Ireland’s energy prices are among the highest in Europe.

Irish household bills are around 30% above the EU average and an estimated 550,000 households are now living in energy poverty.

Energy poverty is when a household is unable to afford basic energy services such as heating, cooling, lighting, and electricity for essential appliances. It happens when high energy costs and poorly insulated or inefficient homes lead to difficulty maintaining a safe and comfortable living environment.

At the same time, Ireland is drifting toward EU penalties of up to €26 billion in 2030 because of a failure to meet emissions targets.

The solution? We have abundant wind and growing solar resources in Ireland. We have government incentives and cost-covered companies like Watt Footprint to manage and advise on energy upgrades. Savings of 10% can be made with the most basic service alone: an energy audit to evaluate the locations and causes of energy spending.

What’s missing is a mindset change for homes and businesses across Ireland. Without that, Ireland risks remaining on the sidelines of the global clean energy transition.