A number of homes in Louth have been retrofitted over the last two years thanks to €6.7 million investment.

Launched in 2021, the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) is one of the pillars of the Housing for All initiative. The objective of the scheme is to improve the energy efficiency of County Council Housing stock to a minimum energy rating of B2. 

A ten-year programme will see older housing stock retrofitted with the latest energy efficiency technologies including improved insulation, air to heat pumps and ancillary heating and water management systems. The installation of new window and door units is also a feature of the retrofit programme in many of the houses.

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Louth County Council completed 64 retrofit homes in 2021 at a cost of €1.7m, with a further 164 homes retrofitted in 2022 at a cost of €5 million.

Louth County Council Project Manager, Edel O'Neill, Executive Engineer, said: "The improvements mean a warmer, cleaner, and more efficient home with a single utility bill. The improvements have meant no more carrying and storing of solid fuel products. No messy cleaning of open fireplaces and an all-round improvement in the comfort for those living in the houses."

Plans for 2023 are at an advance stage with specialist contractors already engaged to commence work once final approval of funding for the 2023 scope of works is finalised by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Such a delivery will see the Council retrofit all its existing stock with a below B2 rating within the period of the 10-year programme.