Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme

Looking to increase the Building Energy Rating (BER) of your home with a low-cost loan? The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, alongside a Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant, could be the answer.

How the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme works

What is the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme (HEULS)?

The HEULS was set up by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to make it more affordable for homeowners to make their homes warmer, cheaper to run, and more environmentally friendly.

The scheme offers a low-rate loan of just 3% variable Annual Percentage Rate (APR) to anyone getting a grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to make energy-saving or renewable upgrades to their home.

You can find a list of all eligible upgrades on the SEAI website, but energy efficiency and decarbonisation solutions can include:

  • Attic, wall and floor insulation
  • Windows and door upgrades
  • Heat pump installation
  • Heat control upgrades
  • Solar panels (when installed as part of a deep retrofit)

The scheme is backed by a guarantee from the European Investment Fund (EIF) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). It also gets support from the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE).

The scheme is open until 31 December 2026, or until all funds are used (whichever comes first).

Is the HEULS right for me?

Try our borrowing comparison tool designed to help you make informed decisions about the right financial products for you.

Why choose the HEULS?
Competitive rate

Unsecured variable rate loan of 3% APR.

Option to defer repayments

Option to defer your first three monthly repayments.

Flexible repayments

Make extra repayments to pay off your variable rate loan early and pay less interest with no penalty fees.

No savings required

You do not need to save with us to borrow from us.

Tailored to you

You can borrow from €5,000 up to €75,000 for each property you own (up to 3 properties) and repay your loan monthly over 1 to 10 years.

Want to upgrade your BER?

Plan works, estimate the costs and savings of improving your property's energy efficiency, and view financing options.

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What do I need to apply?

You must:

  • Live in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Be an individual acting for yourself, not for someone else or a company.
  • Be getting an SEAI grant to help pay for the energy upgrades to your home.
  • Use the loan to pay for eligible energy efficiency costs under the terms and conditions of the HEULS. You cannot use the loan to pay off an existing loan, to pay for home upgrades that already got an SEAI grant, or install a fossil fuel burner.
  • Have a copy of your Home Energy Summary Report. This will be given to you by your SEAI-registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator.
  • Not (to the best of your knowledge) be bankrupt, involved in fraud, participate in a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorism, human trafficking, or any other criminal activities.


The property must:

  • Be a residential property in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Have a valid Building Energy Rating (BER). Check the BER register to see if there is a valid BER on your home. If you do not have a valid BER certificate, you will need to pay for a BER assessment by a registered BER assessor. The cost may vary depending on the assessor and the size of your home.
  • Not have:
    • Been used for both business and living purposes
    • Rented out for short-term stays
    • Used as a holiday home in the last 12 months


Other important criteria:

  • The upgrade work must be carried out by an SEAI-registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator and meet minimum national environmental standards.
  • The Building Energy Rating (BER) of the property must improve by at least 20% when the upgrade works are complete. Your SEAI-registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator will estimate this for you in your Home Energy Summary Report.
  • If you're using the loan for other home improvements (like a new kitchen) alongside energy-efficiency upgrades, those associated costs cannot be more than 25% of the total loan amount.
  • After the SEAI grant is taken off, the cost of the upgrade works must be 75% of the total loan amount.
How do I apply for the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme?

A-G 'BER' chart.

Step 1: Contact an SEAI-registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator

They will:

  • Advise you on energy upgrade options that are suitable for your home.
  • Give you guidance on all available financial supports, including SEAI grants, and apply for them on your behalf.
  • Tell you how much your planned works are expected to improve your home’s BER. To qualify for the HEULS, your BER must improve by at least 20% when the works are complete.
  • Provide a Home Energy Summary Report. You will need this report to apply for the HEULS.

Registered One Stop Shops

Community Project Co-ordinator

Euro symbol inside of a house.

Step 2: Apply for the HEULS with a participating finance provider

Fill in an application form and include a copy of your Home Energy Summary Report signed by an SEAI-registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Co-ordinator. You cannot submit an application without this report.

If you're a Bank of Ireland current account holder registered for 365 online, you can apply online. New customers can call our loans team on 0818 200 344 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or visit your local branch.

Please note: Having a Home Energy Summary Report and approval for an SEAI grant does not mean Bank of Ireland or any other finance provider must give you a loan. Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply.

Interest rates and APR

These examples illustrate how much it could cost to borrow various amounts over 5 years.

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Representative example 1: €20,000

The repayments on a Home Energy Upgrade Loan of €20,000 over 5 years with 60 monthly instalments are €358.87 per month at 2.95% variable (Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 3.0%). The total cost of credit is €1,532.20. The total repayment is €21,532.20. Variable rates are correct as of 5 February 2025 and are subject to change.

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Representative example 2: €40,000

The repayments on a Home Energy Upgrade Loan of €40,000 over 5 years with 60 monthly instalments are €717.73 per month at 2.95% variable (Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 3.0%). The total cost of credit is €3,063.80. The total repayment is €43,063.80. Variable rates are correct as of 5 February 2025 and are subject to change.

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Representative example 3: €60,000

The repayments on a Home Energy Upgrade Loan of €60,000 over 5 years with 60 monthly instalments are €1,076.60 per month at 2.95% variable (Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 3.0%). The total cost of credit is €4,596.00. The total repayment is €64,596.00. Variable rates are correct as of 5 February 2025 and are subject to change.

Internal reference rates

We apply reference rates to all new loans. The reference rate is an internal rate we use to work out how much it will cost us to give you a loan. It includes the cost of funds to the bank and administration costs for the set-up and maintenance of the loan.

Internal reference rate %0.25%
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VI0.25%

Frequently asked questions

  1. APR represents the actual cost of borrowing over the term of a loan as it includes the interest rate and any other fees and charges.

  2. If you defer your first three loan repayments at the start of your loan that will add to the interest you will have to pay over the life of the loan. You cannot defer your first three loan repayments unless you have a current account with Bank of Ireland.

  3. Bank of Ireland lending criteria, terms and conditions apply in addition to the scheme eligibility. This may impact the maximum amount you can borrow. Available to over 18s only.

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