In this episode, Pete and Ferg sit down without a guest for a summer recap — and there's plenty to cover. From the SEAI's major grant uplifts at the start of the year to the shock of war in the Middle East sending oil and fuel prices through the roof, the lads break down what it all means for Irish homeowners. They make the case for why summer is actually the perfect time to start planning your home energy upgrade — before the autumn rush hits and contractors become impossible to reach.
Pete shares his own firsthand experience fitting solar panels and a heat pump, going full app-watcher mode tracking energy generation and savings. Fergal explains the home energy assessment process from start to finish, busts common myths around grants and timing, and outlines why getting your retrofit paperwork in order now — not in October — is the smartest move you can make.
They also touch on the Warmer Homes scheme, grants for approved housing bodies, the growing case for EVs, the importance of switching energy providers annually, and what the future might hold — from renovation passports to a potential heat pump electricity rate.
Whether you're just starting out or already mid-retrofit, this is a straight-talking, no-nonsense update on everything happening in the Irish home energy space right now.
Timecodes
00:00 – Welcome & what to expect: Pete and Ferg's summer recap episode
00:37 – Why summer is the worst time to forget about your heating system
01:18 – Get your home energy assessment done now — don't wait until September
02:12 – SEAI grant uplifts: what changed and how homeowners have responded
03:35 – Heat pump grants explained: from €6,500 up to €12,500 — what's included
04:44 – Individual grant route vs. one stop shop: which is right for you?
05:23 – The war in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz: what happened to Irish energy prices
06:41 – How vulnerable are we to fossil fuel supply shocks? The case for futureproofing
07:05 – EV sales spike and the push away from fossil fuels
08:12 – Who felt the pinch most? Oil, diesel, and the timing of the crisis
09:56 – Heat pumps run on electricity — but electricity prices went up too
10:43 – Solar PV: the "cherry on top" measure and why timing matters
12:26 – Pete's solar panel journey: 20 panels, 4 batteries, and going all in
14:24 – Off-grid during the day: how batteries and cheap night rates work together
15:50 – Selling back to the grid and optimising your energy plan
17:37 – Right-sizing your solar system: don't go bigger than your usage needs
19:23 – Tracking results over a full year: why summer figures alone don't tell the whole story
20:55 – Always switch energy provider when your contract is up
21:46 – Grant updates for approved housing bodies: up to 100% funding available
23:11 – The Warmer Homes scheme, energy poverty grants, and community energy coordinators
24:42 – Winter is coming: why human nature works against homeowners in summer
26:27 – What is a home energy assessment? A plain-English breakdown
28:07 – What the assessment costs, what you get, and why it's worth every cent
29:12 – Pete's own assessment experience and how it shaped his retrofit decisions
31:15 – Common mistakes to avoid: don't do any work before your letter of offer arrives
32:53 – The biggest mistake of all: doing nothing and waiting too long
34:19 – Remember last winter? Now is the time to act on it
35:19 – The "carrot and stick" — grants won't last forever, and penalties may follow
35:57 – Book contractors now: summer is the only time they'll answer the phone
37:07 – Is it possible to be fully crisis-proof? Fergal's experience during the energy shock
38:33 – Every step towards self-sufficiency counts — even the small ones
39:16 – Attic insulation: the quickest win with the fastest payback
40:05 – How retrofit affects property value: €50k difference on the same road
41:23 – Location, location, BER rating: how buyers are factoring in energy efficiency
42:31 – Quality of life with a retrofitted home — hard to put into words, easy to feel
42:47 – What's coming next: renovation passports and a potential heat pump electricity rate
45:02 – A new entity entering Ireland that could improve heat pump efficiency
45:38 – Wrap-up and final thoughts