WELCOME TO SMART ENERGY LIVING
When I built my home in the west of Ireland nearly twenty years ago, I wanted it to be comfortable, efficient, and resilient. Like many people, I assumed renewable energy would soon be simple to adopt — but when I finally set out to retrofit the house, I quickly discovered that the world of solar panels, heat pumps, and electric vehicles was anything but straightforward.
Every installer had a different story. Facts were scattered, figures didn’t always add up, and reliable information was hard to find. So, I began documenting my own journey — from installing solar and battery storage, to switching to a heat pump, integrating EV charging, and learning how to keep normal life running though prolonged grid outages in rural Ireland.
That’s how Smart Energy Living was born. This site is built around real experience — what has worked, what hasn’t, and what I’ve learned along the way in retrofitting a 20-year-old Irish home to an A2 BER rating. I’m not an electrician or a plumber, but I do have a technical background and a deep respect for proper scientific and technical research. Everything here is grounded in evidence, tested in practice, and shared honestly — with no vested interests, no jargon, and no hidden agenda.
You’ll find practical guides, lessons learned, and genuine recommendations. If I find a product or company that impresses me, I’ll happily give it a shout-out. My goal is simple: to help other homeowners make informed choices, avoid expensive mistakes, and build homes that are warm, efficient, and resilient.
Smarter Homes, Brighter Lives — that’s what Smart Energy Living.com is all about.
