Durkan creates 150 Jobs for €9bn home insulation market

Following the Home Energy Saving scheme announcement by Minister Eamon Ryan last week, Durkan Residential, the Irish homebuilding company, has launched a new subsidiary, Durkan EcoFix , which will create 150 jobs to serve the home insulation market estimated to be worth €9 billion.

Durkan EcoFix will provide the country’s homeowners with a comprehensive home insulation service that will reduce domestic energy bills by up to 60 per cent while simultaneously making homes warmer, more comfortable and healthier.

The €50 million Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme entitles homeowners who invest in insulating their homes to a grant worth between €500 and €5,150.  The HES grant is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and is open to all homes built before 2006.

Durkan EcoFix is employing a wide range of experienced technicians and other personnel to deliver a comprehensive service including an initial home assessment,processing of the HES grant application to the SEI, installation of the energy saving works (attic insulation, wall insulation, more efficient boilers, improved air-tightness and heating controls), and finally Building Energy Rating (BER) certification.

The 150 jobs will be made up of service teams comprising specialist insulation installers, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, carpenters and BER assessors. The service teams will be supported by office personnel in administration, finance, sales and marketing roles.

Announcing the creation of the new company and jobs, Patrick Durkan, director of Durkan EcoFix, said: “We have a proven track record in building quality homes for generations of families and we are now applying that expertise to the insulation market through Durkan EcoFix.” He added: “Right now home insulation presents the country with a great opportunity to make savings in our living expenses while investing in our homes, economy and environment at the same time.”

Launching Durkan EcoFix, architect, ecologist and RTE presenter Duncan Stewart said: “I commend Durkan EcoFix for offering a holistic ‘one stop shop’ for homeowners wanting to make their houses more energy efficient and also on the additional focus they are bringing to the importance of proper ventilation as a means of improving people’s health and quality of life.”

Jay Stuart, managing director of sustainable design consultants Delap and Waller EcoCo and technical director of Durkan EcoFix, is an architect with 30 years experience who has recently completed an EU research project on energy efficient retrofits for Irish housing focusing on good ventilation. He believes it is essential that a holistic approach to each home is taken which includes provision for effective ventilation:  “Adding more insulation to a home without considering ventilation, air-tightness, condensation and mould is potentially hazardous. This is why Durkan EcoFix will always evaluate each and every home and recommend appropriate measures for a healthy, more comfortable home.”

He added:  “In addition to the household savings, economic and environmental benefits the HES grant scheme is a great opportunity to improve our living conditions and the quality of our housing stock.”

For more information on the Home Energy Saving scheme click here