Lighting & Electrical Upgrades Ireland
RetrofitIreland.ie provides lighting and electrical upgrades across Ireland, delivered by RECI-registered electricians. LED lighting, smart controls, and rewiring for heat pump or EV charger compatibility.
Get Your Free Quote →What Lighting and Electrical Upgrades Involve
Lighting and electrical upgrades cover LED lighting replacement, smart lighting controls, and electrical rewiring or upgrades needed to support other retrofit measures such as heat pumps and EV chargers. A standard halogen GU10 bulb runs at 50W; an equivalent LED GU10 delivers the same light output at 5 to 7W, a reduction of roughly 90 percent in electricity drawn per bulb.
All electrical work in Ireland must be carried out or certified by a RECI (Registered Electrical Contractors of Ireland) registered electrician to meet National Wiring Rules (ET101).
No standalone SEAI grant exists for this category. Unlike insulation, heating, windows, and solar, lighting and electrical upgrades don’t have a dedicated grant. Electrical work can sometimes be included within a One Stop Shop deep retrofit package alongside other measures.
LED Lighting
Switching 10 halogen GU10s to LED saves approximately €250 per year at 2026 electricity rates (€0.43/kWh, CRU average residential tariff). A full house switch typically cuts lighting electricity use by 80 to 89 percent, saving €600 to €700 per year for a typical three-bed semi. Payback on bulb cost alone is measured in weeks, not months.
| Scope | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| LED bulb only (like-for-like swap) | €3–€8 per bulb |
| New LED downlight fittings, per room (fittings + bulbs) | €80–€200 |
| Fitting labour, per room | €50–€100 |
| Full refit with new downlights and smart control, per room | €300+ |
The fastest payback of any retrofit measure. A full house LED switch pays for itself in weeks, not years, the quickest return of every upgrade RetrofitIreland.ie covers.
Rewiring
A full rewire replaces all sockets, switches, lighting circuits, and the consumer unit, bringing the home up to current National Wiring Rules (ET101) standards. This is not required for every home; it applies where existing wiring is old, damaged, or unsafe.
| Property Type | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Apartment | From €7,000 |
| 3-bed semi-detached, outside Dublin | €8,500–€11,500 |
| 3-bed semi-detached, Dublin | €12,000–€13,000 |
| Large detached home | €25,000+ |
There is no SEAI grant specifically for rewiring, though it can be scheduled alongside other retrofit works.
Smart Controls
Smart lighting and heating controls (app-based scheduling, occupancy sensors, zone control) typically add €100 to €300 per room on top of standard LED fitting costs, depending on the system chosen.
LED Swap or Full Rewire?
These are two very different projects. Here’s how to tell which one you need.
Just Want Lower Bills?
A straightforward LED swap delivers the fastest payback of any retrofit measure and requires no rewiring in most cases. Start here.
Warning Signs of Old Wiring?
Flickering lights, warm sockets, or a fuse board that trips repeatedly signal a rewire may be needed: a safety measure, not just efficiency.
Planning a Heat Pump or EV Charger?
Electrical upgrades are sometimes triggered by these installations. See the heat pump or EV charger guides, this gets identified during that measure’s own survey.
How Lighting and Electrical Upgrades Work
RECI-registered electricians survey, quote, and complete the work.
Select on the Quote Form
Specify the scope: LED swap, smart controls, rewiring, or electrical work to support another upgrade.
Receive Electrician Contact
RetrofitIreland.ie sends the enquiry to RECI-registered electricians in the area.
Survey
A quick assessment for a simple LED swap, or a full inspection of wiring condition and consumer unit capacity for rewiring work.
Written Quote
Itemised by scope of work, with materials and labour shown separately.
Work Carried Out
LED swaps typically complete within a day. Full rewires take 5 to 10 days depending on property size and access.
Testing and Certification
Every circuit is tested to IS 10101 standards. A Safe Electric completion certificate is issued for rewiring and significant electrical work.
Risks, Exclusions, and Limitations
No Standalone SEAI Grant
Rewiring and electrical work can sometimes be included within a One Stop Shop deep retrofit package, but individual electrical measures are not separately grant-aided.
Dimmer Compatibility
Not every existing dimmer switch works with LED fittings. Confirm dimmer compatibility with the fitting manufacturer’s documentation before purchase, or budget for a dimmer swap.
Cheap rewiring quotes are a red flag. A quote significantly below the typical range often means corners are being cut on materials, the electrician is not RECI registered (invalidating home insurance), or “extras” will be added mid-job.
Access Affects Cost Significantly
Hidden cable runs, finished surfaces, and awkward routing push labour costs up substantially compared with open access during a renovation.
Not Every Home Needs a Full Rewire
Homes with sound, modern wiring may only need targeted upgrades (a new circuit for an EV charger, a consumer unit upgrade) rather than a full rewire.
Lighting & Electrical Questions
Get Your Free Lighting & Electrical Quote
Get a free lighting or electrical quote from RECI-registered electricians near you. Fill in your details and an electrician in your area will contact you directly with a survey and written quote.
RECI-Registered Electricians Across Ireland
RetrofitIreland.ie covers all 26 counties. Select your county below to see electricians in your area.
Carlow
Carlow Town, Muinebheag, Tullow, Hacketstown, Borris, Bagenalstown, Rathvilly
Cavan
Cavan Town, Bailieborough, Belturbet, Virginia, Cootehill, Kilnaleck, Kingscourt
Clare
Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush, Killaloe, Ennistymon, Lisdoonvarna, Miltown Malbay, Scarriff, Sixmilebridge
Cork
Cork City, Ballincollig, Carrigaline, Midleton, Mallow, Cobh, Fermoy, Clonakilty, Bantry, Kinsale, Youghal, Bandon, Skibbereen, Macroom, Mitchelstown
Donegal
Letterkenny, Donegal Town, Bundoran, Buncrana, Ballyshannon, Ballybofey, Dungloe, Killybegs, Glenties, Carndonagh
Dublin
Swords, Lucan, Blanchardstown, Tallaght, Clondalkin, Malahide, Finglas, Ballymun, Coolock, Howth, Balbriggan, Dundrum, Rathfarnham, Dun Laoghaire
Galway
Galway City, Tuam, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Athenry, Gort, Clifden, Oranmore, Moycullen, Headford
Kerry
Tralee, Killarney, Listowel, Kenmare, Dingle, Cahersiveen, Killorglin, Castleisland, Ballybunion
Kildare
Naas, Newbridge, Kildare Town, Celbridge, Leixlip, Maynooth, Athy, Clane, Kilcullen, Monasterevin, Rathangan, Castledermot
Kilkenny
Kilkenny City, Thomastown, Callan, Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh, Urlingford
Laois
Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Mountrath, Abbeyleix, Rathdowney, Stradbally, Portarlington
Leitrim
Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton, Drumshanbo, Mohill, Ballinamore
Limerick
Limerick City, Castletroy, Newcastle West, Rathkeale, Abbeyfeale, Kilmallock, Adare, Askeaton
Longford
Longford Town, Granard, Edgeworthstown, Ballymahon, Lanesborough
Louth
Dundalk, Ardee, Carlingford, Termonfeckin, Blackrock, Dunleer, Tallanstown
Mayo
Castlebar, Ballina, Westport, Claremorris, Ballinrobe, Swinford, Belmullet, Kiltimagh, Charlestown
Meath
Navan, Drogheda, Ashbourne, Trim, Dunshaughlin, Ratoath, Laytown, Kells, Enfield, Oldcastle, Slane, Dunboyne
Monaghan
Monaghan Town, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Clones, Ballybay
Offaly
Tullamore, Birr, Edenderry, Clara, Portarlington, Banagher, Ferbane
Roscommon
Roscommon Town, Boyle, Castlerea, Strokestown, Ballaghaderreen, Elphin, Athlone
Sligo
Sligo Town, Ballymote, Tubbercurry, Enniscrone, Collooney
Tipperary
Clonmel, Thurles, Nenagh, Tipperary Town, Carrick-on-Suir, Roscrea, Cahir, Cashel, Templemore, Borrisokane
Waterford
Waterford City, Tramore, Dungarvan, Lismore, Portlaw, Kilmacthomas, Cappoquin, Tallow
Westmeath
Mullingar, Athlone, Moate, Kilbeggan, Kinnegad, Delvin, Castlepollard
Wexford
Wexford Town, Gorey, New Ross, Enniscorthy, Bunclody, Rosslare, Ferns, Courtown, Kilmore Quay, Taghmon
Wicklow
Bray, Greystones, Wicklow Town, Arklow, Blessington, Enniskerry, Baltinglass, Kilmacanogue
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