€250m - the cost of retrofitting homes in a single Kildare town

The cost of retrofitting homes in just one town in County Kildare is €250m.

This is the estimate put forward by Green Party councillor Peter Hamilton.

It demonstrates the scale of the task facing the community to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions - the main cause of climate change.

Cllr Hamilton told a Kildare County Council meeting that a county based climate department (the Kildare Energy Agency) needs to be set up.

He said it would bring together multiple stakeholder groups, funding sources and resources together to support homeowners, businesses, schools and community groups to plan finance and manage projects to contain the effects of climate change.

Cllr Peter Hamilton

“There are massive challenges,” he said, noting that the cost of retrofitting the residences in Maynooth homes to €250m.

Grants of up to €13,000 are available to retrofit a dwelling - though the cost is usually between €30,000 and €70,000.

According to Cllr Hamilton between 5,000 and 6,000 residences need to be modernised in Maynooth alone.

“More support is needed from the government including trusted advice, cost supports and grants to meet the targets (that have been set for 2050).”

He said the agency is needed to help businesses and schools for example, which are experienced in their own fields but not in terms of managing major climate infrastructural projects.

Cllr Hamilton also said home retrofit will give families much more comfortable homes, while providing significant energy savings and protecting them against energy inflation.

He added: “But we must recognise the scale of the task. The design, support, project management and financing required to achieve the targets is a big challenge for families, small businesses and community groups.”

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KCC official Marian Higgins commented that the need to decarbonise our economy and lifestyles can be overwhelming and assistance is required to demystify and support the processes involved. 

She said Maynooth as the approved decarbonising zone (DZ) and test-bed for community driven actions, is proposing to address this issue. A DZ is where a range of climate protection measures are identified to address local low carbon energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate needs to contribute to national climate action targets. 

It is planned to develop a central digital platform for climate action guidance for communities and businesses within Maynooth.

A drop-in clinic or hub will open in the town to support communications and raise climate action awareness.

Ms Higgins also said a  feasibility study will be done to develop a low-energy community centre and an information hub in the university town.