Lessons from Superhomes: the challenge of engaging homeowners to invest in deep retrofit; presentation given by Paul Kenny CEO, Tipperary Energy Agency, at Deep Retrofit conference, June 21st 2017

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