The document discusses the challenges of engaging homeowners to invest in deep retrofitting to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. It highlights key barriers homeowners face, such as financial concerns, trust issues with providers, and a desire for reasonable payback periods on investments. Recommendations for addressing these challenges include establishing clear policies, community trust, and practical solutions tailored to various home performance needs.

1. Lessons from Superhomes:
the challenge of engaging
homeowners to invest in
deep retrofit
.
Paul Kenny, B.E. C. Eng.
Chief Executive
Tipperary Energy Agency
Towards Zero
21ST June 2017

2. • An Initiative/ project of the Tipperary Energy Agency
– Non-Profit, Non-statutory Public Good Agency
under Tipperary County Council, LIT, Leader etc.
• Funded and Supported by SEAI
• Financially Managed by
• EEOS Supported & Development backed by:
• Parallel Research: LIT, UL, IERC, UCD
Who is Superhomes?
www.superhomes.ie

3. 2006 House of
Tomorrow
Shallow
Retrofit 80
homes (F to D)
EU SERVE
project 400
buildings E1 to B2
(HES Pilot)
2013-2015
~1000 fuel
poverty/ Shallow
F to E (BEC)
Super-Homes
D2 to A2/3 Deep
Retrofit
Journey to deep retrofit
“We’re frustrated with lack of depth and
continued use of fossil fuels. We need
deeper, faster and renewable retrofit”
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
KWh/m2/Year
Delivered Fuel Energy Vs DEAP [retrofitted houses]
Theoretical Monitored
Cold houses
www.superhomes.ie

4. Domestic CO2 reduction options
Passive
House
Retrofit
NZEB
(Superhomes)
retrofit.
www.superhomes.ie

5. “I don’t know what to do, How do I know what is value for money? What product is
good, and what is not?”
“Who will do the work, and how can I trust them?”
“I can’t afford the capital cost, but I have high bills!”
“I want cheap finance, but am reluctant to re-mortgage”
“It’s too much hassle, if only someone would just do it for me!”
“Who will make sure it is done correctly”
“if I sell the house, all the money will be wasted”
“How can we expect home owners to design and implement a retrofit of this quality
– we need to have an offering, like this”
Home-owner barriers to Deep Retrofit
www.superhomes.ie

6. Superhomes Applicant Survey (N=300)
The real barrier to deep retrofit?
- People want to see investments pay back in a reasonable time frame.
- 80% of people would be happy with < 7.5 years
- 60% of people would be happy with < 10 years.
- Small likely market for retrofit over 10 years payback.
- No loan will work for a non-economic project.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Less than or
equal to 5
5-7.5 7.5-10 10-12.5 12.5-15 15-20 >20
Cumulative Expected savings
www.superhomes.ie

7. Homeowner Value Equation
Value
Trusted &
Demonstrated
Savings
Quality
Value
Service
Comfort
Appearance &
Environmental
Performance
www.superhomes.ie

8. Home-Owner needs
- Assuming efficient RES-H, what performance is good enough?
(balance Capex Vs Opex)
- Uneconomical measures must be necessary for house to perform
(i.e. Ventilation for health not €)
- Clarity on funding and rules (Consistent stable policy framework)
- Trust in the program, the intermediaries, the contractors and the
auditors.
Assumptions:
• Bonkers.ie price comparison 19/06/17
• Electricity 55% Day 14c/ 45% Night 6.65c
• Gas Standing charge/ 12MWh & 4.81c/kWh
• 88% Efficiency Gas/ Oil
• 3.0 COP (3.2 average in most S/H)
www.superhomes.ie0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
Kerosene Gas inc. SC/ 12MWh HP (55/45 D/N)
Net Heat Cost / kWh

9. Clarity of Purpose: Policy recommendations
- Assuming efficient RES-H, what performance is good
enough?
- Min requirements for performance.
- Cost optimal on a measure by measure basis.
- The 30Bn+ Q: Do we need to eliminate all thermal bridges
by 2050, or just carbon dioxide?.
- Solutions need to be practical for every element.
- Regulation, intermediary, contractor, accountant and
auditor should agree.
- All homes need to be treated, all elements must have
“good enough” solution. Best Soln not always
affordable.
- No room in retrofit for absolutes.
0
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
275
300
325
Change in BER level
www.superhomes.ie
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Kerosene Gas inc. SC/
12MWh
HP (55/45 D/N)
Heat CO2 per kWh
2015g/kWh
2035 (eirgrid/ Poyry)

10. Results

11. • Non profit, public good social enterprise
• Partnership approach
• Energy management
• Renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Procurement, project mgmt.
• Cost effective, value driven
• Paul Kenny
• Chief Executive
• T: 052 7443090
• F: 052 7443012
• E: pkenny@tea.ie
• W: www.tea.ie
Tipperary Energy Agency
To apply (Open Nationwide), case studies and more:
www.Superhomes.ie