Over 40% of Bank of Ireland mortgage lending now linked to home energy performance

  • Number of customers securing lower rates by improving their BER has quadrupled
  • Almost one in five owners of G-rated homes have upgraded their energy rating
  • Seven in ten retrofitted homes now achieve an A or B BER
  • EcoSaver mortgage data released alongside publication of Bank’s Social Impact Report

Monday, 2 November 2026: EcoSaver mortgages now account for over 40% of Bank of Ireland’s mortgage lending in Ireland, according to the first customer data published since the launch of the Bank’s discounted mortgage offering for energy-efficient homes two years ago.

This equates to more than €17 billion of customer mortgage balances. EcoSaver offers tiered mortgage interest rate discounts based on a property’s Building Energy Rating (BER) and is unique in allowing homeowners to qualify for a lower mortgage rate after drawdown by improving their home’s energy efficiency.

Published for the first time since the launch of EcoSaver in 2024, the data provides the clearest picture yet of how customers are using the mortgage to improve the energy efficiency of their homes while reducing borrowing costs.

The number of EcoSaver customers who improved their BER and moved to a lower mortgage rate has increased fourfold in the past 12 months, highlighting growing demand among homeowners to invest in energy-efficiency upgrades that can lower both energy bills and mortgage costs.

Strongest uptake among lower-rated homes

The strongest engagement has come from owners of the least energy-efficient homes. Since taking out an EcoSaver mortgage, almost one in five customers with a G-rated property have improved their BER.

Among customers with properties initially rated E-G who have upgraded their BER, 70% completed a deep retrofit and achieved an A or B rating. The remaining 30% improved their home’s BER by an average of two bands, highlighting the significant energy-efficiency gains being made across Ireland’s housing stock.

In addition to lower energy bills and reduced mortgage repayments, energy upgrades may also increase property values. A recent study* by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) found that the sold price of a typical house rises for each step on the BER scale by 2.7%. For example, nationally the price uplift from moving from G-rated homes to A-B ratings was estimated to be in the 36% – 45% range, even having separately accounted for other key factors such as house type and location.

It also found that energy efficiency improvements can in general be expected to add more value to the property than the cost of undertaking the works. This effect is in part due to favourable investment conditions brought about by substantial government grants that contribute a significant portion of upgrade costs.

Bank of Ireland provides a free online energy upgrade and BER tool to help homeowners plan retrofits, estimate costs and potential energy savings, and explore mortgage and other lending options.

Damien Pidgeon, Head of Group Sustainability at Bank of Ireland, said: “Two years after launching EcoSaver, we can now begin to draw meaningful conclusions about the impact it’s having. The experience so far shows that practical financial incentives can encourage homeowners to improve their energy efficiency, reducing emissions as well as their exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices. We want to build on that momentum, alongside the wider sustainability activity outlined in our Social Impact Report.”

SEAI Chief Executive William Walsh said: “It’s shaping up to be another record year for retrofitting, with over 70,000 Irish homeowners on track to avail of an SEAI grant to make their home warmer, healthier and more affordable to heat. It’s really welcome to see banks and other financial institutions offer products to support this incredible level of take-up, saving homeowners even more on their household costs. There really has never been a better time to retrofit your home.”

Social Impact Report highlights wider sustainability progress

The findings underline the potential for financial incentives to support Ireland’s housing and climate ambitions. EcoSaver forms part of Bank of Ireland’s wider sustainability strategy, with progress on the green transition, housing and social inclusion detailed in its Social Impact Report, also published this week and available here.

  • Bank of Ireland has reaffirmed its ambition to reach €30 billion in sustainable finance to households and businesses by 2030, with lending increasing in the year by €3 billion to reach €20.7 billion at the end of September 2026.
  • The number of EV purchases financed by consumers through Bank of Ireland Finance has increased by 76% year on year and now represents around 1 in 4 of all new EV purchases in Ireland.
  • 10% of Irish dairy farmers with borrowings have now drawn down an Enviroflex sustainability loan which is available through 18 participating members (co-ops / processors).
  • Emissions from Bank of Ireland’s branches, offices and day-to-day operations have been cut by 64% compared to 2020, putting the Bank on track for net zero operations by 2030.
  • The Bank is supporting the development of approximately 26,000 homes across Ireland and aims to increase that pipeline to 30,000 homes by 2028.
  • The Bank has provided more than 9,200 mortgages to First Time Buyers this year and is currently financing more than 12,000 social and affordable new homes in Ireland.
  • More than 867,000 students have participated in Bank of Ireland’s financial education programmes since 2017, including 152,000 during the 2025/26 school year.
  • In 2026, the Bank provided grants to 22 community organisations working with and for underserved groups across the island of Ireland. €3.5 million has been disbursed through the Bank’s Community Fund to date.

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Note to editors

  • Source: The Sustainable Energy of Ireland report, “Building Energy Ratings and Property Sales Prices in Ireland: Informing home energy efficiency decisions.” The research analysed the actual sale prices of almost 50,000 homes in Ireland during 2023 and 2024. The report is available here.