Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
900. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the special measures her Department is taking to reduce energy usage in the scenario in which members of the public are being asked to do the same. [20292/22]
View answerMy Department is proactively engaged in reducing energy consumption as part of Public Sector Energy Efficiency Programme with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). A reduction of 39% in energy consumption within my Department has been achieved to the end of 2020 since the 2009 baseline.
My officials continue to take measures to reduce energy consumption under the Department’s Resource Efficiency Action Plan 2021-2022. The measures currently being taken include upgrading windows and improving insulation to prevent heat loss. Equipment upgrades and refurbished lighting reduce the energy demand.
Energy in Education is a joint programme between SEAI and my Department to assist schools to reduce energy consumption. Further measures to improve school building design are being implemented and a research programme is underway with over fifty projects at various stages. My Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency. This programme helps the design and energy retrofit of school buildings.
