Research carried out by AIB has shown that half of the bank’s consumers want to improve their home’s energy efficiency. To support them, AIB recently launched a new easy-to-use solar photovoltaic (PV) calculator to help homeowners make informed decisions on solar solutions based on their location, type of home, main heat source, and energy usage and other factors.
“This new solar calculator tool adds to our suite of customer supports,” says Geraldine Casey, managing director of retail banking with AIB. “Customers will receive personalised recommendations on the number of solar PV panels that their home may need, the estimated payback period, the SEAI grants available and the resulting Ber improvements, as well as an estimated cost to install the solar panels for which AIB can support with a range of finance options to help them make the transition.”
Last December, the bank also published a comprehensive AIB Home Retrofit Report, which provides a wealth of information about the full range of retrofit options people can choose, such as government grants and AIB green financing options including the low-cost SBCI home energy upgrade loans scheme (HEULS).
The scheme supports energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades where they are also being grant-aided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). People can borrow amounts from €5,000 to €75,000 at a competitive AIB rate of 3.55 per cent APR, which can be paid back over a period from one to 10 years.
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The push for sustainable living is reflected in the bank’s home loan statistics. Nearly six out of every 10 new mortgages across the AIB Group (58 per cent) in the first half of 2025 were for energy efficient homes, up from 52 per cent in 2024
Churchfield Home Services is an AIB customer and an SEAI-approved one-stop shop for home energy upgrades. Its chief executive, Noel Rowland, says the company is getting good feedback on HEULS because the application process is straightforward and the rate is competitive. For Rowland, it is important that retrofitting is made as simple as possible.
“Retrofitting your home makes sense on so many levels,” he says. “But it can also be complicated and a little daunting for many people starting off. Our goal at Churchfield is to, firstly, understand the unique needs of our customers, and then to provide a seamless and expert step-by-step service from the initial energy assessment right through to the finished job. We want to help people to make their homes more comfortable, warmer, more energy efficient and more valuable in the long run.”
The company has helped nearly 6,000 people retrofit their homes, primarily in Dublin and the surrounding counties and now from its second base in Mayo. Rowland aims to expand the business further across Leinster, Connacht and ultimately countrywide.
“A big advantage for us is that our staff can talk people through their proposed upgrade options digitally,” he explains. “This makes it easier for people to understand and see virtually what might work best for them. It also means that our work is scalable, from local to national. While retrofitting will continue to be a big decision for many homeowners, with good supports, including a range of competitive financial supports, we can help make it easier, allowing more and more people to transform their homes.”
The push for sustainable living is reflected in the bank’s home loan statistics. Nearly six out of every 10 new mortgages across the AIB Group (58 per cent) in the first half of 2025 were for energy efficient homes, up from 52 per cent in 2024.
The bank’s competitive green mortgage and sustainable loan rates are central to its commitment to financing and supporting homeowners to be able to transition to lower-carbon living, according to Casey.
“AIB now offers some of the lowest mortgage rates on the market to homes with a Ber rating of B3 or above, with a green three-year fixed rate from as low as 3 per cent for homes with a Ber between A1 and A3, and a competitive green two- or five-year fixed rate for homes with a Ber between A1 and B3,” she says.
“The biggest financial decision most people will make will be to purchase a home. For many, the home they buy now may be the one that they remain in for life and so it is important that it is fit for purpose as their needs change,” Casey continues. “With our range of green mortgage options we are helping people to buy homes now that are warmer, healthier and more cost effective and that are also going to have less impact on our environment into the future.
“These competitive mortgage options are also available to existing customers and the growing numbers of people who are retrofitting their homes since they drew down their original mortgage. With a better Ber rating, they can also qualify for a new lower green mortgage rate.”
See solarcalculator.aib.ie to start your solar PV journey.
