Greenify Tips: Simple Steps Towards a Greener Lifestyle

We’re delighted to partner with Greenify, who have shared a collection of helpful tips with us to inspire more sustainable choices in our everyday lives.

From saving energy and reducing waste to making more environmentally friendly choices at home, there are lots of small changes we can make that can add up to a big difference.

Below, you’ll find a selection of Greenify’s Tips, bringing together some simple, practical ideas that can help you live a little greener.

SEAI Grants Available on Electric Vehicle Chargers

SEAI currently offers up to €300 towards an eligible home EV charger. It's important not to begin the installation before your SEAI grant offer is issued, or the work won't qualify for grant support.

Newly published CSO figures show 7,216 new electric cars were licensed in July 2026, up 82% on July 2025. EVs now account for 26% of new private cars licensed so far this year.

If you're thinking about going electric, a home charger is worth sorting before the car arrives!

Standby Power

Standby power is one of the most overlooked sources of energy waste in Irish homes. TVs, computers, chargers, printers, even coffee machines. Most draw power continuously, even when on standby. 

Try turning off plugged appliances at the wall each night and unplug chargers from the socket when devices are full.

Standby Power

Standby power is one of the most overlooked sources of energy waste in Irish homes. TVs, computers, chargers, printers, even coffee machines. Most draw power continuously, even when on standby. 

Try turning off plugged appliances at the wall each night and unplug chargers from the socket when devices are full.

When is the best time to insulate your home?

The cheapest time to fix a cold house is when it's warm.

A mild week in July beats December for getting ahead of winter. Top up the attic insulation, seal draughts around doors and windows, and get the boiler serviced while it is dry and engineers are less booked.

Minimise your washing machine's energy usage!

Around 90% of the energy your washing machine uses goes on heating the water, not running the drum. Dropping from 40°C to 30°C for everyday loads cuts energy use significantly, and most modern detergents are formulated to work just as well at lower temperatures.

Are you utilising your smart meter to its full potential?

Most Irish homes have a smart meter but few use it to its full potential. Three things worth knowing:

• Switching to a smart meter can track usage by hour and appliance
• Night boost rates between 2am and 4am are dramatically cheaper, ideal for EV charging or running a heat pump
• Your meter records usage every 30 minutes, giving you the data to spot patterns and switch to a plan that suits how you actually live

Is your attic leaking heat?

Your attic hatch could be leaking heat.

Most are uninsulated, unsealed, or both. Adding a foam draught strip around the frame could be a quick and inexpensive way to catch the heat loss.

SEAI also recommends checking your insulation depth, with a recommendation of at least 300mm. If you can see the joists, a top-up grant may be available.

Are your appliances up to standard?

Since 2021, all new appliances sold in Ireland use a rescaled A to G energy label. The old A+++ ratings are gone, so an appliance you'd consider modern may actually sit at a D or E on the new scale.

The label applies to washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, and tumble dryers.