Hordes turn out to hear 'green' house measures explained

While there is currently a range of Government grant schemes in place to assist homeowners meet the cost of upping the insulation - and in consequence, the energy rating - of their homes, there"s no guarantee that such schemes will be in place after 2009, a local health and safety consultant has warned.Edel McKeon, of ORS Consulting, one of the speakers at a seminar at the Mullingar Park Hotel on Thursday night, said that homeowners would, therefore, be advised to move quickly, and avail of funding while the schemes are actually in place. 'There"s no guarantee that they will be in place for 2010,' she told those attending the seminar.The seminar - organised by the local firm ORS Consulting, which is based at Marlinstown Office Park, and which has operations in Hungary, the Ukraine, Poland and Romania - was on the subject of improving the insulation of your home, and availing of the new Government grants.ORS was thrilled when its speakers found themselves addressing a packed house, as details of the Home Energy Effiency and National Insulation Grants were outlined by Ms. McKeon, augmented by Patrick Daly of BESRaC, who provided an introduction in how to make one"s home more energy efficient, and how to improve its BER rating, and Seán McGuigan of Kingspan, who detailed a range of refurbishment solutions, spelling out the costs of the various options that exist.Ms. McKeon told those present that the grants scheme is open to owners of existing houses built before 2006, and is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland. Measures eligible for grant aid are roof insulation, wall insulation and heating controls.'Homeowners are expressing a significant interest in this scheme as they can expect to save up to €700 per year,' she told the Westmeath Examiner, adding that with a budget of €50 million for 2009, the fund will provide for the insulation of 50,000 homes with the potential of creating 4,000 jobs in the construction and energy assessment sector.An example of the grant aid available includes €2,500 for Internal Wall Insulation giving support to the homeowner of typically 28% of the overall cost. Where the home owner carries out External Wall Insulation, a grant of €4,000 is provided by the scheme giving support of approximately 21%. The expected improvement in the Energy Rating (BER) is approximately 25-30%.Other grants available include Attic Insulation, Cavity Wall Insulation, Heating Control Upgrade plus a high efficiency boiler.