Why sustainability in Ireland demands more than goodwill
Dr Michelle McKeown: "For families already worried about funding a home retrofit, the combined financial and logistical hurdles of EV ownership can feel unattainable, preventing widespread participation in the green transport revolution."
Sustainability is rapidly becoming a defining priority in Ireland. With the Government pledging to meet ambitious climate targets and households under pressure to reduce their carbon footprints, environmentally-friendly choices are no longer a niche concern, they are part of the mainstream conversation
Yet, behind the calls to retrofit homes and embrace electric vehicles (EVs), a hard truth persists — going green comes at a significant upfront cost. From energy-efficient appliances that command premium price tags to a planning environment that is making off-street parking a rare commodity, the financial hurdles are higher than many people expect.
While grants and subsidies exist to help, these schemes often require people to have a certain level of savings or income to fund changes in advance. This leads many to question whether Ireland’s current approach to sustainability is truly equitable.
In Ireland, energy-efficient appliances — from A-rated washing machines to heat pump tumble dryers — can be considerably more expensive than their less efficient counterparts... the upfront difference can sometimes be hundreds of euros. While these appliances promise long-term savings through reduced electricity consumption, many households struggle with the steep initial purchase. For instance, an advanced heat pump dryer might cost more than double the price of a traditional vented dryer. Over time, you may recoup these extra costs through lower energy bills, but you need the financial capacity to bear the upfront hit.
The costs don’t end with the purchase. Installing efficient heating systems such as heat pumps or upgrading windows to triple glazing involves significant labour expenses. Retrofitting a typical three-bedroom semi-detached home to a B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) can cost anywhere from €30,000 to well over €50,000, depending on the property’s age and existing insulation levels. Despite the Government’s goal to retrofit half a million homes to a B2 BER or better by 2030, the steep price tag is a daunting barrier for many.
Beyond retrofits, another emerging cost driver involves how housing and transport policies intersect. Many new-build developments, particularly in prime urban areas, are now constructed with fewer or even no private parking spaces. While these policies are designed to encourage the use of public transport, walking, and cycling, they can hit households who rely on cars — particularly in areas where public transport networks remain patchy, to say the least. If you live in a suburb with limited bus or rail services, or you have mobility issues, the ability to secure private parking is no mere luxury.
This challenge grows when electric vehicles enter the picture. Ireland’s drive to expand EV usage aims to reduce emissions and fossil fuel reliance, but if you lack off-street parking, installing a home charger is typically off the table. Currently, grants for home EV charging points typically require off-street parking for installation — an eligibility criterion. On-street charging infrastructure is limited, and even where it exists, competition for spaces can make charging unpredictable.
EVs themselves, meanwhile, still carry a higher sticker price than petrol or diesel cars, despite grants of up to €3,500 on certain new models and €300 for installation of home chargers, which have both decreased since January 2024. For families already worried about funding a home retrofit, the combined financial and logistical hurdles of EV ownership can feel unattainable, preventing widespread participation in the green transport revolution.
Ireland’s Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI) offers several grant schemes for home retrofits, solar panels, and heat pumps. The central challenge is that sustainability demands upfront investment. Yes, in the long run, green technology pays for itself. If you don’t have enough savings, or the capacity to secure a loan, those grants might be out of reach. While there are free or discounted schemes for lower-income households (such as the Warmer Homes Scheme), many families fall into a middle bracket: they earn too much to qualify for 100% free upgrades but not enough to comfortably front thousands of euros. As a result, accessing grants often means taking on significant debt or postponing sustainable improvements indefinitely. While the Government has signalled awareness of this dilemma, the question remains: Are these measures enough to ensure that sustainability is genuinely accessible to all, or do they merely soften the blow for those who can already afford to upgrade?
If Ireland wants to accelerate its green transition, it needs to offer more inclusive financing models. One avenue is low-interest, Government-backed green loans, where households can borrow the upfront capital at minimal interest and repay it gradually, potentially through energy bills. This model has been used in other countries to great effect, ensuring that the risk for consumers is low.
In Germany, for example, the state-owned development bank KfW offers low-interest loans for energy-efficient retrofits, sometimes providing partial debt relief if homeowners meet certain emissions-reduction targets. The Netherlands has invested heavily in on-street EV charging points, ensuring that residents in dense urban areas like Amsterdam can access charging even without driveways.
Additionally, an expansion of grant structures could offer tiered assistance that more accurately reflects different income levels. Grants could be proportionally higher for households below a certain income threshold, allowing them to upgrade without absorbing debt. The Government could also streamline the application and payment process so that people are not left out of pocket for months on end.
Policymakers often emphasise the moral imperative of tackling climate change, yet seldom address the economic sacrifices ordinary people have to make. The risk is that sustainability becomes perceived as an agenda for the well-off, alienating those who are being asked to make sacrifices they simply cannot afford.
Broader societal shifts, such as a move away from private car ownership, may indeed be necessary. But these must come alongside meaningful investments in public transport, infrastructure, and community amenities.
When private car usage is penalised by the erosion of off-street parking or limited EV charging options, alternatives must be reliable, frequent, and safe. Otherwise, the policy comes across as punitive, rather than a forward-thinking environmental strategy.
If the goal is to bring every household in Ireland along on the green journey, policymakers must recognise the financial realities. More flexible financing, tiered grants, and improved public infrastructure are some of the ways forward. Only by tackling the economic stumbling blocks head-on can we ensure that the pursuit of sustainability is inclusive, equitable, and ultimately successful.
In the race against climate change, an approach that leaves behind those who can’t afford the starting fee is bound to fail, not only ethically but practically.
To truly become a leader in sustainability, Ireland must invest in systems that allows everyone to participate, not just those who can pay the price upfront.
- Dr Michelle McKeown is a lecturer in Environmental Geography at University College Cork
