An energy efficient business premises will not only save you money, protect the environment, but also positively impact your brand reputation.
To understand your businesses energy usage, you must conduct an energy audit. SEAI are currently offering a €2,000 voucher towards an energy audit for businesses, and depending on the size of the building, this covers the full cost in most cases. This audit will identify what areas of the business uses most energy, for example heating, electricity. It will also identify areas of upgrade, that will reduce energy usage, and reduce carbon emissions, such as switching to heat pumps, installing solar panels for electricity generation, and switching to LED lights.
As an Irish SME, you can apply for the €2,000 energy audit voucher here.
Why upgrade your business:
- Cost savings. An average SME will save 30% on energy bills when upgrading with a single measure, such as solar PV.
- Environmental impact. Businesses emit a larger quantity of carbon emissions than a house, so reducing your overall energy consumption will reduce carbon emissions, and the businesses carbon footprint.
- Employee comfort and happiness. A comfortable working environment can increase productivity by 12%, whereas a cold working environment will reduce productivity by 20%.
- Saving money on energy bills means you can spend it on business activities that will place you ahead of the competition. Also when consumers look at brands, they tend to look at their green agenda, and environmental impact, which will be enhanced with energy upgrades.
Grant Details
There are a variety of commercial grants available with SEAI, including EXEED, Support Scheme for Renewable Heat
EXEED Grant Scheme
This grant scheme is for large scale energy investment projects, with grant support of up to €1,000,000 available. Depending on company size and project total, grant support will start at 30% off all costs, and go up to 70%.
The grant application process is structured in two parts- design stage and capital investment stage. All stages of grant application is done with SEAI online here.
Support Scheme for Renewable Heat
This grant supports commercial buildings of all sizes to invest in renewable energy heating technologies such as air-to-water heat pumps. The grant funding is 30% of overall costs of the project, and all applications are done via SEAI online here.
Accelerated Capital Allowance
This tax incentive promotes investment in energy efficient products and equipment. The ACA scheme allows a sole trader, farmer or company that pays corporation tax in Ireland to deduct the full cost of the equipment from their profits in the year of purchase. As a result, the reduction in tax paid by the organisation in that year is currently 12.5% of the value of capital expenditure. To qualify you must contact revevue.ie
Support Scheme for Energy Audit
SEAI are currently offering an energy audit voucher worth €2,000, towards a high quality energy audit. In most cases, this will cover the full assessment, and application is easy and quick online, with automatic approval. Complete the form online and receive your voucher number here.
SEAI are currently re-evaluating other commercial grants for 2022, however you can register your interest below and we will be contact you when we have full grant details.