Eighty-two designated older persons homes in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s housing stock have received significant energy upgrades under the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for social housing.
Speaking at an event in Beaufort to mark the completion of the 2022 programme of works, Councillor Mary Hanafin, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said:
The upgrade works carried out on each property included external insulation, new doors and windows, solar panels, heating system upgrades and attic insulation. Prior to the energy upgrades, the properties had BER ratings as low as F and G. With the works now complete, 63 of the properties have achieved an A rating with the other 19 achieving a B rating.
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said:
With all 82 properties achieving the minimum requirement of a B2 BER under the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme, the Council has exceeded the target of 68 set for us by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for 2022.
The majority (58) of the older persons homes upgraded under this programme of works are in the Beaufort development in Glasthule. A significant piece of the work carried out in Beaufort was the installation of a new district heating system containing eight air to water heat pumps. This is the first district heating system installed under the national Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme for social housing with the works approved on a pilot basis by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.