Why Insulate First?
Insulation is the foundation of every good home energy upgrade. A typical uninsulated Irish home loses 25–30% of its heat through the roof and another 30–35% through the walls. Fixing these leaks is the fastest, cheapest way to make your home warmer and reduce energy bills.
SEAI consistently recommends starting with insulation before considering solar panels or a heat pump. A well-insulated home needs a smaller, cheaper heat pump and maximises the benefit of every other upgrade.
All Insulation & Window Grant Amounts
Attic Insulation
The most cost-effective single upgrade. SEAI estimates the grant now covers approximately 80% of the average cost for attic insulation.
| Home Type | Standard | First-Time Buyer | Welfare Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached house | €2,000 | €2,500 | €2,500 |
| Semi-detached / End-terrace | €1,300 | €2,500 | €2,500 |
| Mid-terrace | €1,200 | €2,500 | €2,500 |
| Apartment | €800 | €2,500 | €2,500 |
First-time buyers of existing homes can now receive a flat €2,500 grant for attic insulation regardless of home type — that's €500 more than the standard detached house rate. This often covers the entire cost of the work.
Cavity Wall Insulation
Quick, low-disruption, and highly effective for homes built between the 1930s and 1990s that have unfilled cavity walls.
| Home Type | Standard | Welfare Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Detached house | €1,800 | €2,300 |
| Semi-detached / End-terrace | €1,200 | €2,300 |
| Mid-terrace | €800 | €2,300 |
| Apartment | €700 | €2,300 |
External Wall Insulation
The premium option for solid-wall homes — wrapping your home in an insulating layer. Most expensive but most effective, with the highest grants available.
| Home Type | Grant Amount | Typical Total Cost | Your Cost After Grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached house | €8,000 | €15,000–€25,000 | €7,000–€17,000 |
| Semi-detached / End-terrace | €6,000 | €10,000–€18,000 | €4,000–€12,000 |
| Mid-terrace / Apartment | €3,000 | €6,000–€12,000 | €3,000–€9,000 |
Internal Wall Insulation (Dry Lining)
An alternative to external insulation — insulating from the inside. Less disruptive externally but reduces room size slightly. Good for homes where external insulation isn't practical.
| Home Type | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| Detached house | €4,500 |
| Semi-detached / End-terrace | €3,500 |
| Mid-terrace | €2,000 |
| Apartment | €1,500 |
Homeowners who previously received a cavity wall or internal wall insulation grant can now apply for a second wall measure. You could get cavity wall done first (lower cost) and later add external insulation for maximum performance.
Windows & Doors — Brand New Grant for 2026
From March 2026, SEAI introduced a standalone windows and doors grant for the first time. This is one of the most requested measures and will make a significant difference to comfort and energy bills.
| Measure | Detached | Semi-d / End-terrace | Mid-terrace | Apartment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | €4,000 | €3,000 | €1,800 | €1,500 |
| External doors (€800 each, max 2) | €1,600 | |||
| Maximum combined | €5,600 | €4,600 | €3,400 | €3,100 |
Your home must have adequate attic and wall insulation to qualify for the windows grant. Specifically, your Heat Loss Indicator (HLI) must be 2.3 W/m²K or lower. If your BER Advisory Report shows attic and walls rated "Good" or "Very Good," you should meet this. If not, upgrade insulation first (claiming those grants), then apply for windows.
What Order Should I Upgrade?
SEAI and most energy advisors recommend this sequence for maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness:
- Attic insulation — cheapest, quickest, biggest immediate impact. Grant covers most of the cost.
- Wall insulation — cavity wall if your home has cavities, external or internal if solid walls. This is the biggest single upgrade for comfort.
- Windows and doors — once attic and walls are done (you'll need them for the HLI requirement anyway).
- Heat pump — now your insulated home needs less heat, so a smaller, cheaper heat pump will suffice.
- Solar panels — generate electricity to power the heat pump and everything else.
This phased approach is exactly what the individual grants are designed for — you can do one step at a time as budget allows, claiming separate grants at each stage.