Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2010
97 Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the recommendation that has been implemented from the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan published in 2009; the position regarding the target of 20% energy efficiency savings across the economy by 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16647/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) sets out 90 actions that Government is either already taking or will take in the period to 2020 to achieve the national energy efficiency targets of 20% across the economy and 33% in the public sector. The savings identified in the Action Plan represent approximately €1.6 billion in avoided energy costs for the economy in 2020. There is a requirement in the Energy Services Directive that all Member States must submit their second NEEAPs in 2011 and progress on savings made will be reported then. The key NEEAP actions undertaken to date are as follows.
The Home Energy Saving (HES) Scheme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), was launched in March 2009. The scheme provides grant assistance to homeowners for energy efficiency retro-fitting measures including attic and wall insulation, very high-efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments.
The scheme is open to anybody owning a house that was built prior to 2006. Homeowners can expect to save up to €700 per year on their energy bills if they install the full suite of measures available under the scheme. The scheme offers grants of up to 40% of the typical cost of energy efficiency upgrade measures, depending on the measure concerned. In the first 12 months, 61,000 homeowners have applied for grants and to date some 30,000 homeowners have had their work completed and have received grants for almost 60,000 energy efficiency measures. Over 5,600 construction workers have registered to take part in the scheme.
The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) provides support for low income housing for insulation and other energy efficiency improvement measures. This scheme is also managed by SEAI and implemented by local community groups. Measures include cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, boiler lagging jackets, draught proofing measures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). These measures are provided free or at a nominal cost to the householder. Advice is also provided on minimising energy use. Some €20 million was provided for the scheme in 2009, which included a contribution of €5 million from ESB and BGE. This enabled energy efficiency improvements to be made in over 19,000 vulnerable homes in 2009, effectively doubling the total number of homes benefiting under the scheme in the previous ten years. Although the scheme is primarily delivered by community-based organisations, it is estimated that over 700 jobs were directly supported by the WHS in 2009.
Funding in 2010 of €90m has been allocated to SEAI for the further expansion of its domestic and non-domestic energy efficiency schemes. A further €40m has been allocated to improving energy efficiency of social housing across the country. This unprecedented level of funding will, this year alone, support energy efficiency improvements in over 60,000 homes and buildings, support 5,000 jobs and create energy efficiency savings worth a total of €400 million over their lifetime.
In tandem with the increased level of activity in existing programmes in 2010, my Department and SEAI are finalising detailed proposals for a new retrofit programme announced on Budget Day. In broad terms the programme will bring together the HES and the WHS as well as support programmes for businesses and the public sector for the implementation of the retrofit programme. I will be bringing proposals to Government shortly. It is the case that pending the finalisation and introduction of the retrofit programme, the HES and the WHS remain fully open for business in 2010.
In the business sector, the most significant cost-cutting and energy saving potential lies in improving the energy performance requirements of new non-residential buildings, improvement of existing buildings, encouraging more businesses and public bodies to actively address their energy use and to use the most energy efficient plant, machinery and equipment. In 2009, SEAI delivered a €5 million programme that provided grant assistance to the business and public sectors. The programme supports energy efficiency measures for businesses and institutions across the country. Over 74 projects have been funded under the programme. As a result of the work carried out, annual energy savings worth €2.6 million and 12kt CO2 were achieved.
SEAI also ran a €1.3m support programme providing energy assessments and training to local authorities and other public sector agencies. This has resulted in savings worth between €1.2m and €1.8m in 2009. A range of best practice guides were also developed and an energy efficiency design process initiated to incorporate energy efficiency principles into the design of new or retrofitted public sector services. Regulations introduced in December 2009 require all public bodies to include, in its annual reports published after January 1st next year, a statement describing the actions it is taking to improve its energy efficiency, together with an assessment of the energy savings arising from those actions. SEAI is currently finalising the methodology for calculating energy savings across the public sector.
The Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector Programme will be the main delivery mechanism for energy efficiency actions by public sector bodies. In addition to the services provided in 2009, areas to be supported in 2010 include:
Developing Energy Service Company (ESCo) led models;
Assisting public sector bodies in the development of 2020 energy efficiency strategies;
Working in partnership with all Departments in relation to energy efficient design and procurement.
Regulations are also in place give effect to the EU Energy Efficiency Directive that include new energy efficient public procurement rules. These new rules will require public bodies to purchase or lease only plant and equipment across a diverse range of technologies that are listed on SEAI's database of highly energy efficient products. This database has already been developed as part of the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) Scheme for energy efficient technologies. SEAI is also required under the regulations with producing general guidelines on energy efficient procurement and these will be progressed in conjunction with the National Procurement Service and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
A key announcement in Budget 2010 was the decision to extend the Accelerated Capital Allowances scheme. The Scheme has now been expanded to encompass additional categories including IT software solutions, refrigeration and cooling systems, electro-mechanical systems and catering and hospitality equipment, and covers up to 40 categories of technology. Companies can write off the full capital cost of registered energy efficient equipment in the year of purchase, unlike non-ACA equipment which is typically written off over eight years. The ACA scheme now covers equipment accounting for at least 80% of the energy use in industry in Ireland.
In compliance with the 2006 and 2008 Building Regulations, it is the policy of Office of Public Works (OPW) to conduct feasibility studies on the utilisation of renewable energy technologies in all new buildings over 1,000m2 as part of the design process. The OPW has already installed a number of biomass boiler systems and Solar Panel systems in both new and existing buildings where it has been shown to be both technically and economically feasible. OPW will continue to take this approach.
The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has recently prioritised work through the statutory Building Regulations Advisory Board to establish achievable targets for reductions in primary energy and CO2 emissions for buildings in all sectors of the economy including public sector buildings, with a view to upgrading the requirements in Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations in 2010. The work programme currently under way will inform the development of a programme for continuous improvement in Part L requirements in coming years with a view to achieving a Carbon Neutral building standard for buildings other than dwellings, including civic buildings, by 2016.
SEAI's Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) continues to engage with the largest energy using enterprises (in manufacturing and services) where the 120 member companies collectively spend over €800 million per annum on energy. Recently published analysis shows that by spending €1.9 million these companies avoided energy costs of €60 million in 2008 alone.
