The latest episode in RTÉ’s new series, Heat My Home, will air on Tuesday night
Adam O’Brien and Kieran McCarthy(Image: RTÉ)
A Cork man is working to transform a decades-old bungalow that has been in his family for generations into a warm, modern home in the newest episode of RTÉ’s Heat My Home. Adam O’Brien is a software engineer from Ballincollig who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, tackling most of the renovations by himself to save cash.
One of the biggest problems with older homes is that they’re difficult to keep warm, often sporting a BER rating of F, G, or even having an outright exemption. A poorly insulated home means sky-high energy bills in the colder months, and boosting the BER rating is often near the top of the list of priorities for renovators.
Adam will be joined by Kieran McCarthy, who qualified as a civil engineer at UCC in 1996 and now runs his own building and design company, which has been operating for more than twenty years. Renovating old Cork homes is nothing new to Kieran, whose first project was the refurbishment of his late grandmother’s house in Cork.
Throughout the series, Kieran shows homeowners what’s possible and outlines the associated costs. He also breaks down the technical jargon, from heat pumps to HVAC, to make it easy to follow.
Adam’s bungalow on the Commons Road currently sits at a BER rating of F, and the Ballincollig man is aiming to bring that up to a B2 once all is said and done. If Adam manages to achieve his target rating, the renovation will almost pay for itself in the long run, as the upgrades can reduce annual heating costs by more than €2,000 per year.
Adam said, “This house has been in my family for 60 years, which is why it means so much to give it a new lease of life. I wanted to prove that you don’t need to knock down an older house to make it energy efficient. By upgrading the insulation, fitting new windows and installing an air-to-water heat pump, I’ve been able to turn what was an F-rated bungalow into a warm and modern home.
“Doing a lot of the work myself helped to bring down the costs and gave me a greater understanding of how small improvements can make a big difference.”
Heat My Home is produced by Cork-based company Cameo Productions, which aims to educate homeowners on the ins and outs of upgrading a property’s energy rating.
Kieran said, “These aren’t just houses, they’re part of our families and communities. When you retrofit an older home, you’re keeping that story alive as well as future-proofing it for the next generation.
“A lot of people think retrofitting is too costly, too complex and out of reach. However, if you’re willing to take on some of the work yourself, you can make big savings without compromising quality. It’s about understanding what is doable and making smart choices that work for your home and your budget.”
The latest episode of ‘Heat My Home’, featuring Adam’s property, will air on Tuesday at 8:30 pm on RTÉ One.
