Cork council tenants who had home retrofits saw energy bills plummet, new figures show
The work normally involves putting in better insulation, upgrading doors and windows and installing air-to-heat pumps, which cut out the need for solid fuel use. Picture: iStock
A survey by Cork County Council has revealed how significant the savings have been for those of its tenants who have had energy efficiency upgrades.
Nonetheless, concerns have been expressed that others will refuse such work in the future because it involves removing fireplaces and providing a heating system which does not work when the electricity is cut off.
Figures released for the first time by the county council show huge savings were achieved by tenants of 48 houses which have been upgraded to reduce energy consumption.
The survey was carried out at 18 properties at Woodview, Carrigaline; 11 in Ard Na Greine, Courtmacsherry; seven at Drishane View, Millstreet, and six each at Moher Crescent, Mitchelstown, and Corrin View, Ballyhea.
The work normally involves putting in better insulation, upgrading doors and windows and installing air-to-heat pumps, which cut out the need for solid fuel use.
The savings were measured at the five locations where upgrading projects of older council housing stock were undertaken. It involved assessing them the year before the work was done and, in the year after it was completed.
Every single house upgraded showed a marked fall in energy bills. One property in Woodview, Carrigaline, saw the yearly bill fall from €2,050 to €500.
The biggest drop of all was recorded at a house in Corrin View, Ballyhea. The bills went from €6,680 down to €1,230.
One house at Ard Na Greine, Courtmacsherry, saw a decrease to €898 from a previous €2,230.
A property at Moher Crescent, Mitchelstown, went from €5,200 to €1,116 and another at Drishane View, Millstreet, saw a drop from €3,440 to €1,104.
Fianna Fáil councillor Gobnait Moynihan asked if tenants refused to have their coal-burning fireplaces -replaced by air-to heat systems, were other upgrade works still undertaken in their homes.
Maurice Manning, the council’s director of housing, said refusals meant the homes got no energy efficiency upgrades.
To qualify for Government funding, the houses need to be upgraded to a B2 energy efficiency standard. This can only be achieved if the fireplace is removed.
In a report, Mr Manning said the council acknowledged it was running into difficulties persuading tenants to allow the properties to be upgraded.
Council officials canvassed two estates last month: Richmond Court, Bandon, and O’Connor Park, Macroom. It had a target of 68 properties for the project, but only got 18 acceptances.
The report said: "The reasons given for refusal were that they wanted to keep their fire."
It is understood a number were elderly and did not want to part with their solid fuel heating.
Several councillors have pointed out that during the big freeze of early January, many tenants who had air-to-heat pumps installed in their homes were not able to keep warm because they do not work when the electricity goes off.
Tenants in North Cork were particularly badly hit, as some were without electricity for several days.
Ms Moynihan said she was concerned many more people would now think twice about allowing their fireplaces to be removed.
