Respond Housing is delighted to have been approved by the Housing Finance Agency under European Investment Bank funding for energy upgrade works to 550 homes. The securing of this loan along with grant funding from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will enable deep retrofit energy upgrade works to 550 homes, in various parts of the country, at an overall project cost of €7.88 million. The wide ranging upgrade works include installation of new gas & oil boilers, heat pumps, inset stoves, heating controls, new doors and windows, attic and wall insulation, CO alarms and CFL bulbs. Since 2012, Respond has undertaken energy upgrade works to 1,340 units at an overall project cost of € 12.6 million with a grant funding from SEAI of just under €6.2 million.
Ned Brennan CEO with Respond acknowledged:
“Respond is pleased to announce that it is the first Approved Housing Body in Ireland to benefit from funding available through the European Investment Bank and the Housing Finance Agency for the retrofitting of existing social houses. Respond is also very grateful for the support we receive from the SEAI. We expect this combined financial investment will greatly enhance our properties and reduce overall heating costs to our tenants”.
Under the upgrade, householders will see a huge overall improvement in the efficiency of their homes, with less emissions and increased general comfort. Respond remains committed not only to upgrading its housing stock, in line with the requirements of planned maintenance works, but also to address issues of fuel poverty and the associated adverse impact on health, poverty and social exclusion.
In this regard, Respond in partnership with the Economic and Social Research Institute is conducting a research study to measure the real impact of such works not only in terms of the impact on the physical asset or the dwelling but also to gauge changes in perception, behaviour and attitude towards energy efficient heating systems, improvement in quality of life including health and disposable income of our residents. The study will be concluded in early 2016.
Posted: September 2015