Energy-saving improvements – smart ways to renovate your home

You can save living costs by changing your heating method, improving the insulation of an old house or generating your home’s electricity with solar panels.
1

Plan the energy-saving improvements with care

Successful energy-saving begins with careful planning. Consider what you are trying to achieve with the renovation, and which solutions would best suit your aim. Also think about the overall energy efficiency of your home. Is one of your household appliances a big energy hog, or are your home’s exterior walls optimally insulated? Do you already know who will carry out your renovations, or are you still looking for suitable professionals? You must also find out if your renovations require permission such as construction or building permission.

2

Calculate the costs of the renovation

Renovation costs range from the hundreds of euros needed for small improvements to the tens of thousands required for basic renovation. Once you have decided the scale of your renovation, start requesting quotations from reliable experts. The quotations will allow you to estimate the costs of the renovation. Remember these words of wisdom: the cheapest offer isn’t always the most inexpensive.

3

Find out if your renovations are eligible for financial aid

There are various subsidies you can apply for when making renovations that improve energy efficiency. ARA grants energy subsidies, and you can apply for a subsidy from ELY Centres to switch from oil heating to another type of heating. It’s advisable to apply for the subsidies in good time. Don’t forget the tax credit for household expenses. You can receive more information about it from the tax authorities.

4

Choose the finance most suitable for your renovation

Different forms of financing are suitable for renovations of different sizes. Special Consumer Credit without collateral is suitable for smaller renovations. For larger basic renovations, it’s usually worth applying for a secured loan. Individual appliances such as an air source heat pump can also be financed with loans applied for from our partner retailers.

Energy efficiency and new forms of heating – as well as more value for your house

When you change your form of heating and improve the insulation of your old house, you can save living costs – while reducing your house’s carbon footprint. There is a wide variety of solutions for different kinds of needs.

If your plot is sunny, solar panels can produce a sufficient amount of energy for heating, as well as appliances. At their best, solar panels can generate more energy than you need, allowing you to sell the excess energy and receive additional funding for your living.

Ground source heat pumps are often considered a very cost-effective and energy-efficient option for heating with a reasonably inexpensive purchase price and easy implementation. New solutions are constantly entering the market, and it’s worth actively keeping an eye on them.

What kind of financing is available for energy-saving improvements?

Energy-saving improvements come in many sizes: are you switching from oil heating to ground source heat, insulating your exterior walls or perhaps installing an air source heat pump?

Different solutions have different prices – which is why they require different forms of financing. Get to know the options and select the finance solution that best suits your situation!