Heat Pump Technical Assessments
Our technical advisor will guide you on the energy performance of your home, particularly on the suitability of your home for a heat pump system based on the dwelling’s heat loss. We will also provide you with independent guidance on measures necessary to ensure that the dwelling fabric heat loss is lowered to an acceptable level for a heat pump system to perform effectively and efficiently. At the end of the assessment, we will provide you with a technical assessment report.
Heat Pump Grants currently available
Air to Water Heat Pump €3,500
Ground Source to Water Heat Pump €3,500
Exhaust Air to Water Heat Pump €3,500
Water to Water Heat Pump €3,500
Air to Air Heat Pump €600
Heat Pump Technical Assessment Grant
SEAI are also offering a €200 grant towards a technical assessment by a registered Technical Advisor. This is only payable if you go ahead with a heat pump installation.
Bonuses
Heat pump grants are just one of a whole suite of grants available under the Better Energy Homes Scheme. There is also funding available for insulation, solar panels and heating upgrades. If you implement three grant measures you will receive an additional €300. If you complete four upgrades you will receive another €100.
For more information on the grant and the technical advisor requirements, see www.seai.ie/publications
Why do I need a Technical Assessment?
In order to apply for a heat pump grant, you must have a technical assessment carried out on your home by an SEAI registered Technical Advisor. Heat pumps are extremely efficient and also cheap to run but only if installed correctly and in a suitable home. If a house is poorly insulated and/or draughty a heat pump will struggle to heat your home and will likely use large amounts of electricity in the process. On the other hand, heat pumps work superbly in well insulated and air-tight buildings. This is why they are being installed in most newly built homes nowadays.
So in order to qualify for the heat pump grant you may need to upgrade the insulation in your home first as part of your application. There is grant funding available for these upgrades.
What is involved in a Technical Assessment?
Firstly, a Technical Advisor from Net Zero will carry out a full BER survey on your home. The BER rating system is the national standard for measuring the energy efficiency of residential buildings. The technical advisor will calculate the heat loss levels from your home. If the heat loss is below a specified level, then you are eligible for the heat pump grant and can proceed with your application. If the calculated heat loss from your home is above the allowable level, your Technical Advisor will outline your various options for bringing your home up to the required standard. This could involve upgrading your wall insulation or roof insulation, replacing your windows, sealing up draughts etc.
Your Technical Advisor will advise on the most feasible, cost effective upgrades and quantify the effect each one will have on your Building Energy Rating. They will also point out the various grants you can avail of as part of this upgrade process. You will then submit your Technical Assessment Report as part of your heat pump grant application and give an undertaking to carry out the required upgrades.