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Help at hand

Whatever you're looking to do, we have plenty of inspiration and ideas to help you on your journey to a greener lifestyle.

Benefits of a green lifestyle

Living a green lifestyle helps in the fight against climate change, creates health benefits for all of us and saves money.

Health

In practice a green lifestyle means better food choices and a more active way of life. Sourcing food locally, growing our own and commuting on foot, bike or by electric vehicle are choices that produce less waste, lower pollution and better air quality for all generations.

Savings

Investing in a greener lifestyle can cost money up front, but the savings soon balance the cost of powering a hybrid or electric car, or heating a well insulated or solar panelled home. Grants and incentives can go a long way towards covering the set up costs.

Environment

All of us can do more to protect the limited resources of our planet.
 
Today’s small changes in lifestyle will lessen the effects of climate change and build a better environment for us to pass to the generations who follow us.

    

 

Easy changes for a greener lifestyle

Changing our habits can make difference.

Thinking of Going Green?

Our behaviours, our habits and how we choose to live our lives leaves a footprint.

Many of us want to do more in support of a healthier planet and to ensure its preservation for the many generations to come. 

We’ve worked with experts Sustainability Works to create our Going Green quiz. In just 5 minutes you can find out how green your choices are, as well as some tips and tricks on how you can do more.

Take our Going Green quiz

Green resolutions

Checklist. Commit to second hand - books, clothing, furniture. Whether it’s charity shops, classified sites or exchanging with family or friends it’s a great way to reduce and reuse.
 
Checklist. Pledge to support Green Businesses. Doing some research can help you understand which companies are doing that bit more to support a greener environment. Supporting greener businesses is a great way to cut your carbon emissions. 
 
Checklist. Fast fashion is a serious contributor to green house gas emissions. Why not make a commitment to buy less often or source from sustainable retailers and buy good quality clothing that lasts and fits well. 
 
Checklist. Grow something every month. Eating fresh, locally sourced and in season produce cuts down on food miles. It doesn’t come more local than your own back garden. Keep an eye on our Instagram page or visit our friends at GIY.ie for tips and tricks of what to plant and when. 
 
Checklist. Become an Advocate. Make a commitment to learn more about climate change, stay informed and share your knowledge with others. Shake up your Instagram and social feeds, follow others that are leading the way.  

Kinder ways to work from home

Checklist. Turn off computers, laptops and monitors at the end of the day - it sounds simple, but many of us don’t do this.
 
Checklist. Many of us print documents to review when really, we could do this digitally.
 
Checklist. Make the most of natural light. If our workspace allows, we should follow the sun instead of turning on lights - plus sunlight is a great mood booster.
 
Checklist. Invest in a digital paperless notebook. The initial expense might be more, but in the long run they can turn out to be cost effective.
 
Checklist. Try bamboo made stationery. It’s just as durable as plastic, but significantly better for our planet.

Eco friendly commuting

Checklist. Take public transport or cycle. Cycling is carbon-free, great exercise, cost effective and quick.
 
Checklist. Going car free is just not practical for some of us - but why not consider some greener options and reduce your carbon footprint by upgrading to an electric or plug-in-hybrid vehicle.
 
Checklist. For those of us who can’t part with our cars, maintaining them will help. Keeping tires properly inflated and having the engine checked regularly can reduce fuel consumption.
 
Checklist. Changing our commute times to avoid peak traffic by going or leaving later than others will avoid so many of us sitting in rush-hour traffic.
 
Checklist. Offset carbon contributions. Whether we are driving to work or flying to a conference, buying credits to offset our carbon footprint can help reduce our impact on the climate.
 

 

 

Meet some of our green partners

We're supporting sustainable communities and making a positive contribution to society.

FoodCloud

Food waste is detrimental to our planet, but FoodCloud Ireland have the solution if we're all willing to play our part.

Coillte

As the proud custodian of over 7% of Ireland’s land, Coillte tells us of the journey they’ve been on to create a sustainable future for our forests and lands.

Bee keeping at AIB

Hear from our resident BEE keeper, Kevin, on the importance of the AIB Apiary and others for our ecosystems.

 

    

Considering going electric

Kinder for our communities and there are savings to be made too.

Woman plugging a charger into her electric vehicle.

Benefits of driving electric

Checklist icon. Up to 74% reduction in transport costs comparable new diesel engine car.
 
Checklist icon. Electric vehicles (EV) are grant eligible (up to €3,500 for private and €3,800 for commercial EvVs).
 
Checklist icon. Battery Electric Vehicles have the lowest tax - €120 per year.
 
Checklist icon. Fewer moving parts means less wear and tear and cheaper servicing costs.
 
Checklist icon. Zero emissions meaning cleaner air for pedestrians and cyclists as well as reduction in noise pollution.
 
(Source: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2024)
 
Learn more about EV grants on SEAI

Benefits of cycling electric

Checklist. The Bike to Work scheme could help you purchase an electric bike up to €1,500. (Source: Bike to Work 2024)
 
Checklist. An electric motor can help you feel capable of tackling longer distances or hills when cycling.
 
Checklist. They are better for the environment than driving, especially if you charge them using green or renewable energy.
 
Checklist. Less waiting in the traffic means that you can travel faster than other modes of transport at rush hour, making your commute more enjoyable, while reducing traffic in your neighbourhood.
 
Learn more on Bike To Work
Woman posing on her bike outside an apartment building.
 

Driving electric - useful tools

Industry comparison tools, grant information and charge point locations.

SEAI grants

Electric vehicles are grant eligible up to €3,500 for private and €3,800 for commercial EvVs and you may also be able to claim up to €300 towards the cost and installation of an electric vehicle home charger unit.
 
(Source: SEAI 2024)
Learn more on SEAI

SEAI electric vehicle calculator

Find out how much you can save in both costs and in emissions by choosing electric or hybrid models of diesel and petrol vehicles.
Click for SEAI calculator

EV charge point map

ESB owns, operates and maintains many public charge points across Ireland.
 
Download the ecar connect app or check out their interactive map to locate the nearest charge point to you.
 
(Source: ESB 2024)
ESB charge point map

 

     

Warmer, more energy efficient homes

Energy efficient homes cost lest to run, are more comfortable to live in and have less impact on our environment.

Woman holding her toddler near by a window in their home.

Benefits of upgrading your home

  • Comfort - No more drafty cold rooms in winter.
  • Savings - Reduce your heating bills.
  • Health - Damp and mould are associated with low energy efficient homes.
  • Environmental - Higher rated energy efficient homes benefit from lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Thinking of Going Green?

Upgrading your home is a great way to live a little greener, but it’s not the only way. We’ve worked with experts Sustainability Works to create our Going Green quiz. In just 5 minutes your can find out how green your choices are, as well as some tips and tricks on how you can do more.

Take our Going Green quiz

Home energy upgrade options

There are changes that you can make, big and small, and some that will cost considerably more than others. 
 
Checklist. Simpler Changes: Turning down the thermostat, replace old light bulbs with LED and upgrade to energy efficient appliances.
 
Checklist. Bigger Investments: Solar panels, heating system upgrades, roof and wall insulation and windows and doors replacements.
 
Checklist. Full Home Retrofit: A full retrofit of your home to increase the energy rating may seem a big task - but help is at hand.
 
Find out more at our AIB Green Living Home space.
 
Visit AIB Green Living Home
Couple on the floor of their home eating pizza and drinking.
 

      

Green finance options

Let’s take a look at some lower rate green finance options developed as part of our pledge to DO MORE.

Green personal loan

With our green personal loan, you can make your new car or home improvements a more sustainable choice.
Our Green personal Loan

Top-up mortgage

If you are an existing AIB mortgage customer you could borrow against the equity in your home to pay for energy efficiency improvements.
More about Mortgage Top-up

Green 5 year fixed rate mortgage

If you are buying or building a high energy rated home, we have a lower rate of interest for you.
Information on our Green Mortgage

    

More ways to go green

Your Home

Whether you plan to DO MORE by making small upgrades or big, you’ll find plenty about warmer, more cost effective and environmentally friendly homes here.

Your Business

Whether your business can DO MORE by simply making green changes or you’re a start up business looking to instil and inspire green thinking — help is available.

 

 

We Pledge To DO MORE

Over the last number of years we have been working to build a more sustainable business. We've invested in wind energy projects, launched a €30 billion climate action fund and created a green mortgage.

And yet, it's still not enough. And we will keep telling ourselves that every day. AIB alone is not the solution to climate change, but we are doing everything we can to be a part of it.

Find out more about sustainability at AIB

 

 

Important/Regulatory Information

The above content is expressed in broad terms and is limited to general information purposes only. Readers should always seek professional advice to address issues arising in specific contexts and not seek to rely on the above information which does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by AIB.
 
Some of the links above bring you to external websites. Your use of an external website is subject to the terms of that site.
 
Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is an authorised agent and servicer of AIB Mortgage Bank u.c. in relation to origination and servicing of mortgage loans and mortgages.  AIB Mortgage Bank u.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.