asked the Minister for Energy the proposals he has to make a bigger energy saving and a common standard for heaters, boilers and air conditioning.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Saving and Heating Standards.
2.
My Department promote a wide-ranging programme of information and advice to encourage efficiency and savings in the use of energy.
The main elements of the programme this year are as follows. First, for the industrial sector, the following activities have taken place or are currently in progress: a steam plant audit service completed in June 1985, through which steam traps, boilers and pipe insulation in approximately 800 companies around the country were tested free of charge: it is hoped that the service will have created sufficient interest among companies to continue regular maintenance of their steam equipment, thereby maintaining optimum efficiency and eliminating wasteful energy use; the steam plant service has been replaced by an electrical energy audit service which involves a free audit of the electrical energy use of companies; the service is at present operating on a pilot basis, to gauge its effectiveness; if considered successful it may be continued next year; grants are provided by my Department to manufacturing firms and hotels to cover one-third of the cost of engaging consultants to carry out fuel efficiency surveys of their premises and operations. Second, for the public sector, energy audits are being carried out in a selected number of local authorities, covering their energy usage for street lighting, water pumping and transport; energy audits are also being conducted in a number of Government offices in the Dublin area. The recommendations arising from these audits will be given to the Office of Public Works. It is hoped that the OPW will find the recommendations useful in implementing an efficient use of energy in public buildings and offices. Third, for the domestic sector, an expert advice service the energy phone, available to give advice on all aspects of energy use and conservation.
The programme for next year, which may include most of the activities which I have already outlined, will be designed to have the maximum energy saving possible achieved within the constraints of the budget made available.
As regards the introduction of a common standard for heaters and boilers, two specifications have been drafted for the purpose of implementing EEC Directive 78/170 in relation to (i) minimum performance requirements of heat generators and (ii) thermal insultation of pipes, ducts and storage vessels. The specifications will be finalised and submitted to me for approval as soon as possible. I have no responsibility for the introduction of standards for air conditioning.
The Minister said he is carrying out energy audits in many public areas. Is this House included? I am sure the Chair will be the first to agree that the level of energy wastage in this House must be very high. In heating this House we do not seem to take account of the temperature outside. We never seem to get it right. In my view, there could be a big saving in this area. Is the Minister aware that there is room for major energy savings in local authority areas? The local authority energy bill represents £28.63 million and it is estimated by the Institute of Industrial Research and Standards that a saving of £9.53 million could be made if a proper energy saving system was developed. Nobody seems to be responsible for the management of energy. A typical county council would spend something like £650,000——
This is an extremely general question which asks what proposals the Minister has to make a bigger energy saving and a common standard of heaters. The Deputy has started with Leinster House, and he has now turned to local authorities. We could be at military barracks next, followed by the hospitals, then something in Cavan and we might then take a trip over to Longford. We could be here for a couple of weeks. The Chair must exercise, and must ask Deputies to exercise, commonsense.
I thought I was exercising commonsense. If anyone was listening to what the Minister had to say he will remember he dealt at length with public authority buildings, savings and so on. I am mentioning areas which he has not covered and I think it is in the interests of energy saving that local authorities who are badly strapped for cash at the moment——
If the Deputy has a question of a general nature, would he ask it?
My second question is: is the Minister aware that local authorities spend approximately £28.63 million and that a recent report from the Institute of Industrial Research and Standards points out the savings to the tune of £9.53 million could be affected if a properly instituted energy programme, managed properly, was instigated? If so, what action does he propose to take because he is responsible for instigating such policy?
I will answer the last question first. The Deputy's figure from the IIRS report is incorrect. The figure for savings estimated by the IIRS is £7 million per annum. In relation to this House in particular, I have sympathy with his sentiments. As he is aware, a group of buildings are heated centrally and the recommendations of the survey carried out will be acted upon hopefully, and will ensure the maximum efficiency in the use of energy in this House and in the other public buildings to which he refers.
As regards public authorities, I hope the examination carried out for the public authorities will be useful. It is up to the public authorities to recognise the areas in which they can save money by looking at their energy uses. They should not turn their eyes to Clare Street every time they have an energy problem. They have their own engineers and they should make the maximum use of energy in their own areas. In recent years we have become more energy conscious and more energy efficient. There have been improvements in energy efficiency over the last few years. The ratio of primary energy input to gross domestic product has decreased from 2.12 in 1979 to 1.6 in 1984. This shows that there has been some saving and a more efficient use of energy. As the Deputy pointed out, and I fully agree, the IIRS have identified an area which could produce an annual saving of £7 million but it is up to the local authorities and the public sector to be more aware of the money which can be saved by the efficient use of energy.
Would the Minister agree that very little expertise exists in the local authorities but that his Department have the necessary expertise and should be promoting the type of programmes I mentioned? The Minister should not expect the local authorities to work on their own. As regards the IIRS survey, I do not know which one he is quoting from but I am quoting from a recent survey based on the 1982 figures. In the local authority areas alone, a saving of £9.53 million is not to be sneezed at by any Government, but especially not by a Government who are looking for money.
What proposals has the Minister for changing the ridiculous situation in this House where the little energy we have when we come in here in the morning has gone when lunch time arrives, and yet we are expected to work most nights until midnight?
The Deputy is casting a bad reflection on the expertise in local authorities. They have many fine engineers who are very aware of what is possible.
The figures have not proved that.
I regret the lack of progress but we intend to publish the local authorities' audit programme which has been carried out and hopefully it will be acted upon. As I said, this House and other Government buildings are served from a central location and I hope the OPW will act on the information which will be given to them. I agree with the Deputy that there is a need to look at the energy uses in this House.
The Minister said he had proposals for this House. I want to know if he has or if he has not?
Not specifically for this House. A number of other Government buildings have been surveyed. I hope that the survey will be acted upon. I am sure that this House will be included in that.
Things are as they were.
Is the Minister for State aware that one of the biggest obstacles to energy savings is the price? Are there any proposals on that?
That is not what it is about.
In relation to people in industry who would change over to alternative energy uses because of the expense involved, are there any——
The next question deals with the cost of energy.
Where people in industry revert to alternative energy uses, is there any assistance for them?
That is a separate question.
It is, obviously. This is about a quantum of energy.