Some 35 homes in Birr area to be retrofitted

Offaly County Council is seeking tenders from contractors to carry out retrofitting work on 35 council-owned houses in the Birr area.

The scheme is part of the Midlands Energy Retrofit Project – a special €20m government initiative aimed at eight local authorities in the Midlands region. The retrofit programme is part of the government’s Climate Action Plan and is being directly funded by carbon tax revenues.

The homes are in seven different areas of Birr and Crinkle. In Birr, the work will take place on nine homes in Mill Street, four in St Brendan’s Villas, two in Wood Row and Bulfin Park, seven in Bengal Lodge, eight in High Street. Three properties on Grove Street in Crinkle will also be retrofitted.

Under the programme, selected council-owned houses in the Midlands region will be retrofitted to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of “B2” (or to a cost-optimal level). These retrofits’ aim to improve the heating and comfort of the whole home. Works typically involve insulation of attics and walls roofs; upgrading of windows and doors; replacement of heating systems; and the installation of LED lighting.

They usually result in the Building Energy Rating (BER) of a house improving from a D- or E-rating to a B2. As part of the €20m funding, Offaly is one of five local authorities to receive €3.3m each, along with Laois, Kildare, Westmeath and Longford. Roscommon, Galway and Tipperary are to receive €1.11 million each.