With the clocks going back over the weekend, many consumers are beginning to put on heating, or seeing the effects of energy hikes and extra expenses that impact on their household bills. This winter is set to be one of the most expensive on record. The website Dublin Live has an excellent guide of ‘30 ways to cut your energy bills as crippling winter looms’. However, for the purposes of this article I want to focus on Irish companies that can help consumers reduce their household bills by choosing more active, responsible, energy efficient and greener homes.
Cycling, Electric Bikes and Electric Scooters
Cycling Stores
With the adoption of the Bike to Work Scheme cycling has become hugely popular in recent years as many commuters are deciding to leave their cars behind and cycle to school, college or work instead. While there is a lot of competition from big box stores and online the independent cycling stores are still proving their worth. Bronagh Loughlin from the website bestinireland.com has an excellent list on
The 10 Best Bicycle Shops In Dublin. While outside of Dublin the likes of The Bike Shed (Cork) Clifden Bike Shop in Connemara, On Yer Bike in Carlingford, Co Louth, spokes.ie in Waterford your local reputable independent bike shop, should cater for all ages and sizes. In addition, most City Councils in Ireland will have a rental bike scheme where consumers can rent bikes from an approved bike rack for a specific amount of time, such as Dublin, Cork or Galway.
Electric Bikes and Scooters
Electric Bikes and Scooters
The urban transportation landscape is evolving as electric bikes and scooters gain popularity within the Bike to Work Scheme. This sector is witnessing significant investments, and the market is divided into sales and rentals in Ireland. Irish companies like ZEUS Scooters, Moby, and Zipp Mobility are driving this shift with innovative solutions. ZEUS offers 3-wheeled electric scooters with cutting-edge technology. Moby, known for Dublin’s bike share scheme, expanded to MOBY Delivery Fleets. Zipp Mobility focuses on short city commutes, they have also seen investments from the likes of Brian O’Driscoll.
There is also the option to rent a scooter, represented by companies like Modmo, are encourage eco-friendly travel, particularly for distances too short to drive but too far to walk. GreenAer takes a personalised approach to select premium e-bikes. Ecolo Cycles invites people to explore the world of electric bikes, aligning with the shift towards more sustainable and eco-conscious urban transportation.
Car Sharing and Electric Vehicle Charging
Car Sharing
A lot of consumers have decided to reduce their dependence on cars in order to take public transport, cycle or become a one car family instead of a two car family. This drastically reduces the amount that they spend on petrol or car maintenance. However, sometimes there is a necessity for a car and this is where car sharing companies can be useful. It allows consumers to become less reliant on their own car, while having the option to have a car if they need it. Some of the options in this market are:
The first market entrants in this market was Go-Car, oCar members can book cars online or via the app for as little as an hour, then unlock with their phone or GoCard; the keys are in the car, with fuel, insurance and city parking all included.GoCar now has over 10,000 members and operates a fleet of over 300 cars across 200+ locations in Ireland. Drivers can visit GoCar.ie to request a GoCar in their community. The company now has locations all over the country which can be seen here.
According to The Irish Independent Fleet, a peer-to-peer car rental platform that enables motorists to rent out their cars, sometimes dubbed ‘the Airbnb of car rental’ for allowing motorists to rent out cars sitting idle in their driveways”. The app allows drivers to rent a vehicle from a local dealership, such as for hiring a van for moving home or trying out an electric vehicle or hybrid for a month before committing to a full purchase. Users can opt for a daily hire or a monthly subscription.
An Irish founded company but part of the Toyota brand Yuko is a car sharing and car rental organisation that allows car sharing through”Click & drive by the hour with our YUKÕ Share fleet. There are top spec hybrid cars waiting for you parked on the streets of Dublin, whenever you need it.” and car rental through “YUKÕ Rental offers you a Toyota on your terms from all Toyota Dealerships nationwide. Rent by the day, week or month with insurance included. No contracts, no commitments or hidden charges. Enjoy a completely digital booking experience.”
Electric Vehicle Charging
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) runs the home charger grant scheme and can advise you further. You can avail of up to €600 for buying and installing a charger at home and according to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commision “If considering a plug-in EV, you’ll need to think about how you will charge it. If you don’t have an existing charger, shop around and get at least three quotes from registered electrical installers. You can also ask your car dealer if they include a home charger as part of the car package.
EasyGo operates a network of EV charging stations, making it easier for electric vehicle owners to find and access charging infrastructure. This promotes the adoption of EVs, reducing emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. The company offers digital parking solutions, including apps for locating and paying for parking. This simplifies the parking experience for drivers, reducing congestion and emissions associated with searching for parking spaces.
The company “specialises in the supply and installation of Electric Car Chargers and accessories in your home. With installations happening within 2 weeks of order and a wider range of chargers now available.” They install their unique Pulsar Plus, Zzappi Tethered and Zappi Socket charging points and some chargers come with additional grants
Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and have operations throughout Ireland, the UK, 15 countries in the Caribbean, and most recently, in the Middle East. “We are delighted to offer you a competitively priced range of fast, smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers, supplied and installed by our team of highly experienced electricians nationwide. As Ireland’s leading In-Home provider, we already install and service on behalf of household names such as Sky, Prepay Power, SIRO and Virgin Media. So, you can rest assured, that your home car charger installation is in very safe hands”
“We are experienced in design, installation and maintenance of domestic, commercial, retail and industrial installations and are both RECI and NECI registered. We work across Ireland and have also carried out many projects in the surrounding counties of Kilkenny – Wexford, Tipperary, Cork and Dublin and throughout the 26 Counties.”
This site offers “Free site visit survey & quotation, Unobtrusive install service, Smart / App controlled solutions, Maintenance & electrical compliance service SEAI grant application advice” They recommend the Zappi EV Car Charger as its “Not only does it operate as a traditional EV charger, it can also charge your electric vehicle using 100% free energy generated from your Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels or wind generation system. Charging current is automatically and continually adjusted in response to on-site generation and household power consumption.”
Renewable energy and Insulation
Renewable Energy
According to the CSO the most recent figures show “Renewable energy accounted for 4% of Ireland’s total final energy consumption in 2020. This was the lowest in the EU27. Sweden had the highest share of renewable energy in 2020 at 29% while the EU27 average was 12%” This proves that companies and consumers need to start investing in renewable energies as not only is it good for the environment, it can lower electric bills too.
In the home energy market there are several companies specialising in the installation of solar panels in homes. Some of these companies may also offer additional services such as installation or other
Activ8 Energies core mission is harnessing solar technology to cut energy costs and environmental impact. They specialise in solar panel installation and maintenance, allowing clients to generate green energy from sunlight, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and carbon footprint. Beyond solar, they offer heating and insulation services, enhancing energy efficiency for added comfort and reduced heating expenses.
Climote specialises in smart home solutions, specifically offering the “Climote Remote Heating Control” system. This platform empowers homeowners to remotely manage and optimise their heating and hot water systems, leading to cost savings and reduced environmental impact. Users can control settings via a user-friendly mobile app or web interface, ensuring comfort while minimising energy wastage and providing real-time consumption data.
Eco Evolution specialises in installing wind, solar, and hydro energy solutions, offering a range of renewable and sustainable energy products and services in Ireland. They provide Wind Turbines, Solar Thermal, Solar Photovoltaic (PV), Hydro Turbines, Heatpumps, Biomass, and Heat Recovery Ventilation systems, helping customers reduce utility and fuel bills while adopting greener energy alternatives for their homes and buildings. Operating from Ferns, Co Wexford, Ireland.
Solar PV panels are attached to your roof or within your garden where they are installed to connect with your domestic supply via an inverter. This is used to power your home appliances and with the battery option it can store power until needed. All other power will be supplied via the ESB grid, likewise any surplus power will be supplied back to the ESB grid.
Solar Thermal collectors are attached to your roof where they are installed to connect with your hot water system. The panels are filled with a mixture of water and antifreeze which is heated by solar energy. This in turn is used to control the temperature of the hot water with your domestic boiler.
On their website they state “We are specialists in Photovoltaic Solar Installations. We have a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. We provide fully integrated renewable energy solutions to domestic homes, farms and all business sectors. Simply Solar are part of the WRB Group Ltd.
We have a proud history of excellent electrical services dating back to 1962, when the business was established
We manage all aspects of a project from design and supply through installation and aftercare. We provide a comprehensive service within one company to ensure we can provide maximum value and deliver beyond your expectations.”
Insulation
With grants available of up to €1500 off the upgrading or installation of new and older homes, it’s clear that consumers are turning to insulation as a way of decreasing their household heating bills as not only do they get money from grants available but they also get the value of decreasing their heating bills as the heat won’t be leaving the house. Some of the most popular insulation installers are:
“Ecofix was setup as a solution to tackle the increased demand for improved building envelope performance both in new build and the retrofit market. By taking a fabric first approach to new and existing buildings, our core strategy is to deliver comfortable, more efficient and healthier buildings, safely and sustainably.” They offer external plastering, attic insulation, airtightness on new buildings, in addition to retrofitting insulation to attics, floors and walls, windows and doors upgrades and heat pumps.
They offer a comprehensive review of the grants available for every type of house or apartment in Ireland. They specialise in internal & External Insulation, External Insulation (Wrap), Cavity Wall Insulation, Attic Insulation, Thermacote in addition to Windows, Glazing and Doors
“We heat your home with a high efficiency boiler and heat controls, and then wrap your home with insulation to keep the heat in. Having completed a Home Energy Survey, House2Home will custom design a package that is suitable for your home. We use our Home Energy Calculator to carry out a detailed assessment of your home. This report shows your current spend on energy and how much you will save having carried out a complete retrofit. It also details a payback period and which measures will be applied to your home. There is a small charge for this service, however this will be returned to you if you avail of 1 or more measures prescribed in the report. Services included in the retrofit are:”
You can get specialists such as sprayfoaminstallation.ie, who insulate attics, walls, roofs, sheds, boats, floors, shipping containers, and more. All our contractors use NSAI approved spray foam insulation and are trained to use the unique breathable vent card system. We are fully insured, certified, registered, and cater to projects of all sizes. We have no call-out charge and offer free quotations
Advice
The number one thing to remember when letting any trades person into your home is are they are reputable, certified, value for money, a bonafide company and meet your needs and the needs of your household.
Smart homes
Another way of being energy efficient is creating a ‘smart home’. According to this Bord Gais Energy article “Irish people are rapidly adopting smart home technology. With sustainability, convenience and affordability front and centre of many energy consumers’ minds, the adoption of smart homes helps homeowners manage all their home devices from a single, central hub.
With 50% year-on-year growth in home automation, Irish people are steadily embracing smart home technology and regularly upgrading their devices and gadget”
There are huge multinational businesses dominating the Smart Home market, however several smaller players in the Irish market that are gaining market share:
Smart security makes it easier than ever to keep a close eye on your home whether you’re inside or out and about. Energy management is also a main feature of smart homes. Adjusting the thermostat, turning on and off lights and monitoring water usage has never been so simple and convenient. Smart Thermostats, Lightbulbs, Electric Plugs, Alarm Systems, Doorbells, Door Locks and Electric Vehicle Chargers
IQ Design is an Irish company principally engaged in the design, development and manufacture of eco-friendly products along with a complementary range of other niche products. These products include SmartFan ThermLight SmartChimney CowlsSmartBalloon LoftLifters SmartSweep Parcel Drop-Box
Price comparison websites
According to the CRU.ie (The Commission for Regulation of Utilities of Ireland) “Price comparison websites can help you work out the best price plan and energy supplier for you. This can save you time and money. If you are switching energy suppliers, the CRU recommends using an approved price comparison website.”
Like the Smart Home market, the Irish market is saturated with foreign multinationals in the sector but there are also a significant number of brands in the sector that all work off the same or similar business models. Letting consumers compare different service providers, by clicking through their website to the providers the price comparison website get a commission on each sale. Commissions may vary depending on the service and the website.
By comparing different service offerings, renewing contracts or switching service providers consumers may save hundreds if not thousands on their household bills and get their bills down as a result of this. Some of these websites include: Switcher.ie, powertowitch.ie or Bonkers.ie
Mobile Phone Bills:
Go Sim-Only,
More and more phone companies in Ireland are going sim-only, so that the consumer only pays for the sim and a small amount on their bill each month. Many international phone companies have launched Irish sub-brands to cater to this market. Such as Go-Mo, 48.ie or Irish phone suppliers such as Eir or An Post.
Compost Bins
According to Cleanireland.ie “Composting is seen as the best option in a waste disposal hierarchy which has landfill as the worst. Starting from our homes, we can all do our bit to promote and facilitate composting and to ultimately reduce the amount of this organic material going unnecessarily into our landfills.” Not only is better for the environment but it can also drastically reduce the amount consumers are spending on”. Some Irish companies in this market include:
We are a small Irish-owned online retail store that offers a wide range of eco-friendly products such as: sustainable household items, smart electrics and waste management options for both domestic and commercial purposes They have a range of compost bins available here
Based in Athboy County Meath “Irish Timber Products are an Irish company with 3 generations of experience behind it.” and promise “So whatever your requirement if we don’t have it in stock we will find it.” They have a custom range of 10 Compost Bins & Planters available through their website.
Has kitchen compost bins available that allow you to store the compostable material until the bin is full and then you can take it out to the large compost bin outside.
“Composting can often take more time than you’d like, but here at Original Organics, we offer hot composters that heat up your organic waste to help quickly break it down. This gives you useable compost much faster than a regular compost bin. By cutting landfill waste as well as time, you can be as green as your garden with your new natural fertiliser.”