Tipperary Healthy Homes case study – Aileen McCarthy

The 2018 Tipperary Healthy Homes scheme is aimed at Tipperary homeowners in pre-2006 built homes. The aim of the scheme is to move the homeowner away from fossil fuel heating systems and replace them with a heat pump, along with other measures that will raise the Building Energy Rating to a near A3. This will provide the homeowner with a warmer, healthier home; lowering running costs, energy consumption and benefiting health. This retrofit is of significant value, estimated at €52,000 per home and is 95% funded by the state. It will transform the home for the homeowner and is likely to have a positive impact on the health of the occupants.  It is run by Tipperary Energy Agency and is funded by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Electric Ireland and co-funded by the Horizon 2020 programme.

Aileen McCarthy lives with her husband John in a 1976-built three-bedroom bungalow in Cullen village near Limerick Junction, Co Tipperary. Five years ago she was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and she had to give up her job with the HSE as a result. She also has type two diabetes. She takes various COPD medications including a nebuliser three times a day, breathing tablets and oxygen.