The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme aims to encourage residential energy efficiency upgrades, making finance more accessible and works more affordable for homeowners.

The scheme supports energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades where works are also being grant-aided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The Home Energy Upgrade Loan scheme is established and offered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and benefits from a guarantee that has been provided by the European Investment Fund (EIF) and European Investment Bank (EIB) and supported by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC).

What sort of things can you borrow for?

This loan is designed for upgrading the energy efficiency of residential properties in the Republic of Ireland.

You need to use at least 75% of the loan for energy efficiency purposes, for example insulation of walls and attic, heat pumps and solar thermal panels.

Here’s what you need to know

Borrow between €5,000 and €75,000 per property. Each borrower can apply for up to 3 properties up to a maximum of €225,000 in total.
Loan term from one year to 10 years (depending on amount).
Flexible monthly repayments – choose a date that suits you to repay your loan.
No security required.
Loans will be available up to 31 December 2026 or until the scheme is fully subscribed.

Calculate my loan

Understanding our rates

A competitive interest rate of 3.55% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) Variable to improve the energy efficiency of your property.

The interest rate on your loan has been reduced in part, due to a 2% per annum subsidy paid to AIB by the government through the SBCI scheme. The subsidy is paid as long as you continue to qualify for this loan as outlined in the terms and conditions. You don’t have to do anything. The interest rate is variable and is calculated daily on the cleared debit balance on the loan. The interest rate may fluctuate over the period of the loan but your repayments stay fixed throughout. If interest rates rise during the loan term, you may have to make some extra payments at the end of the term and if the rate on your loan falls, you may pay off your loan earlier.

Here’s an example:

A typical €20,000 five-year loan with a variable interest rate of 3.50% and 3.55% APR (Annual Percentage Rate), where the interest rate and APR does not vary during the term, has 60 monthly instalments of €363.79 and the total cost of credit (the total amount repayable less the amount of the loan) is €1,827.40.

3 hour online loan approval

The three-hour decision applies to fully completed, new personal loan applications processed between 9:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. It applies to AIB Standard Personal loans from €1,000 - €30,000 and one to five year terms and SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme from €5,000 - €75,000. Excludes applications to restructure or clear existing AIB credit facilities; applications referred to lender for review; from customers in financial difficulty; for student and green personal loans.

Key tips for the application journey

Who can apply for the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme?

Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria for the scheme and is investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades where those works are also being grant-aided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) can apply for the loan.
What documents do I need to apply?

The first document you will need to provide us with is the Home Energy Summary Report. Your chosen SEAI Registered One Stop Shop Provider, SEAI Registered Energy Partner or Community Project Coordinator will carry out the energy assessment of your house and provide this one-page document to you. We accept the Home Energy Summary Report document in PDF format.
How long will it take to get a decision on my application?

We try to give you an instant decision on your loan. If we're not able to, give you a decision within three business hours. Our business hours are 9.00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Although we aim to provide you with a decision within three business hours, this may be extended for technical or other reasons. If you gave us your mobile number, we’ll text you to say we made a decision. Then, you can log into the AIB app select “Products” and you be able to view your decision under “My Applications”. We won’t text you with the decision in case someone else can see your phone.
What can the loan be used for?

The loan must be used for upgrading the energy efficiency of residential properties located in the Republic of Ireland.
Can I get more than one loan?

Yes. You can borrow up to €75,000 per property for a maximum of three properties.
Can I get a loan to upgrade the energy efficiency of a residential property abroad?

No. The upgrade scheme is available for the properties in the Republic of Ireland.

What other documents do I need?

Customer Type	Loan Size	Employment	Income Verification Documents Required				Tax Documents(Where required provide 1 of the below documents)
			Bank Statements	Salary Slips	Contract/Letter of Employment	Notice of Assessment (NOA) Balancing Statement (e/online certs) UK Tax Returns; OR Accountant’s written confirmation of income OR Up to date financial statements/accounts	Tax Clearance Certificate	Paid Notice of Assessment	Letter from Accountant
Existing Customer	Less than €40,000	Payee Only	Not Required				Not Required
		PAYE with other Non PAYE Income	✓	✓	✓	✓	Not Required
		Self-Employed	Not Required			✓	Not Required
	More than €40,000	Payee Only	Not Required				Not Required
		PAYE with other Non PAYE Income	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
		Self-Employed	Not Required			✓	✓	✓	✓
New Customer	Less than €40,000	Payee Only	✓	✓	✓	Not Required	Not Required
		PAYE with other Non PAYE Income	✓	✓	✓	✓	Not Required
		Self-Employed	✓	Not Required		✓	Not Required
	More than €40,000	Payee Only	✓	✓	✓	Not Required	Not Required
		PAYE with other Non PAYE Income	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
		Self-Employed	✓	Not Required		✓	✓	✓	✓

Depending on whether you have applied with us before you may be asked to provide confirmation of your PPS number we recommend that you have this somewhere easily accessible as either an e-copy or a hard copy before starting the journey, a full list of the acceptable documents can be found here.

We may ask for more documents while processing your application.

How to apply

Step 1 – You have to carry out the assessment of your house with one of the following service providers:

If the energy efficiency of the property is expected to improve by minimum of 20% through the upgrade, when compared to its existing Building Energy Rating, then you can apply for funding under the scheme. In addition, the proposed upgrade works costs, net of the SEAI grant amount, must be at least 75% of the financing provided under the loan.

You must undertake the upgrade under one of the following SEAI grant programmes:

National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme
Better Energy Homes Scheme
Community Energy Grant Scheme

Please note – You must utilise one of the above mentioned service providers to carry out the energy efficiency upgrade works.

Step 2 – If already a customer with us, you can apply through our mobile app. If you’re making a joint application or you’re not a customer with us, you can call us so we can talk you through the process. In any case, see how much you can borrow using our calculator.

Calculate my loan

Applying on the AIB Mobile App? Here is what you will need to do:

Log into the app
.Select ‘Products'
Tap ‘Borrow’
Select the SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme
To complete your application you will need to upload your Home Energy Summary Report during the journey, additionally you may be asked to upload some supporting documentation depending on how long you have been with the bank and your employment status
Submit your application

Please contact our team if you are not a customer with us, if you are applying with someone else, or if you need help on 0818 724 725. You will need a Home Energy Summary Report to apply for the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme.

Please note – Approval of finance is subject to AIB’ lending criteria, policies and procedures.

More Information About the SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme

What type of property can I use the loan to upgrade?
- The property must be a residential property in the Republic of Ireland.
- The property must not have been used in part for commercial purposes and in part for residential purposes at any time in previous 12 months, and the borrower must undertake not to use the property for such purposes for at least 12 months after they obtain finance.
- The property must not have been subject to one or more short-term letting (14 days or less) at any time in previous 12 months, and the borrower must undertake not to use the property for such purposes for at least 12 months after they obtain finance.
- The property must not have been used as a holiday home at any time in previous 12 months, and the borrower must undertake not to use the property for such purposes for at least 12 months after they obtain finance.
State Aid
The scheme will operate under the De Minimis Regulation.

State aid will apply on loans granted to any homeowner in which the underlying property (i) is currently being used; (ii) has been used in the previous 12 months; or (iii) will be used in the next 12 months for any rental or similar arrangement.

If the property/properties have been or are being used for the above purposes, then that use is “economic activity”, and State aid will arise on the grant of the loan(s) in respect of that property/properties.

Loans to other homeowners who do not use the property to engage in “economic activity” will not generate any State aid.

For a more extensive description of the State aid measures applicable to the scheme, please refer to the SBCI Regulation webpage

Ineligible Undertakings

Undertakings which are not eligible for De Minimis Loans under this Annex are:
1. undertakings active in the fishery and aquaculture sector;
2. undertakings active in the primary production of agricultural products;
3. undertakings active in the sector of processing and marketing of agricultural products in the following cases:
  1. where the amount of the loan is fixed on the basis of the price or quantity of such products purchased from primary producers or put on the market by the undertakings concerned; and
  2. where the aid is conditional on being partly or entirely passed on to primary producers; and
4. undertakings that are subject to collective insolvency proceedings or that fulfil the criteria under its domestic law for being placed in collective insolvency proceedings at the request of its creditors,
as further defined in the De Minimis Regulations.

Amount

The maximum amount of a De Minimis Loan shall be such that the total amount of de minimis aid received by the Borrower shall not exceed EUR 300,000 over any period of 3 years.

Restrictions

De Minimis Loans may not be used:
1. in a manner that requires the undertaking to use domestic over imported goods; or
2. to fund export-related activities towards non-EU countries or Member States (namely aid directly linked to the quantities exported), to the establishment and operation of a distribution network or to other current expenditure linked to the export activity.
Required Declaration

The Borrower must give a valid declaration as to the amount, if any, of any other de minimis aid it received within the previous period of 3 years.

Required Books and Records

The Borrower shall record and compile all the information required for the application for the De Minimis Loan. Such information shall include all information necessary to demonstrate that the conditions of the De Minimis Regulations have been complied with. Records regarding each De Minimis Loan shall be maintained by the Borrower for ten fiscal years from the date of termination of the De Minimis Loan
Energy Efficiency criteria for the Renovation of Buildings
Eligibility

The loan scheme must be used for upgrading the energy efficiency and decarbonisation of your home. It cannot be used for fossil fuel heating systems.

A comprehensive list of eligible solutions can be found on the SEAI website, but energy efficiency and decarbonisation solutions can include:
- Attic, wall, and floor insulation
- Heat pump installation
- Heat control upgrades
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels (when installed as part of a deep retrofit)
Ineligibility

If your loan no longer meets the eligibility criteria, it may be excluded from the SBCI Scheme, and your loan will be in default.

If that happens, we will engage with you to assess your circumstances with a view to moving you to an alternative product, if possible. This will be subject to a new Credit Application, assessment and decision. We will no longer be bound to honour the favourable interest rate and term described above. If you fail to engage with us, or if it is not possible to provide an alternative product, we have the right to demand immediate repayment of all outstanding amounts.

Regulatory Information

Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loans are only available to over 18s. Subject to approval. Security may be required.

WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit, a hire- purchase agreement, a consumer-hire agreement or a BNPL agreement in the future.

Data Protection Notification

It is important to be aware that AIB is obliged to share personal information about successful applicants with the SBCI and this information will also be shared with EU Bodies and State Bodies. This will be done with regard to obligations under data protection legislation. You can read our Data Protection – Use of Information Notice by visiting our website or contact us directly for more information on how we use your information.

Application data will be shared with the SBCI, the European Investment Fund, the European Investment Bank, the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on completed loans and on a periodic basis thereafter who all act as independent data controllers. It may also be provided on an ad hoc basis under certain circumstances. The SBCI (as controller) and the NTMA (as processor) may process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and for the purposes set out in the SBCI Data Protection Statement which is available here.

The SBCI may contact you using the primary email address, telephone number and/or postal address which you provided during the application process in order to verify your eligibility under the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme.

For more information and guidelines on how the European Investment Fund handles the personal data of Borrowers and applicants of credit as an independent data controller, please refer to the EIF Data Protection Statement Processing of Final Recipients’ Personal Data here.

For more information and guidelines on how the European Investment Bank handles the personal data of Borrowers and applicants of credit, please refer to the EIB privacy statement here.

For more information and guidelines on how the Department of Environment, Climate an Communications handles the personal data of Borrowers and applicants of credit, please refer to the privacy statement on their website here.

For more information and guidelines on how the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland handles personal data, please refer to the privacy statement on their website here.

You also need to be aware that you will need to keep and be able to produce all documents relating to the SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme for a period of 7 years from the end of your loan.