A great LEAP towards improved energy efficiency
Improving the energy efficiency of houses is a key part of efforts to combat climate change, but renovation projects are often complex and costly, while other factors can also deter homeowners. The EU-backed LEAP project aims to ease the process and help homeowners in the North and West of Ireland access the available retrofitting solutions, as Mel Gavin explains.
Addressing Retrofit Challenges in the North West of Ireland
The North West of Ireland faces unique challenges when it comes to domestic energy retrofitting. Many homes in the region are older, there is a heavy reliance on oil and solid fuels, and the supply chain for retrofit services is fragmented. To tackle these issues, three local energy agencies have been established as part of the EU-backed LEAP project. This initiative brings together community enterprise, universities, and local authorities to support homeowners in improving the energy efficiency of their homes. The LEAP project is about helping homeowners access the available retrofitting solutions,” explains Mel Gavin, the project coordinator. Retrofitting a home can be a complex and technically demanding process, involving multiple steps and decisions. “Homeowners often don’t realise how important the order of improvements can be,” says Gavin. “They need expert guidance during the assessment stage to make informed choices. And even once they’ve decided what to do and have the funds, they still need to find the right suppliers.” That’s where the Local Energy Agencies come in. They provide an integrated home renovation service, supporting homeowners from assessment through to implementation.
Local Energy Agencies: Streamlining the Retrofit Journey
“It’s often said that the West of Ireland is full of old stone cottages that are difficult to retrofit,” says Gavin. “While some of these homes do require specialist solutions, around 70% of the housing stock in the region was actually built from the 1970s onwards. For these, standard retrofit solutions are typically suitable.” Technically, retrofitting these homes isn’t especially challenging—but economically, it can be. “We’ve looked at the cost range for deep retrofits across different property types—detached,
semi-detached, and terraced,” Gavin explains. “The investment is significant, often upwards of €30,000. That’s a big ask for most homeowners.”
To support homeowners through this process, local energy agencies offer a streamlined, integrated service. Homeowners can begin their retrofit journey by contacting their local energy agency, where they receive a professional home assessment and a cost estimate for the recommended improvements. To support this process, the three regional agencies have already established Assessor Frameworks—networks of qualified professionals who carry out Home
Energy Assessments (HEAs). Now, the LEAP team is working to develop a complementary Retrofitting Framework. “These are the local companies that will carry out the actual retrofit work,” explains Gavin. “There are plenty of providers, but the market is very fragmented.”
For example, one company might only offer cavity wall insulation, while a homeowner may also need new windows, doors, or heating systems. To address this, companies are being encouraged to form clusters or consortia that can deliver a more complete, end-to-end service.
The Retrofitting Framework is structured into three categories:
● Lot 1: Full deep retrofit services
● Lot 2: Building fabric (walls, floors, roofs, windows, doors)
● Lot 3: Building services (plumbing, heating systems, solar panels, heat pumps)
The goal is to reduce fragmentation in the supply chain so that homeowners can work with a single service provider—the local energy agency.
“That provider then manages all subcontractors and helps the homeowner access grants from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI),” says Gavin. Engaging homeowners and encouraging informed investment is a key part of the LEAP project. Gavin notes that comfort is often the most compelling reason for homeowners to retrofit. “It’s hard to sell
retrofitting purely on future energy or cost savings, because those benefits take time to materialise—especially with deep retrofits. But the comfort payback is immediate.”
“Another element that is starting to influence some homeowners is the impact of improved energy efficiency on the value of their property and the reduced cost of green mortgages.” Green mortgages in Ireland can offer interest rate discounts of up to 1.5% compared to standard mortgage rates. In Ireland, homes are rated on a Building Energy Rating (BER) scale from G (least efficient) to A (most efficient). National policy aims to bring 500,000 homes up to a B2 rating by 2030.
effort is the area-based approach, which aims to raise awareness and encourage collective action within communities. “The amount of BER data available is growing all the time, and we can now run analyses at a local level,” explains Gavin. This data allows the agencies to identify common retrofit needs in specific areas and present tailored solutions to residents.
“Homeowners receive a Home Energy Assessment, and based on that, they can decide whether it’s something they’re ready to invest in. If they choose to proceed, they enter into a contract with the local energy agency, which then manages the entire process.” From there, the agency helps homeowners apply for SEAI
“What changes immediately when people retrofit their homes is their comfort level, that’s the immediate payback . Another element that is starting to influence some homeowners is the impact of improved energy efficiency on the value of their property and the cost of their mortgage.”
Making Retrofit Grants More Accessible
While a range of grants and financial supports are available to encourage home energy upgrades, current structures in Ireland tend to favour those who can afford to make large, upfront investments. The LEAP project team is actively working to help homeowners access these supports, but also to support a staged retrofit process for homeowners with lower investment budgets. “We’re in ongoing discussions with SEAI and other grant bodies to improve support for homeowners who need to take a staged approach to retrofitting,” says Gavin.
The goal is to offer flexible options that match different budget levels. “If a homeowner doesn’t have €25,000 to invest all at once, they can still make meaningful improvements,” he explains. “Even with just €5,000, they could access SEAI’s individual grant route— for example, to install cavity wall and attic insulation. That puts them on a pathway toward a deeper retrofit and immediately improves the comfort of their home.” This staged retrofitting model aligns with the Building Renovation Passport concept, recently introduced in the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). It allows homeowners to plan and carry out upgrades over time, without losing sight of the long-term goal of a fully energy-efficient home.
Building Momentum Through an Area-Based Approach
The Local Energy Agencies will play a key role in helping homeowners navigate retrofit options and supporting broader energy efficiency improvements. A key strategy in this
Local Energy Agencies in Peripheral Regions (LEAP)
Project Objectives
This project has supported the establishment of 3 Local Energy Agencies in the North and West of Ireland to support “integrated home renovation services”. Particular regional challenges include dispersed and older homes, a high reliance on oil and solid fuels and a fragmented supply chain.
Our aim is to build momentum in home retrofitting in our region, working with both the homeowners and supply chain to create a continuous pipeline of neighbourhoodbased projects. All homeowners should have the opportunity to invest in making their homes warmer, healthier, cheaper to heat and more valuable.
Project Funding
This project is financed by the EU- LIFE Climate Action Programme under Grant Agreement number LIFE21-CETHOMERENO-LEAP/101077163.
Project Partners
grants and coordinates the retrofit work. This community-focused model not only simplifies the process but also builds local interest and momentum. “Once people see their neighbours upgrading their homes, they’re more likely to get involved themselves,” Gavin adds.
The area-based approach is especially effective for reaching people who may not have the time or headspace to explore retrofitting on their own. “We can go into a neighbourhood and say, ‘We’re planning a retrofit campaign here. Are you interested? Would you like an assessment?’” says Gavin.
Demand is currently high, and local energy agencies are working at full capacity. “Our priority now is to streamline our processes to meet this demand,” he explains. “A big part of that is putting the retrofitting frameworks in place.
We’re collaborating with local companies across the supply chain to move from a fragmented system to a more coherent, integrated service.”
• North West Energy Agency (NWEA): Aidan McGrenra, LEAP Project Manager/ Joanne Holmes, Project Officer/ Michelle McDaid , NWEA Administration Manager
• Gníomhaireacht Fuinnimh an Iarthair
More details at: https://www.gfigaillimh.ie/
• Sligo Leitrim Energy Agency (SLEA) More details at: http://sligoleitrimenergyagency.ie/
Contact Details
Project Coordinator, Mel Gavin, R&D Coordinator Atlantic Technological University ATU Sligo, Ash Lane, Sligo, F91 YW50 T: + 353 (0)86 3099184
E: Mel.gavin@atu.ie
W: https://www.atu.ie/news/atu-launchesleap-project-to-retrofit-homes-for-a-moresustainable-future
Mel Gavin
Mel Gavin is a Chartered Engineer and Certified Energy Manager and an enthusiast for energy transition in the region, working as a Mentor and Technical Advisor on the SEAI Sustainable Energy Communities Programme, and supporting wider momentum toward economic, social and environmental sustainability.
