# Green for Business and the Energy Efficiency Grant

> The free LEO Green for Business programme and the Energy Efficiency Grant of up to €10,000: who qualifies, what you get, and the order to apply.

Canonical: https://appadvisor.ie/guides/green-for-business-energy-grant/
Last updated: 2026-10-16

Green for Business is a free Local Enterprise Office programme. A green consultant spends two days with your business and writes a report on where you can cut energy, waste and costs.

That report also opens the door to the LEO Energy Efficiency Grant, which recent LEO announcements put at 75% of eligible costs, up to €10,000, towards energy-saving equipment.

## At a glance

| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Green for Business | Free. Two days with a specialist green consultant and a written report |
| Energy Efficiency Grant | Up to 75% of eligible costs, maximum €10,000 (check the current figure with your LEO) |
| Who | Small businesses with 1 to 50 employees |
| Order | Green for Business (or an SEAI energy audit) first, then the grant |

## Green for Business: what you get

You apply to your Local Enterprise Office for two days with a specialist green consultant. They look at energy, water, waste and materials, and write a Green for Business report with practical actions, many of them low cost.

- Open to businesses with 1 to 50 employees, trading for more than six months, with turnover over €30,000.
- The business must be established, registered and operating in the area of the LEO.
- Excluded sectors include primary agriculture, gambling, adult entertainment and tobacco.
- Linked or franchise companies can make only one application.

## The Energy Efficiency Grant

The Energy Efficiency Grant helps small businesses invest in equipment that cuts energy use. LEO announcements describe it as covering 75% of eligible costs, up to €10,000. Earlier versions were 50% up to €5,000, so confirm the current terms with your LEO.

- For small businesses with 1 to 50 paid employees that are not Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients.
- You must have done Green for Business, GreenStart or a recent SEAI-registered energy audit first.
- The business must be established, solvent and operating for at least 12 months.
- Not covered: items supported by other agencies such as SEAI, including solar panels, heat pumps for space heating, biomass boilers and insulation.

## The order to do things in

1. Apply to your LEO for Green for Business and complete the two consultancy days.
2. Use the report to pick the actions with the best return, starting with the free and low-cost ones.
3. For equipment, apply for the Energy Efficiency Grant before you buy anything.
4. For solar, heat pumps or insulation, look at the SEAI schemes instead.

## How AppAdvisor helps

AppAdvisor delivers Green for Business, Lean for Business and Digital for Business for twelve Local Enterprise Offices: Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly, Donegal, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Longford, Laois, Galway, Leitrim and Cavan. See our Park Veterinary Centre case study for how a growing practice used Green for Business across three branches.

## Questions

### Is Green for Business free?

Yes. It is a free Local Enterprise Office programme: two days with a specialist green consultant and a written report.

### How much is the LEO Energy Efficiency Grant?

Recent LEO announcements put it at 75% of eligible costs, up to €10,000. Earlier versions were 50% up to €5,000, so check the current terms with your LEO.

### Do I need Green for Business before the Energy Efficiency Grant?

You need Green for Business, GreenStart or a recent SEAI-registered energy audit first.

### Does the Energy Efficiency Grant cover solar panels?

No. Solar panels, heat pumps for space heating, biomass boilers and insulation are supported through SEAI schemes instead.

## Sources (checked 13 October 2026)

- [Local Enterprise Office Laois: Green for Business](https://www.localenterprise.ie/Laois/Financial-Supports/Green-for-Business/)
- [Local Enterprise Office Fingal: Energy Efficiency Grant increased to €10,000](https://www.localenterprise.ie/fingal/news/latest-news/revamped-leo-energy-efficiency-grant-increased-to-%E2%82%AC10-000.html)
- [Local Enterprise Office Limerick: Energy Efficiency Grant](https://www.localenterprise.ie/limerick/news/press-releases/limerick-businesses-encouraged-to-avail-of-new-energy-efficiency-grant.html)

Schemes change. Always confirm the current terms with your Local Enterprise Office before you apply.

## Related
- [Grow Digital Voucher: up to €5,000 towards business software](https://appadvisor.ie/guides/grow-digital-voucher/)
- [Business grants in Ireland for small businesses: a plain guide](https://appadvisor.ie/guides/leo-grants/)
- [Lean for Business: how LEO-funded Lean consultancy works](https://appadvisor.ie/guides/lean-for-business/)
- [AI for small businesses in Ireland: where to start](https://appadvisor.ie/guides/ai-for-small-business/)
- [The EU AI Act for Irish small businesses: what you actually need to do](https://appadvisor.ie/guides/eu-ai-act-for-smes/)
- [Questions and answers](https://appadvisor.ie/faq/)
- [Book a free consultation](https://appadvisor.ie/book-a-consultation/)