusing on cost effective solutions. This type of retrofit is designed to significantly decrease Ireland’s carbon emissions from the domestic sector and is critical to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

1. 2015 Superhomes Project
•Project need
•Key components
•What’s different

2. TEA & Domestic Retrofit
• House of Tomorrow 2006
– 80 Social houses
– Shallow works
• 2008-2012
– SERVE (EU Concerto)
– Incorporating National Retrofit Pilot
– 347 houses; 45% theory; 37% actual savings
• Social Housing 2013
– TEA secured 2.5M for social housing retrofit
– 502 social houses across all towns.
– 75% fuel allowance
• Private Housing 2014
– 150 private houses
– 85% Fuel allowance
– 800 applications
• Private Housing 2015
– 2015 Warmer homes 140 houses
– 2015 Super homes Near Zero
advanced retrofit

3. Domestic Retrofit
• EU FP6 Concerto “Sustainable energy demonstration
project.
– Targeting 347 existing, 80 new homes in Tipperary, 20 business
– Concentrating on Retrofitting best value for money
– 45% Theoretical reduction in heating. 37% actual
– Technical & policy reports for government
– Socioeconomic research
– €4M EU grant
– €10M total Project
– 200 job years!
– 600 sensors monitoring
– Many lessons

4. Climate Change Reality
• “The latest science makes it clear that the world needs to reach zero
carbon emissions globally by 2050 to maximise chances of staying
below 2 degrees and to make 1.5 degrees feasible,”… Mary Robinson,
NUI maynooth, Summer 2015
• End fossil fuels for heating and electricity by 2040
• Grid Electricity is a huge challenge (but not for Today’s discussion!!)
• For housing:
– Elimination of fossil fuel at household level.
– Energy Efficiency
– Renewable energy primary and secondary heat.
• Practical implications:
– Airtightness & ventilation
– Fabric
– Wood Pellets or Heat pumps and Grid De-Carbonisation.

5. Domestic CO2 reduction options
• Credible option A:
• At generational retrofit (30-50 years) – when large works being
undertaken:
– External insulation to foundation, and through soffit.
– Remove ceilings, membrane installation, and replace floor.
– New windows & doors, airtight to fabric.
– Airtightness to 0.6-2 ACH;
– HRV, External airsource stoves, heatpumps with underfloor heating.
– 60-80k additional cost Vs standard deep renovation (re-wire/ plastering/ plumbing)
– BER of 40-65 kWh/M2/annum.
– €300-€500 to heat.
– 1.8M houses @70k = 126Bn Euro.
– It will take 50-100 years at current renovation rate to achieve.
• We have 25.
• We need a cheaper solution.

6. Domestic CO2 reduction options
• Credible option B:
• At deep retrofit that forgoes very long payback fabric upgrades that
costs less to do, but higher ongoing heat use using RES-E (via grid)
– External insulation only for solid walls.
– Seal up gaps and holes with 3-6 man days labour to achieve 3-5ACH/ Hr.
– New front doors.
– New windows where > 3Uvalue; new glazing where frames have long life left.
– Heat recovery ventialtion or Demand controlled extract ventilation (i.e. not hole in
wall!!)
– Heatpumps with LT rads (COP 3 expected) or pellets.
– 20-40k cost.
– BER of 70-100 kWh/M2/annum.
– €600- €800 to heat vs €1800 (18MWh @10c oil; after boiler).
– 1.8M houses @25k = 45 Bn Euro. (still 8-10 x current retrofit rate!!).

7. Measures
• Minimum Requirements:
• Ventilation:
– Ideally Whole House Heat recovery Ventilation however:
• Can be excessively disruptive/ costly
• Householder may be tied to Open fires or non balanced flue stoves (HRV not ok).
– Demand Control Ventilation
– Other TBC.
• Real time electricity monitor.
• External access controls
• Hot water tank for Heat pump (i.e. Low temperature coil)
• Passiv Haus Front Door.

8. Measures
Optional additions:
•Cavity wall insulation - mandatory if required
•External Wall insulation - mandatory if U value > 0.5
•Attic insulation. - mandatory if required
•Windows (frames and glazing) - mandatory if >2.7 U Value
•Glazing Elements (coated, warm edge spacer, inert gas)
•Solar PV (optional)
– All houses will have day / night meter upgrades for the HP.
– High day baseload with HRV.
– Solar Water heater via PV and heatpump!
– Need Low Temperature Radiators
•Low energy Lighting.
– High Quality LED’s

9. Barriers to Deep Retrofit
“I don’t know what to do, How do I know what is value for money? What
product is good, and what is not?”
“Who will do the work, and how can I trust them?”
“I can’t afford the capital cost, but I have high bills!”
“I want cheap finance, but am reluctant to remortgage”
“It’s too much hassle, if only someone would just do it for me!”
“who will make sure it is done correctly”
“if I sell the house, all the money will be wasted”

10. Superhomes Project
TEA select & support home-owner:
•Homeowner expression of interest (Webform)
•Screening phonecall & survey
•Mini-competition on framework
•Detailed report, quote (detailed savings for bank)
Report draws on significant academic research:
-Energy price trends for last 30 years.
-Do nothing cost (with historical inflation)
-Investment + cost Vs do nothing cost.
-Non energy benefits of energy efficiency (IEA)
-Argues that a financed retrofit is cheaper than no retrofit.
-Argues that equity (home value) is better than investment (mostly)

14. Superhomes Project
Bank finances work
•Home owner applies to Bank for Loan.
•Homeowner signs contract with contractor.
•TEA manage, support and certify works
•National support of 30% for deep retrofit.
•Grant drawdown to contractor to limit loan size
•Energy credit certification (SEAI) , pays loan interest.
•Homeowner commences loan repayments from a warm home.
Essentially – homeowner calls trusted intermediary, makes a few decisions
with advice, puts up with disruption & learning new controls, commences
repayments.

15. Project Partners
-National energy agency: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
-State’s largest domestic bank (AIB)
-States largest obligated energy supplier (Electric Ireland)
-States distribution grid operator (ESB networks)
-States premier academic energy research group (UCD ERC).
-The market: All major Heat pump manufacturers, selection of contractors.
-20 early adopters.

16. • Non profit, public good social enterpris
• Partnership approach
• Energy management
• Renewable energy and energy efficien
• Procurement, project mgmt.
• Cost effective, value driven
• Paul Kenny
• Chief Executive
• T: 052 7443090
• F: 052 7443012
• E: pkenny@tea.ie
• W: www.tea.ie
Tipperary Energy Agency