Upgrade to a comfortable and warm home
Cormac Madden has spent several years upgrading the energy efficiency of his family home. He lives in County Dublin with his wife and two sons, who are enjoying the extra comfort it provides.
The works
Cormac has worked for ESB for many years so is no stranger to energy efficiency and the benefits it brings. He knew about heat pumps long before it they became the 'must-have' heating system for homes moving away from fossil fuels. He knew that over time, he could reduce their home's carbon emissions and make the house warmer and more comfortable to live in.
As a first step, Cormac and his wife looked at how they could insulate their home and keep the heat in. They started with attic insulation and a few years later, they also got external wall insulation.
In 2016, he wanted to tackle any remaining sources of heat loss to bring the house to an even higher standard. This involved replacing doors and windows and getting an air to water heat pump and a ventilation system installed. As a final measure, they installed solar PV.
"It's transformational. It's the appliance of choice for me. I would often say that in the future it won't be a new kitchen that will be the object of desire in a home, it will be a heat pump."
The process
Cormac contracted Electric Ireland Superhomes, an energy agency, to manage the heat pump installation and solar PV. Superhomes provided a project manager, who oversaw all the works and managed third-party contractors, which was a great relief to Cormac.
A BER assessor inspected the house to recommend what further works were needed to improve the BER and make the home heat-pump ready.
Cormac availed of all the relevant SEAI grants which was a great help when financing the project.
The house has now achieved an A3 energy rating, making it super efficient and very pleasant to live in. Cormac and his family never have to think about the heating as it maintains a constant comfortable temperature. There are no longer any draughts or cold mornings, even when it's freezing outside.
Recommendations
Cormac strongly recommends upgrading the energy efficiency of your home and replacing your oil or gas boiler with a heat pump. The house doesn't cool down, it stays at that constant, comfortable temperature and there is abundant hot water available.
"It's transformational. It's the appliance of choice for me. I would often say that in the future it won't be a new kitchen that will be the object of desire in a home, it will be a heat pump."
Learn more about SEAI's Home Energy Upgrades