Retrofit works save Dublin City Council tenants over €100 million in energy bills
Dublin City Council tenants have benefited from energy bill savings of an estimated €105.3 million as part of its retrofitting programme.
Since 2013, 10,069 homes have been upgraded as part of the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme . This is designed to reduce unnecessary energy consumption , greenhouse gas emissions, and demands on renewable resources while providing council tenants with healthier living conditions and offering significant money savings.
Senior Executive Engineer Shane Hawkshaw presented these figures to representatives at yesterday’s Climate Action and Urban Resilience SPC. The original goal of the programme was to upgrade housing stock to a B2 energy rating, although this has since been revised to meet a BER target of A3 from 2027 onwards.
National funding for the programme increased in 2026 from €90m to €140m, with DCC receiving funds of €16.15m from the Department of Housing for 2026. The programme offers grant support for measures such as external insulation, heat pumps, and window and door replacement.
In 2025, 321 units were upgraded and 57% of homes received a new heat pump. 156 units were upgraded to an A3 energy rating or better and 251, or 78%, upgraded to B2 or better. Phase 1 of the programme included cavity fill insulation, attic insulation and cylinder lagging on 8,057 units. Phase 2 expanded to heat pumps, external wall insulation, upgraded windows/doors and attic insulation and includes 2,012 units as of the end of 2025.
With energy bill savings of over €100m, 965,083 MWh has been saved in cumulative energy over the past 12 years, and 24,629 tonnes of CO2 emissions have been saved. The estimated cost of savings for tenants by 2030 will be €168,125,945.
Housing complexes, like Canon Burke in Cabra, have also benefited from the programme, as the two-storey complex constructed in 1970 saw retrofitting works across ten individual housing units. These included external insulation, roof and wall ventilation, heat pumps, and an upgrade of incoming ESB mains.
By practicing an ethos that values regeneration or demolition, Dublin City Council aims to promote a circular economy and are endeavouring to take a leading role and inspire other local authorities to follow suit. With the council maintaining above 29,000 social homes across the city, over one third have already benefited from retrofitting works.
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