Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
495. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Education the proportion of the 349 large scale projects being delivered under the school building programme that will have fossil fuel heating systems, whole school ventilation, sufficient outdoor multi-use games areas and safe active travel infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26186/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification.
New renewable technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements under the research programme. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments through my Department’s Technical Guidance Documents, which set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on energy efficiency. The Department’s policy is supported by a strong research programme with fifty three research projects at various stages including the energy website www.energyineducation.ie. which is a joint partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Schools that are designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009 with current schools typically achieving up to 20% higher performance than required by the current Building Regulations, along with 10% of primary energy provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.
New school designs built in accordance with the Department’s Guidance have:
- A3 BER standard since 2009
- 20% higher performance than required by the current Building Regulations
- 10% of primary energy provided via photovoltaics
- Infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging
- A3 BER is achieved using a hybrid approach of:
- Maximising nature through passive solar design, quality daylighting and quality ventilation.
- Enhanced technologies including LED lighting and controls with daylight and absence detection, digital individual room heating controls, maximum water efficiency and rain water harvesting systems, high quality air tightness and photovoltaic panels to produce an electrical renewable energy.
- Schools also have a system that automatically shuts down power to nonessential electrical power outlets when a school is closed (eliminating energy use out of hours).
- In the interest of sustainability, the potential of renewables is maximised in school design, whilst ensuring that renewable applications are properly suited to needs and reflective of school opening hours and school holiday periods. It is also critical that an energy reduction plan is part of any investment in renewable energy applications.
- The Department’s approach is based on future proofing to ensure school buildings are renewable compatible and are able to take advantage of developing technologies as they become viable, thus enabling a just transition for school management, teachers, pupils and parents to include:
- Direct modulating high efficiency gas boiler systems that can support the integration of heat pump systems, in series at a base level, with controls.
- Optimum envelope fabric that will not require additional enhancement for compatibility with decarbonised heating systems, (note further enhancement of the external building fabric will result in overheating in Spring and Autumn, requiring air conditioning).
- Low water content radiators and operating temperatures for compatibility with decarbonised heating systems.
- Provision of space in new primary school classroom layouts for mechanical ventilation heat recovery units.
- Provision to enable Energy Supply Companies (ESCO's) to sell renewable heat to schools using biomass boilers, while allowing provision for the ESCO to provide, operate and maintain the boiler plant system.
The Department have been using test schools to evaluate the suitability of renewable energy options for schools over the past twenty plus years. Nearly 60 % of the research programme features renewable aspects. These renewables include wind generation, solar hot water heating, photovoltaics, rain water recovery, geothermal heat pumps, air source heat pumps and biomass heating systems. Results have varied with respect to their applicability in a school environment. Research continues in many areas.
My Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency and decarbonisation retrofit approaches. This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.
This Pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national schools’ programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 from 2023 onwards, as included in the National Development Plan. It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options, which will have been tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the schools’ sector.
Now in its fifth year, the pilot programme has retrofitted 39 schools across Ireland to date. This year will see six schools undergoing deep retrofit to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B with renewable heating systems. Each school underwent a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures were suitable for that school and would deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme. The schools for the 2021 programme are:
- Coláiste Iósaef Community College, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick
- Cornafulla National School, Athlone, Co. Roscommon
- St. Laserian’s Special School, Carlow, Co. Carlow
- St. Mary’s Boys National School, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
- St. Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties, Co. Donegal
- Maryfield College, Grace Park, Dublin 9
Design teams have been appointed to each school, with deep energy efficiency works to commence in summer 2021. The upgrades target a Building Energy Rating of B, 50% energy efficiency improvement and 50% emissions reduction. The works will involve upgrades to doors and windows, insulation, lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan will outline how energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions targets are to be achieved. This is due to be published in mid-2021
As part of our continued research my Department is undertaking a further review of current school design principles based on the new focus of moving from energy demand reduction to energy related greenhouse gas emission reduction for the public sector bodies.
The Department recognises that transition to full decarbonisation raises the bar even higher in terms of requirements with feedback from our pathfinder projects as noted above indicating a greater depth of challenges at a significantly enhanced cost for primary and post primary schools.
This review includes decarbonisation options for new schools, the standard of required design criteria and specification to achieve a net zero energy school building, review of energy gap between the predicted design energy operational performance and actual operational performance and establishing trajectory for the integration of suitable solutions on a phased basis in a risk controlled manner providing a credible cost effective transition to zero carbon school buildings.
This work will inform the Department’s overall approach to achieve climate action targets.
My Department’s Design Guidelines for all new schools provides for the provision of outdoor multi use games areas (hard play areas) and the level of play space provided varies with the size and location of the school site. The logic underpinning the inclusion of outdoor hard play areas within the Department’s design guidance is to provide a play/sport facility for ongoing and intensive use by schools on a continual year round basis.
Safe and active travel to school is being strongly supported by my Department. On the 18th March 2021 my Department in conjunction with the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD launched a new initiative called Safe Routes to School. This will support active travel infrastructure for selected schools around the country. The programme, which is the next phase in the Government’s investment in active travel, will see funding provided from the €1.8 billion committed under the Programme for Government, to support walking/scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools.
The Safe Routes to School programme aims to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities, alleviate congestion at the school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing walking and cycling facilities. The improvements to the school commute could range from an upgraded footpath or new cycle lane to a complete reworking of a school’s entrance.
