Vol. 414 No. 4
208 Mr. J. Bruton, Mr. J. Mitchell, Miss Flaherty, Mr. Connor and Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Health if she will outline her proposals to enhance the energy efficiency in the heating of hospitals, clinics and other health institutions.
A recent survey of energy use in Irish hospitals, undertaken by Eolas on behalf of the Department of Energy, found that the health agencies have made significant progress in energy conservation in recent years. The survey also suggested that further savings on energy usage levels could be made but that it would require larger capital investments with longer payback periods to achieve these savings.
My Department's policy in relation to the efficient use of energy in hospitals and other healthcare buildings is kept under constant review. Proposals which are currently being considered include the wider use of computerised energy management systems, combined heat and power, decentralised generation of heat, heat recovery from incineration of hospital waste and the use of energy efficient lighting sources.
