Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
122. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the actions and engagements that his Department has taken to date to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in all buildings under his Department. [40910/22]
View answerMy Department participates in the Monitoring and Reporting (M&R) System, which was established by the SEAI to enable public bodies to track their energy efficiency performance and facilitates them in their energy management. By the end of 2020 it had achieved a cumulative 49% energy improvement since the 2006-2008 baseline period. My Department is now focused on the new target to deliver an energy efficiency improvement of 50% by 2030.
Special measures being taken by my Department at this time include the following:
Daily monitoring of the building heating systems to take account of staff attendance
A reduction in the time schedules/thermostat temperature on the building heating controls.
Encouraging staff where possible to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to the Department’s offices and in conducting official business.
As well as the above my Department actively participates in:- the OPW Optimising Power @ Work (OP@W) initiative with ongoing engagement by staff with the OPW appointed energy consultant to monitor gas and electricity use.- the SEAI Monitoring and Reporting programme for the period 2021-2030.The 2021 energy returns for the Department have been submitted to the SEAI database and the final outcome will be published later this year.
The Department recently finalised its 2022 Resource Efficiency Action Plan (REAP) which will report on energy, water and waste usage in the Department for 2021 and identify actions that can be taken to reduce usage for the following years.
My Department has an established Green Team to drive energy efficiency and staff awareness in our buildings including the hosting of energy awareness days and the displaying of efficiency notices throughout the buildings.
A Consultative Group to facilitate staff input to the Department's new HQ was established to ensure ideas on energy and resource efficiency were considered by the OPW architects and build team. This project which is underway at present involves the deep retrofit refurbishment of a state owned building which was constructed in the 1970's which when completed will see the building with a BER of A2 which is an exemplar rating for a building that age.
