Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 February 2024
73. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will issue a quantifiable standard rate to measure both the embodied and operational carbon of buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9561/24]
View answerEmbodied Carbon in construction materials makes a significant contribution to the lifetime carbon emissions of new buildings. These embodied carbon emissions are being addressed by the Climate Action Plan, the review of the EU Construction Products Regulation and the review of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
Whilst all new dwellings are A2 rated with regards to their operational energy, and electricity heating systems, the majority of which are heat pumps, were installed in 97% of new dwellings in 2023, the next important step is to lower the carbon emissions from the materials used in construction.
The EPBD is the European Union's main legislative instrument aiming to promote the improvement of the energy performance of buildings within the European Union. In accordance with the proposed Directive, my Department is working with the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) to put in place embodied carbon frameworks for 1 January 2028 for new buildings over 1000 metre squared and for all buildings from 1 January 2030. This declaration of Global Warming Potential will be included in the Building Energy Rating Certificate. There is significant work required to establish certified material databases, an accounting framework for embodied carbon, development of software and training of professionals. My Department is working with SEAI to put these systems in place in accordance with EPBD and the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). Climate Action Plan 2023 commits that SEAI will develop the framework methodology by the end of 2025. The recast EPBD is planned to be adopted by the European Institutions in the coming weeks.
COM 2022 144, known as the Construction Products Regulation, updates the existing EU harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products. This revised Regulation will fulfil the objectives of the EU Green Deal and enhance the competitiveness of the European construction industry. This will be achieved through the setting of clear rules and improving enforcement and market surveillance.
The text of this proposal has now been approved by Coreper and it is expected to be considered by the European Parliament in the April 2024 Plenary sitting.
When this Regulation is adopted, there will be new obligations on manufacturers to include mandatory declarations of environmental characteristics, such as embodied carbon, on construction products. In addition, the Regulation will support the circular economy principles by regulating used products via harmonised technical specifications.
Manufacturers will be required to upload technical information about their products to a central database known as the Construction Digital Product Passport.
