For years, one number has decided whether a heat pump project in Ireland could go ahead: the Heat Loss Indicator. In July 2026, SEAI published FAQs explaining that, for some schemes, it no longer blocks the grant. Here is what changed and what did not.
What the HLI measures
SEAI’s FAQ expresses the Heat Loss Indicator in W/(K·m²), in other words, watts of heat lost per degree of temperature difference, per square metre. The lower the number, the less heat the home loses. For heat pump grants, a threshold of 2.3 has been the general benchmark.
The document is a programme FAQ, so it does not explain how the indicator is calculated or who measures it. For the method, ask your One Stop Shop or contractor.
What has changed
SEAI states that the 2.3 threshold no longer applies to heat pumps installed under:
- the One Stop Shop scheme
- the Community Energy Grant programme
- the Warmer Homes Scheme, but only when the Warmer Homes team advises it
The stated aims are to increase heat pump uptake, support traditional and hard-to-treat homes, focus on delivery quality rather than a single metric, and improve affordability.
What has not changed
The Better Energy Homes scheme, where you apply for individual grants, is unchanged: SEAI says the HLI must still be achieved prior to grant payment. SEAI also says registered One Stop Shop, Community Energy Grant or Warmer Homes contractors cannot currently apply the flexibility to Better Energy Homes installations, though SEAI is reviewing this.
For the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme, the 2.3 threshold applies to deemed scores, and to homes notified towards residential or energy poverty targets that do not reach at least a BER B.
Who carries the responsibility
Under the One Stop Shop, Community Energy Grant and Warmer Homes Scheme, SEAI says service providers take responsibility for the whole heat pump design, including the heat loss assessment, through a design-led approach. All works must follow the SEAI Domestic Technical Standards and Specification.
Where a homeowner under the One Stop Shop or Community Energy Grant receives a Home Energy Assessment and the HLI is above 2.3, an SEAI Technical Advisor must complete the heat pump technical assessment form. That form is not required if the homeowner does not take the Home Energy Assessment grant.
What it means for you
If you were told your home was “not heat pump ready” because of the HLI, it is worth asking again, because the answer may now depend on which route you use. If you use the One Stop Shop, the limit no longer blocks you. If you go through Better Energy Homes individually, it still does.
Remember that grant eligibility is not the same as running cost. Read our heat pump grant guide for the grant amounts and our running cost verdict for whether a heat pump will pay off in your house. Our One Stop Shop comparison explains the routes.
