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RENPOWER
This exciting One-Stop Shop (OSS) Renovation project will bring two citizen-led pioneering organisations together to exchange their knowledge and experience in order to develop replicable models that will streamline home energy renovation, and address energy poverty alleviation, to ensure a just energy transition for homeowners.
In the Basque Country, our partner GoiEner is stepping into the home renovation scene for the first time. With a strong background in fighting energy poverty and promoting community-owned renewable energy, they’re ready to make a big impact.
EcoVision has been a pioneering organisation involved in citizen-led renovation (CLR) work for over a decade. With this project, we’ll be expanding our reach, while also leaning heavily into addressing energy poverty alleviation through behaviour change and scaled interventions. Based on their experience of identifying and reducing hidden energy poverty without creating a stigma, GoiEner will show us how to add further energy poverty alleviation actions to our existing OSS.
Exciting Project Update January 2026 - New Survey
Ensuring Ireland’s Retrofit Grants Work for Everyone
Help us understand if some households are being left behind
Ireland has one of the most generous home energy upgrade grant systems in Europe. Through a range of national schemes, thousands of households have been supported to improve comfort, reduce energy bills and lower carbon emissions. These supports are a vital part of Ireland’s climate and energy transition and are delivering real benefits across communities.
At the same time, experience on the ground suggests that having a grant available does not always mean a household is in a position to upgrade.
As a community-led organisation, EcoVision works closely with households navigating energy costs, housing challenges and retrofit decisions. Through these conversations, we are increasingly aware that people’s real-life circumstances such as income stability, household needs, tenure, or the ability to contribute upfront costs can strongly influence whether an energy upgrade is feasible, even where grant support exists.
Why we are carrying out this research
Through our EU Life-funded project, Renpower, EcoVision is exploring how citizen-led renovation services can better support homeowners to make informed and confident decisions about improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
A key part of this work is understanding whether Ireland’s current grant system underserves some demographics or household types, despite the overall strength of the system.
This research aims to complement and strengthen ongoing policy development, ensuring that supports continue to evolve in line with people’s lived realities.
Why household circumstances matter
Two households with the same income can have very different abilities to carry out an energy upgrade.
Factors such as:
- Whether a household owns or rents (including HAP),
- Recent changes in income or employment,
- Additional needs within the household (children, caring responsibilities, disability),
- Monthly energy costs and seasonal pressure,
- Ability to save or access finance,
can all influence whether a household can realistically proceed with upgrades, even when grants are available.
As a community-led organisation, EcoVision believes it is essential that people’s voices, experiences and perceptions of the grant system are heard and reflected in policy discussions. A fair and effective energy transition depends on understanding these nuances.
About the survey
To support this work, we have launched a confidential national survey to better understand:
- Household energy costs and comfort,
- Income and financial pressures,
- Awareness and experience of retrofit grants,
- Willingness and ability to carry out energy upgrades,
- Perceptions of fairness and accessibility within the current system.
The survey is open to homeowners and renters, including people in work, those receiving social welfare, and households with mixed or changing circumstances. All responses are anonymous and will be used solely for research and policy development purposes.
The findings will help us assess whether there are “forgotten” or under-represented groups, and whether additional or adapted supports could help ensure that no one is left behind in Ireland’s retrofit journey.
How you can help
If you live in Ireland, we invite you to take part in the survey and share your experience.
Your input will directly inform evidence-based research aimed at strengthening Ireland’s approach to home energy upgrades.
Every response helps build a clearer picture of how Ireland’s energy upgrade system works in practice and how it can continue to improve for the benefit of all communities.
