THE Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has announced a boost in the level of grants available to Kerry householders who want to undertake energy efficiency improvements.

The cash value of every grant available to householders under the Government’s Better Energy Homes scheme has been increased by between 25-50%. In addition, a bonus payment has been introduced which will see householders receive bonus payments if they complete three or more energy efficiency improvements.

To date, a total of 8,530 households in Kerry have availed of the Better Energy Homes grants since it was launched in 2009.  The Better Energy Homes scheme provides grants to homeowners to undertake energy efficiency measures such as insulating walls or attics and installing new heating systems.

The new grant levels came into effect at the beginning of March and will apply to everyone who has applied for a grant that has not yet been paid. The previous minimum grant threshold of €400 has been abolished and a bonus payment of €300 for householders who undertake three efficiency measures has been introduced, with an additional bonus payment of €100 available to householders who undertake four measures.

The bonus payments are available to new applicants and to householders who have already availed of the scheme who wish to undertake further upgrades.

Under the revised scheme, a family in a semi-detached house could benefit from a grant payment of up to €4,700 for external wall insulation, a boiler and heating control upgrade, and cavity and attic insulation. A couple in an apartment could receive €3,400 towards internal wall insulation, a boiler and heating control upgrade and the installation of solar thermal heating.