JOHANNA VARGHESE, Director of Programmes at the Irish Green Building Council, introduces the Home Performance Pathway, a streamlined sustainability certification designed to bridge the green gap for SME builders. By offering an accessible three-step route to high-performance housing, the HPP unlocks green finance opportunities and builds the technical skills necessary to meet Ireland’s ambitious 2030 climate targets.
The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) has introduced the Home Performance Pathway (HPP), an entry-level sustainability certification for new homes. Designed as a stepping stone in the pathway to delivering environmentally sustainable homes, it offers a clear route toward the more advanced Home Performance Index (HPI). HPI is already the industry standard with over 30,000 homes registered.
Designed for the realities of the SME Market
The Pathway was developed after several recommendations. Home Building Finance Ireland and AIB developed green finance offerings in 2022, which used HPI certification. From this, they provided helpful feedback, noting, in particular, that the certification exceeded the capacity of the smaller home-builder. Additionally, some SME home builders found that cost margins did not allow for consultant fees, with much of the work in family firms carried out in-house.
A clear three-step route to excellence
Tailored specifically for the SME market, the HPP encourages small-scale home builders to formalise their sustainability efforts through an achievable three-step process towards a qualification in building skills for HPI certification.
The HPP system has 12 indicators organised in straightforward steps, supporting homebuilders in constructing high-performance and healthy homes. At the end of this process, SME home builders progress to the national certification HPI, which has 35 indicators for homebuilders to fulfil.
Meeting national climate and housing targets
The government is committed to delivering 300,000 homes by 2030 and to reducing emissions 51% by the same date.HPP will enable SME developers to qualify for lower-cost development finance, helping to accelerate the delivery of sustainable homes across the country. The IGBC created the HPP to bridge a critical gap: providing smaller residential projects with a simpler, accessible certification pathway that financial agencies could use for green loans, especially relevant as SMEs account for over 80% of the sector’s turnover.
Through engagement with members of the Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA) and the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), the HPP was designed as a three-step progressive pathway with 12 indicators to guide builders from business-as-usual construction toward the full sustainability spectrum of the HPI certification with 35 indicators.
Mandatory indicators and levels of achievement
The HPP certification has 12 indicators, with mandatory indicators to be fulfilled depending on the achievement level chosen.
For example, if a homebuilder registers for the achievement level Step 1, the mandatory indicators are: controlled ventilation, energy efficiency, water efficiency, plus an additional indicator of their choice.
Whereas, if a homebuilder decides on achievement level Step 3, the mandatory indicators include those in Step 1, plus biodiversity, summer comfort, and an additional five indicators of their choice.
Unlocking green finance and better living standards
HPP certification is awarded on a project-wide basis, where a project is defined by the approved planning permission. This structured approach enables smaller homebuilders to build technical skills while qualifying for lower-cost green development finance from major lenders like AIB, Bank of Ireland, and HBFI.
Living in a certified sustainable HPP home means improved health, comfort and wellbeing for occupants, plus reduced utility bills and long-term operational costs.
Certified homes also offer higher property values for owners and provide a competitive advantage for investors in a market focused on energy security and sustainability.
The HPP was developed by the IGBC in conjunction with AIB, Bank of Ireland, the CIF, the IHBA, Irish Planning Institute (IPI), Ardcairn Capital, HBFI, the Housing Agency and Ritterwald.
It was funded by Construct Innovate, Ardcairn Capital and HBFI.
In conclusion
The Home Performance Pathway represents a vital shift in Ireland’s construction landscape, proving that sustainability is not a luxury reserved for large-scale developers. By removing the barriers of high consultancy costs and complex administrative burdens, SME builders are provided with a pragmatic toolkit to professionalise their green credentials. As the industry strives to meet the state’s ambitious 2030 targets, the HPP serves as more than just a certification; it is a gateway to competitive financing, technical growth, and the delivery of superior-quality homes.
For the small-scale builder, the message is clear: the pathway to high-performance housing is now open, accessible, and ready for implementation.
The HPP Technical Manual can be accessed or downloaded at https://homeperformanceindex.ie
For more information, email hpi@igbc.ie or call John at IGBC on 01 681 5862. To contact Johanna Varghese, email johanna@igbc.ie