BOLD - Pathways to Warmer Homes

BOLD Climate Action is the group that builds older people’s role and voice in promoting fair and fast climate action. We’re supported by Friends of the Earth Ireland.

 

We had a very interesting information session in late May on the supports available for making older people’s homes warmer in winter – while helping us reduce emissions.
We heard from expert guest speakers – and from members of BOLD! See below for our main learnings and links to key resources – some of them might be really helpful for you.

Liz Kilduff, from Healthy Age Friendly Homes, told us about the numerous supports they offer. These can allow older people to comfortably remain in their own homes as long as possible.  Some key points:

• Healthy Age Friendly Homes is a government programme provided through local councils.
• There are Healthy Age Friendly Home Coordinators based in every Local Authority.
• If you are over 65, you can register with Healthy Age Friendly Homes. A Local Coordinator will set up a free home visit and advise you on making your home warmer. If you are eligible for the Warmer Homes Scheme (which is fully funded) you will be guided through the process of applying for this.  
• The Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinator can also offer advice on topics such as income supports and health resources.
• In some areas and counties, you can get an appointment with Healthy Age Friendly Homes in about four weeks. In other counties, there is a waiting list. 

 

• To register for a free home visit, you can phone their National HQ - which is located in Meath: 046 924 8899. Or you can email the National HQ at: healthyagefriendlyhomes@meathcoco.ie 

 

Evelyn Burns, from a social enterprise based in Louth called The Energy Team, described their work. They provide training on sustainability to local schools, organizations and businesses. They also support local communities or estates to become Sustainable Energy Communities – with funding from SEAI (the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.) Sustainable Energy Communities can get funding for local energy audits, home retrofitting, and solar energy.
For details on Sustainable Energy Communities see this page on the SEAI website.

Peter O’Carroll from BOLD told us about an exciting local project in Meath that is partnering with Men’s and Women’s Sheds, Friends of the Elderly and Active Retirement to support local people in applying to the SEAI Warmer Homes Scheme.  The Guide describes the Warmer Homes Scheme, including information on eligibility for the scheme. It also outlines the application process and the waiting times.

You can find Peter’s Guide for applying to the Warmer Homes Scheme here.

Jimmy Kinahan from BOLD told us about a helpful resource. Dublin’s energy agency, Codema, have a Home Energy Saving Kit available to borrow - free of charge - from many public libraries across Ireland. Jimmy said the kit is easy to use and he especially recommends using it during the wintertime. The kit can help you check how your home uses energy, where energy might be escaping, how much this is costing you and how to save by making changes in your home.  You can find the nearest library with a Home Energy Saving Kit here. 

As mentioned in Peter’s leaflet, older people whose income is too high for the fully-funded Warmer Homes Scheme can apply to other SEAI grants. Some details that BOLD has learned:

• These other SEAI schemes offer partial funding of retrofitting costs. 
• If you are approved for funding by SEAI, you will only receive those funds once the project is completed. That means you have to be able to pay for the retrofitting upfront yourself (or be able to get a loan.) And you have to be able to wait till after the project is completed to be reimbursed SEAI’s partial contribution.
• Even if your income is just above the cut-off for the fully-funded Warmer Homes Scheme, having a lower income does not mean that the SEAI prioritises financial support for you.

 

Workshop participants had lots of questions and comments for the speakers. Participants said that the government needs to publicise its supports and schemes more widely. Related to the long waiting times for completion of SEAI-funded retrofitting, BOLD says that government funding should increase to meet the need for retrofitting (and reduce the emissions!)

BOLD participants also called for information about the schemes and their application forms to be accessible to all. The SEAI has a list of registered One Stop Shops that do retrofitting. BOLD participants pointed out that the One Stop Shops are businesses. As a result, we need access to independent technical advice on retrofitting. This would help older people make decisions between, for example, different tenders for retrofitting work.

 

Making our homes warmer through retrofitting also lowers emissions – it’s climate action in practice!