Pubs & restaurants
Refrigeration, cooking, extraction and heating.
- Cellar cooling and refrigeration controls
- Kitchen ventilation and outdoor heating
- Lighting and occupancy controls
SEAI Support Scheme for Energy Audits
€2,000 towards an energy audit for your business
For eligible Irish SMEs, the SEAI voucher covers Exemplar Energy’s €2,000 audit fee before VAT. Get a clear picture of where your energy goes and what to improve first.
For SMEs with under 250 employees. Eligibility and audit scope are confirmed before work begins.
€2,000 SEAI voucherOn-site audit by a registered auditorPractical, prioritised recommendations
The cost, clearly explained
What will you pay?
For an audit quoted at €2,000 before VAT, the voucher covers the audit fee. VAT is charged on the invoice and paid by the customer.
If you’re VAT-registered, you reclaim that €460 on your VAT return, so the audit effectively costs you nothing.
If you are not VAT-registered, the €460 VAT is your outlay. Exemplar will confirm the fee and any additional scope before the audit.
Audit fee€2,000
VAT at 23%€460
Total invoice€2,460
SEAI voucher, paid directly to Exemplar−€2,000
Customer pays€460 VAT
Simple from first call to report
How it works
01
Confirm eligibility
Tell us about your business, site and annual energy spend. We confirm the audit scope and fee.
02
Secure the SEAI voucher
Get your voucher in place before arranging the site visit.
03
Site audit
An Exemplar engineer reviews your bills, visits the site and examines the main energy uses.
04
Report and recommendations
Receive your audit report and a walkthrough of practical actions, costs and estimated paybacks.
Eligibility at a glance
Could your business qualify?
The scheme supports eligible Irish SMEs with under 250 employees. We can help you check your site against the current SEAI criteria.
Your business is registered in the Republic of Ireland, tax compliant and has a valid CRO number.
The site is non-domestic and located in the Republic of Ireland.
Your business spends at least €10,000 a year on energy at the site, excluding transport fuel. Energy bills are needed to verify the spend.
You are responsible for the site’s energy bills. Tenants may qualify where they pay those bills.
The business has not already received an SSEA-funded audit voucher; the scheme allows one voucher per applicant or company.
Your business meets the scheme’s other conditions, including the applicable de minimis state aid limit.
SEAI has announced an eligibility change from 11 October 2026 based on annual energy consumption below 10 TJ (about 2.8 GWh), including transport. Eligibility will be checked against the rules in force when you apply.
A useful plan, not just a report
What the audit includes
- A site visit with a SEAI-registered energy auditor.
- A review of electricity, gas, oil and other relevant fuel bills, normally covering at least 12 months.
- A breakdown of where energy is used across the site and its main equipment.
- A SEAI-format report with prioritised actions, indicative costs, estimated savings and paybacks, and relevant supports where applicable.
- A walkthrough of the findings so you can decide what to do next.
Built around your site
What we look for across Irish SMEs
These are examples of opportunities an audit may assess. Recommendations depend on the equipment, operating hours and economics at your site.
Retail & showrooms
Heating, cooling and lighting over long trading hours.
- Air handling and heat pump options
- Occupancy and lighting controls
- Rooftop solar PV where suitable
Light manufacturing
Process heat, compressed air, motors and drives.
- Compressed-air leaks and controls
- Waste-heat recovery
- Plant controls and heat pumps
Hotels & nursing homes
Hot water, heating, laundry and round-the-clock loads.
- Hot-water heat pumps
- Plant and kitchen ventilation controls
- Back-of-house lighting
Churches & community organisations
Large spaces used for short or irregular periods.
- Targeted or radiant heating
- Entrance draught reduction
- Practical fabric improvements
Agriculture
Refrigeration, pumps, motors and drying.
- Chiller and pump efficiency
- Controls and fuel consolidation
- Solar PV where the load suits
Why Exemplar Energy
Advice grounded in engineering and commercial reality
Exemplar’s engineering team works with businesses on audits, energy efficiency and project delivery. We focus on recommendations that fit how your site operates and what is likely to pay back.
SEAI-registered energy auditorAudits carried out within the scheme’s requirements.
Cross-sector engineering experienceWork across hospitality, retail, manufacturing, care, community and agricultural settings.
Clear next stepsFindings ranked by practical impact, investment and estimated payback.
FAQs
Common questions
Does the voucher cover the full audit fee?
For Exemplar’s standard €2,000 SSEA audit, the voucher covers the fee before VAT. We confirm the quote and scope before the audit. More complex work may carry an additional fee, which would be agreed in advance.
Do I have to own the premises?
No. A tenant may qualify if the business is responsible for paying the energy bills at the site and meets the other scheme conditions.
Do I need to be VAT-registered?
No. If you are not VAT-registered, the €460 VAT on a €2,000 audit is your outlay. If you’re VAT-registered, you reclaim that €460 on your VAT return, so the audit effectively costs you nothing.
What should I have ready?
Have at least 12 months of electricity, gas and other relevant site energy bills ready. Details of opening hours, main equipment and any previous energy assessment will also help.
What happens after the visit?
You receive a SEAI-format report explaining your energy use and recommended actions, followed by a walkthrough with Exemplar.
Take the first step
Check your eligibility for the €2,000 voucher
Tell us about your site and we’ll discuss whether an SSEA audit is suitable.
Prefer to speak?
+353 (21) 233 6279
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