Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2019
398. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the extent to which retrofitting of domestic dwellings can directly result in carbon reduction with the maximum or minimum targets per €10,000 investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29061/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action Plan has identified a target carbon abatement range for each of the key sectors that contribute to Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions: Electricity, Enterprise, Built Environment, Transport, Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use, Waste and the Circular Economy, and the Public Sector. The Built Environment will reduce its carbon emissions through a range of measures including an ambitious target of 500,000 energy efficiency retrofits by 2030. Achievement of this target will be supported by the Project Ireland 2040 allocation of €3bn.
One such measure is the development of a new retrofitting delivery model, which will group retrofits together to achieve economies of scale, leverage private finance, and ensure easy pay-back methods. This will mean that homes will be warmer and produce lower levels of emissions.
On average, a home loses 20 - 30% of its heat through the walls, rising to a higher percentage if the walls are not insulated. On top of this, up to 30% of the heat can be lost through a poorly insulated attic. Reducing heat loss through a home’s walls and attic by installing or improving insulation will reduce the home’s energy consumption. Because more heat is retained after insulating the home this will also mean reduced heating needs which will reduce the home’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The extent to which investing €10,000 in retrofitting a home will directly result in carbon reduction depends on a number of factors. These include the size of the home, the starting energy performance of the home, i.e. how much insulation is already in the home; whether there is central heating installed in the home; how old the home’s heating system is; what type of fuel is used to heat the home; how the home’s water is heated; and the number of occupants.
