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Home Upgrade Tool FAQs

What is the Home Upgrade Tool?

With the PTSB Home Upgrade Tool you can review the Building Energy Rating (BER) data and overall energy performance of your home, model potential upgrade options, estimate costs and see potential financing solutions.

This tool will provide cost estimates for individual upgrade options or a full suite / package of upgrades.

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What can I expect from the tool?

With the Home Upgrade Tool you can review the overall energy performance data associated with your home. There are multiple solutions to support you, no matter what stage you’re at in your home energy upgrade journey.

The information you provide will inform the accuracy of the outputs from the tool for you. The outputs from the tool will include your current BER (Building Energy Rating) along with suggestions for how to increase that rating.

The tool will give you different package options to upgrade your home; for example:

  • To increase to an 'A' BER (Premium Package).
  • A 'B' BER (Green Package), or;
  • To improve your BER modestly (Basic Package).

The packages will have the individual measures itemised in them so you can customise depending on your preferences and budget.

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What will I need to use the tool?

To use the Home Upgrade Tool and get performance data for your home, you have a few different options to choose from based on the information you want to provide:

  1. To get the most detailed and accurate home energy data, please provide the Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) of your home and provide proof by uploading a utility bill.
  2. If you don’t want to provide this information, you can provide a BER (Building Energy rating) certificate number only instead.
  3. If you don’t have the MPRN or the BER of your home you can see estimated performance data based on similar homes by answering questions, such as property type, year of construction and location.

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What is my MPRN?

Your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN) is an 11-digit number that identifies your electricity connection at your property. It's typically found on your electricity bill, usually in the top right corner. The first two digits of your MPRN will always be "10".

If you're having trouble finding it, you can also look for it on your ESB Networks online account or by contacting your electricity supplier.

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What is a BER?

A Building Energy Rating (BER) is a grade that assesses the energy performance of your home, indicating how efficient it is. The BER scale ranges from A (most energy efficient) to G (least energy efficient), with A-rated homes typically having lower energy bills and G-rated homes needing more energy to heat.

A BER certificate is mandatory for all homes in Ireland available to rent or buy and you can download a copy of your BER certificate from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) website.

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What if my home doesn’t have a BER?

It’s possible your home may not have a BER on file if:

  • The property has not been assessed for a period of time, for example over 10 years or;
  • Your home is BER exempt or too old. Without a BER, the tool will not give you property specific energy performance data, but you can still see estimated data based on similar homes by answering questions, such as property type, year of construction and location or;
  • Arrange for a BER assessment of your home through an SEAI approved BER assessor, and then a record will be created.

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Home Upgrade Tool Partners and Data Privacy

 

What am I being asked to consent to by using the tool?

By using the Home Upgrade Tool, you accept and consent to providing your personal data directly to our third-party partner 'Prime19' for the purpose of retrieving property data from the SEAI to provide you with the most accurate results in your package options. For full details on how Prime19 will process your personal data, please see Prime 19 Data Privacy Notice

The data required to use this tool can include MPRN number, BER number, Eircode, property address and in certain instances the provision of a utility bill.

Please note: PTSB will not retain any of the personal data you input to the tool or contact you in relation to the tool unless you specifically indicate a preference for this. You are consenting to provide your data to Prime19 who will store this in line with their DPN.

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Who are the third party Prime19?

We have partnered with Prime19 to bring you the Home Upgrade Tool. Prime19 are an Irish-owned company specialising in supporting homeowners through the process of retrofitting their homes. They are a trusted partner of the SEAI which allows them access to the national BER data base and BER calculation software.

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How is PTSB using my data and where is my data stored?

Prime19 are an independent data controller and will retain your consent to use the Home Upgrade Tool along with MPRN, BER numbers and your utility bill (if provided). Property data shown in the tool is not kept by PTSB. We will offer you the option to consent to contact from PTSB, specifically to call or email you to outline the financial products and services that may be of interest to you when retrofitting your home.

If you choose to opt in for this communication in relation to your use of the tool, we’ll ask for your name, email address and phone number which will be stored by PTSB and will not be shared with any third parties.

If you are an existing PTSB customer, this opt-in will be separate to Direct Marketing Permissions and Preferences that may exist on your account for other PTSB products and services.

Learn more about our Data Privacy Notice.

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Will I be contacted by PTSB or any third parties in relation to my use of the tool?

PTSB will endeavour to contact you about the Home Upgrade Tool if you give consent and share your name, email address and phone number at the stage of finalising the package options. This consent will be separate to the data collected by Prime 19 for the purpose of your Home Upgrade Tool report.

We will not share your contact information with any third parties. If you are an existing PTSB customer, PTSB may also contact you directly about the Home Upgrade Tool and other PTSB products and services, relying on Direct Marketing Permissions and Preferences on your account.

Learn more about our Direct Marketing Permissions and Preferences.

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Who are the SEAI and where can I find more information on home upgrade options?

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is the national energy authority in Ireland, focused on promoting sustainable energy and aiding in the development of renewable energy. Their mission is to help Ireland transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future through various programmes, including grants, funding, and educational initiatives.

Learn more information about SEAI Grant programmes.

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About Home Energy Upgrade Options

 

Who is responsible for organising the energy upgrade works?

As a financial institution PTSB and our staff are not experts in the delivery of energy upgrades to your home. We strongly recommend you engage with an SEAI registered intermediary to arrange your home upgrades.

The costs shown in the Home Upgrade Tool are point in time and are intended to provide an indicative guide only. The exact cost of retrofit measures can vary and will only be confirmed following consultation with a provider and an assessment of your property.

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Where do I go to get my home assessed?

To learn about the energy upgrades available to transform the comfort levels of your home and find an SEAI Registered Intermediary, you should visit the SEAI website first

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What is a One Stop Shop?

The SEAI One Stop Shop is a fully managed service provided by registered private companies that handles the entire process of a home energy upgrade for homeowners in Ireland, from initial assessment to completion and final Building Energy Rating (BER).

These One Stop Shops coordinate expert advice, grant applications, and the execution of various energy upgrades like insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels, ensuring the work meets high standards and maximizing available grants under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme.

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What is a BER assessment and who pays for it to get an up to date rating?

A BER (Building Energy Rating) Assessment is a formal test of a home’s energy efficiency. It has to be done by an SEAI registered BER Assessor and comes at a cost which you pay for. This is what determines the BER rating of a home.

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What if I’m unsure about which energy upgrades to pursue?

PTSB can’t provide advice on making home energy improvements. If you’re unsure what energy upgrades to make, we recommend speaking to the SEAI registered One Stop Shop, an Energy Partner or Community Project Coordinator to find out more about the products they offer, the grants available and what savings you could expect.

Make sure you do your own research and are happy with your decision before agreeing to proceed. For more details and to find a provider, please visit the SEAI website.

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PTSB Support offering

 

How can PTSB support by financing my home energy upgrades?

PTSB offer a range of competitive products designed to help meet your needs and realise your home energy upgrade.

This includes both unsecured (a Personal Loan and an SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan) and secured options (a Home Equity Release).

  Personal Loan SCBI HEULS Loan Home Equity Release
Interest rate type Variable Variable Fixed and Variable options
Product type Unsecured Unsecured Secured
Minimum Loan amount €1,500 €5,000 €25,000
Maximum Loan amount €75,000 €75,000 N/A
Maximum LTV N/A N/A 85%
Minimum Term 6 months 1 years 5 years
Maximum Term 10 years 10 years 35 years
Eligibility requirements Standard criteria apply see page for full detail. Qualifying works must be done by an SEAI Registered intermediary and delivered under the One Stop Shop or better energy home scheme. You will require a solicitor. Standard criteria apply see page for full detail.
  Learn more about Personal Loans. Learn more about SBCI HEULS. Learn more about Home Equity Release.

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What is the SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme and how do I know if I’m eligible?

The SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme (HEULS) is a government-backed longer term, lower cost loan Scheme, which supports comprehensive energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades where those works are also being grant-aided by the SEAI.

The upgrade work must be carried out by a SEAI registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Coordinator and is expected to result in a minimum energy efficiency improvement of 20% as compared to the existing BER.

You must engage with one SEAI registered One Stop Shop or Community Project Coordinator to carry out an assessment of your home or residential property. The SEAI registered intermediary will provide you with a “Home Energy Summary Report”, outlining the technical and financial details of the proposed energy upgrade. This document should be provided as part of the loan application.

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What is the difference between SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan and a Personal Loan?

By meeting the criteria set out above and successfully applying to the SBCI Loan scheme, it means you can avail of lower interest rates. The SBCI loan operates in the same way as our other Personal Loans and are structured as variable rate loans.

The SBCI HEUL Scheme allows for a government funded interest rate subsidy of up to 2.00% which has been applied by PTSB and allows for a lower overall net rate to be charged when completing energy upgrades to your home.

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What is a PTSB green mortgage?

Our 3 and 5 year fixed rate Green Mortgage offers a lower rate of interest for new and existing home loan customers, if your home has or will have a Building Energy Rating (BER) of A1 to B3 (inclusive). Learn more about this lower fixed rate mortgage option.

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Is the tool suitable to use for everyone? Are additional supports available for those with less knowledge of retrofitting?

The tool has been designed to be both web and mobile friendly and to modern accessibility standards. You can engage with the tool whether you know your BER or MPRN numbers and can receive outputs regardless of your knowledge level or capability.

For those who would require assistance in completing the tool, the journey can be supported in branch with assistance from a member of our team.

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Where can I find more information?

The following sources can be used for details on the SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, the qualifying works, eligibility, to find a provider and the funding options.

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
  • Information on home energy upgrades.
  • Qualifying works.
  • Grants.
  • Home Energy Assessment.
SEAI registered One Stop Shops
  • SEAI registered One Stop Shop Services and to find a provider.
Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI)
  • HEULS details.
  • Eligibility criteria.
  • Government funding.
  • Guarantee details.

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