SEAI National Energy Efficiency Action Plan

Ireland’s second National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to 2020

Ireland’s second National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to 2020

Foreword 5

Executive Summary 7

Chapter 1:Introduction 13

Chapter 2:EnergySavingsTargets–ProgressandFutureAmbition 23

Chapter 3: ThePublicSector 37

Chapter 4: EnergySupplySector 53

Chapter 5:TransportSector 63

Chapter 6: BusinessSector–Industrial&Commercial 73

Chapter 7: ResidentialSector 85

Chapter 8: Cross-SectoralMeasures 95

List of Tables

Table1:Targets,progressandambition 25

Table2:Savingsestimatesforrelevantnon-ETSsectorsby2016?? 26

Table3:Energysavingsactionsto2020,completed,ongoingandplanned?? 29

Table4:Achievedandexpectedsavingsinthepublicsector 32

Table5:Summaryofbusinesssectorsavingsachieved(2010)andexpected(2016,2020) 78

Contents

List of Figures

Figure1:EUEnergyTargets 14

Figure2:ProgresstoEUEnergyTargets 15

Figure3:Totalfinaldemandbysector(NEEAP/NREAPscenario) 18

Figure4:GHGabatementpotentialandcosts 20

Figure5:EnergyandCO2savingsandtargettrajectorytoournational20%energysavingstargetfor2020 23

Figure6:Achieved2010andestimatedfuturesavingscontributionstothe2016ESDtarget 28

Figure7:Relationshipbetweeneconomicgrowth(GDP)andenergydemand(TotalPrimaryEnergy

Requirement)andenergy-relatedCO2emissions 33

Figure8:Energyusageinthepublicservicessector 38

Figure9:AverageCO2savingsrelatedtoextentofengagement 44

Figure10:Efficiencyofelectricitysupply1990–2010 53

Figure11:Energyusageintransport 63

Figure12:Energyusageinindustry 74

Figure13:Energyusageinthecommercialsector 75

Figure14:Energyusageintheresidentialsector 86

Figure15:SmartMeteringProgrammePhase1–keydeliverables 88

5

Energyefficiencymakes

oureconomymore

competitive,whilelowering

ourgreenhousegas(GHG)

emissionsandmaximisingour

economiccompetitiveness.

Energyefficiencyisthe

foundationofasustainable

economyandinternationallyacceptedasoneof

thecentralpillarsofenergypolicy.Theeconomy-

widebenefitsofinvestmentsinenergyefficiency

improvementmeasuresgreatlyoutweighthe

upfrontcosts.

ThenewEnergyEfficiencyDirectivesetsoutthe

policyroadmapfortheperiodto2020.Itisinall

ourintereststoimplementitswiftlyanddeliverit

successfully.Wecanbeundernoillusionsaboutthe

challengesthatwefaceinmeetingourefficiency

targets,notleastofwhichisthefinancenecessary

tounderwritethescaleofretrofitrequiredinour

buildingstock.Itwillonlybethroughsustained

commitmentbyboththepublicandprivatesectors

thatwewillrealisetheinvestmentsnecessaryto

makeourhomesandpublicbuildingswarmer

andmoreefficient.Itisimperativethatwequickly

implementthenewobligationsinournational

lawsowecanallreapthebenefitsofsustainable

employment,growthandfutureinvestment.

Irelandhaswitnessedagreatmanychanges

inrecentyears,withmanyinsocietyfacing

considerablefinancialdifficultiesduetothe

economicdownturn.Risingenergybillsandcold

wintersexacerbatetheproblem,forcinghouseholds

tospendmorethantheycanaffordinordertokeep

thelightsonandthehousewarm.Energyefficiency

isthebestsolutiontoreducingsociety’sexposureto

energybills.Bytakingstepstoreduceconsumption,

householdsandbusinessescansavemoneywhile

improvingcomfort,andalsoproductivityinthecase

ofbusiness.

Theglobalcontextofhighenergyprices,turbulence

inworldoilmarketsandover-dependenceonfossil

fuelssetagainstthecriticalroleofenergyinour

economyandimpactoncompetitivenessmakes

energyefficiencyanobviouspolicyimperative.

ThissecondNationalEnergyEfficiencyActionPlan

buildsonthefoundationslaidbythefirstplaninthat

itreaffirmsthe20%energy-savingtargetin2020.

Eachofthe90actionscontainedinthefirstAction

Planhasbeenreviewed.Whereappropriate,we

haveupdated,amendedorevendeletedthem.

Thisisexpectedandnecessaryinanystrategy

coveringamultiannualperiod.

Fundamentaltothisprocessisthecreationofa

visionfortheintelligentdeliveryofenergyservices,

aroundwhichpublicandprivate-sectoractorscan

mobilisetodeliverenergyefficienciestoallpartsof

theeconomy.Strongcommitmentfromallsectors

oftheeconomy,underpinnedbyGovernment

support,willberequiredtorealisethevastbenefits

availablefromimprovedenergyefficiency.

TheBetterEnergyProgramme,launchedinMay

2011,willplayacentralroleinmeetingthenational

andEuropeantargets.Itisdesignedtomaximisethe

returnfrompublicandprivateinvestmentinenergy

efficiency,whiletakingaccountoftheneedto

protectvulnerablehouseholdsfromenergypoverty.

Energyefficiencygainsachievedtotheendof

2010accountforover26%ofthe2020target.

Shouldallmeasuresdetailedinthisplanreach

theirfullpotentialby2020,weprojectthatannual

energysavingsofover34,000GWhwillhavebeen

achieved.However,thiswillrequiresustainedeffort

frombothGovernmentandtheprivatesector.

Every1GWhreductioninprimaryenergyuse

throughimprovedenergyefficiencytranslatesinto

approximately€70,000ofsavingstohouseholdsand

businesses.Giventhataround86%ofourprimary

ForewordThe Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD

6 Ireland’ssecondNationalEnergyEfficiencyActionPlanto2020

energyisimported(2010),muchofthismoney

leavestheIrisheconomy–whichprovidesafurther

imperativetoact.Therearealsowidersocietal

costsifwedonotmeetouralreadycommitted

nationaltargets.Theseincludehigherenergycosts

toconsumers,greaterexposuretoexternalenergy

priceshocks,lossofcompetitiveness,problems

associatedwithpoordwellingsandpotentialfines

fornotmeetingEUCO2targets.

Ontheotherhandthebenefitsofimplementation

includethevalueoftheenergysavingstothe

publicandprivatesectors,increasedbusiness

competitiveness,healthimprovementsviawarmer

homesandbuildingsandasignificantcontribution

toEUemissiontargets.

December 2012

7

Executive Summary

Energypolicyhasapivotalroletoplayincreating

theconditionsforareturntoeconomicgrowthand

jobcreation.Thewellbeingofbothoureconomy

andsocietydependsonsafe,secure,sustainable

andaffordableenergy.Ourenergypolicyremains

firmlysetintheEuropeanandglobalcontext.

Ireland’ssecurityofenergysupplyalsocritically

dependsontheEU’sstrategiestoensurethat

Europe’senergyneedsaremetandaresecureat

alltimes.

Irelandhasfullyendorsedtheobjectivesof

Europe’sEnergy2020–Astrategyforcompetitive,

sustainableandsecureenergy.Thesepoliciesare

embeddedintheEnergyPolicyFramework2007-

2020–DeliveringaSustainableEnergyFuturefor

IrelandandwillguideIrishpolicyintothefuture.Asa

peripheralislandenergymarket,Irelandcanbenefit

fromafundamentaltransformationofEurope’s

economytoalow-carboneconomybasedon

radicallyincreasedenergyefficiency,accelerated

deploymentofrenewableenergy,smartnetworks

andawell-functioning,well-interconnectedinternal

energymarket.

Inthepublicsector,themostsignificantcost-cutting

andenergy-savingpotentialliesinimprovingthe

energyperformanceofbuildingsandfacilities.

ThiswillbeakeyfocusofBetterEnergy,whichwill

seektoraisefinancingfrominstitutionalinvestorsfor

retrofitworkinthepublicsector.

Realisationofthepublicsector’s33%targetwould

leadtoannualenergysavingstotheExchequerof

over€200million(€2011).Thenetpresentvalueof

theseupgradesisestimatedatover€1.4billion.This

isbeforethevalueofimpactssuchasincreased

productivity,assetvalueincreasesandimproved

buildingenvironmentsareconsidered.

Extent of the challenge

Ireland’stotalfinalconsumptionin2010was12

Mtoe,adecreaseof0.9%on2009but66%above

1990levels(representinggrowthof2.6%perannum

onaverage).Thisdecreaseinfinalconsumption

in2010compareswitha0.3%decreaseinprimary

energy,indicatingasmalldecreaseinefficiencyof

supply.Finalconsumptionpeakedin2008andhas

fallenby9.6%since.

Theimpactofenergyefficiencymeasuresisbeing

seenacrossallsectionsofsocietyinIrelandand

particularlytheresidentialsector.Household

efficiencyimprovementsareleadingtofinancial

savingsandincreasedwarmthandhealth;

businesssavingsareincreasingcompetitiveness,

andthepublicsectoriscuttingitsenergybills

acrossallDepartments,demonstratingthe

significantpotentialavailabletobroaderprivate

markets.Ongoingimprovementintheefficiency

ofthetransportfleetisbeingdeliveredthrough

technologyimprovements.However,muchremains

tobedonetoexploitthefullpotentialofenergy

efficiencyinIrelandandacrosstheEU.

EnergysavingsreduceGHGemissionsand

contributetoourclimate-changeobjectives.

Reducingenergydemandandconsumptionalso

workstowardsachievingourEUrenewableenergy

targets,sincethesearecalculatedonthebasisofa

percentageofourdemand.1

1 Renewableenergydelivered14.8%ofelectricitydemandin

2010,surpassingour2010RES-EDirectivetargetof13.2%.In

addition,thecapacitytodeliverrenewableelectricityhas

continuedtogrowbyanaverageofmorethan150MWper

year,reaching1,585MWbySeptember2011.


A roadmap to energy savings

ThefirstNationalEnergyEfficiencyActionPlan

(NEEAP,2009)setouttodelivera20%national

energysavingstarget(equivalentto31,925GWh)for

thewholeeconomythroughenergyefficiencyby

2020.Savingsachievedtotheendof2010account

for26%(over8,300GWh)ofthenationaltarget,

representingareductioninenergyspendofalmost

€480millionperannum.Theenergysavingsare

distributedasfollows:

Energysavings(GWh) CO2(ktCO2)

Sector 2010 2016 2020 2010 2016 2020

PublicSector 650 1,975 3,240 155 455 730

Business 2,505 4,340 5,820 620 1,025 1,330

Buildings 2,565 9,565 15,255 625 2,295 3,650

Mobility-

Transport

630 3,295 5,330 160 840 1,360

Energy

Supply

1,965 2,000 4,415 490 365 595

Total 8,315 21,175 34,060 2,050 4,980 7,665

AnestimatedreductioninCO2emissionsofover

twomilliontonneshasalsobeenachieved.

Shouldallmeasuresdetailedinthisplanreach

theirfullpotentialby2020,itisanticipatedthata

reductioninannualemissionsofaround7.7Mtwill

beachieved.Thisrepresentsapotentialreduction

inenergyspendacrossallsectorsofapproximately

€2.4billion(€2011).

Energypolicyhasshiftedsubstantiallyintheyears

sincethepublicationofthe2009NEEAP.Theyear

2020israpidlyapproaching,andwearelooking

beyondthatlandmarkdatetowardsthelonger-

termimpactsoftoday’senergypolicies.Manyof

thenewpoliciesoutlinedinthissecondNEEAP

seektoembedenergyefficiencyintothepublic

consciousness,movingawayfromsimplemarketing

toolsandtowardsacollectiveunderstandingof

whatenergyefficiencymeansforsecurityofsupply,

competitivenessandsustainability.

Key Action Plan measuresThisActionPlancontains97actions,measuresand

programmes.Eachwillplayitspartinsecuringa

moresustainableenergyfutureforIreland.Ofthe97

actions,thefollowingfivewillplayanintegralrolein

thedeliveryofthenationaltarget:

1. Public sector: Wewillintroduceaseries

ofobligationsonpublic-sectorbodiesto

addressconsumption,procurementand

reportingofenergyuse.

2. Energy Performance Contracting: Wewill

establishanationalEnergyPerformance

Contracting(EPC)processtodeliver

innovativemodelsofretrofittingand

financingofenergyefficiencymeasuresin

thecommercialandpublicsectors.

9ExecutiveSummary

3. PAYS: Wewillintroduceanappropriate

Pay-As-You-Save(PAYS)modelforIreland

toreplaceexistingExchequersupports

fordomesticandnon-domesticenergy

efficiencyupgrademeasures.

4. Energy-saving targets for energy suppliers:

TheBetterEnergyprogrammewilldeliver

energyefficiencysavingsacrossanumberof

sectors.

5. Implementation Group: ACross-

DepartmentalImplementationGroupwill

beestablishedtoensurethatalltheactions

containedinthisActionPlanaredelivered.

Public SectorInordertodemonstratetheleadingroleofthe

publicsectorindrivingdeliveryofenergyefficiency

improvements,andtodemonstratethebenefits

available,aspecific33%savingstargetisbeing

pursuedinthepublicsectorfor2020–equivalentto

3,240GWh.Savingsachievedinthepublicsector

totheendof2010represent20%ofthetarget.New

measureshaverecentlybeenlaunchedwitha

specificfocusonthepublicsectortopursuethis

target.ThePublicSectorProgrammewhichsupports

strategicenergymanagementwillprovidefurther

demonstrationofthebenefitsofenergyefficiency

improvementstothewholeeconomy.

Thepublicsectorsendsanimportantleadership

signal.Bydemonstratingitscommitmentto

excellentenergyperformance,thesectorcan

provideconfidencetoothersinthemarketthat

thereisanexcitingandprofitablefuturefor

technologiesandservicesthatemphasiseenergy

efficiency.Althoughthepublicsectorconsistsofa

diversesetofinstitutionsandactivities,withequally

diversepatternsofenergyuse,effectiveenergy

managementisthecommongoalinorderto

makevaluableenergysavingsintheshortterm,to

sustainthosesavingsovertimeandtoachievethe

ambitious2020target.

Energy Performance Contracting (EPC)

TheEPCframeworkwillprovideanintegrated

resourcetopublicandcommercialorganisations

thatwanttoimplementenergy-savingretrofit

projectsusingEPCornon-Exchequerfinancing.

Amongthekeydeliverablesarethedevelopment

ofstandarddocumentationandmodelcontracts.

Theobjectivewillbetobuildcapacityamong

organisationsforwhichEPCistheirpreferred

methodofprocuringandimplementingenergy-

savingprojects.

Pay-As-You-SaveTheProgrammeforGovernmentcommitsto

therolloutofaPay-As-You-Save(PAYS)scheme

after2013toenablethehomeenergyefficiency

programmetocontinuewithoutrecourseto

publicfunding.PAYSisafinancialmodelthat

wouldallowenergyconsumerstofinanceenergy

efficiencyupgradesthroughtheenergysavings

generated.TheDepartmentisworkingwithother

governmentdepartments,theSustainableEnergy

AuthorityofIreland(SEAI)andtheutilitiesand

financialinstitutionstodevelopproposalsforthe

introductionofanationalPAYSschemeinlinewith

thistimeframe.

Energy Saving Targets for Energy Suppliers

TherealisationoftheambitionoftheBetterEnergy

programmeisthenextbigchallengeforenergy

efficiencyinIreland.Thisprogrammeencompasses


abroadrangeofinitiatives,andaimstodeliver

energyefficiencysavingsacrossanumberof

sectors.

Theresidentialsectorhaslongbeenafocusof

energyefficiencypolicy,andBetterEnergywillbe

keytorealisingasustainablemodelforupgrades.

UnderBetterEnergy,domesticcustomerswillbe

abletoapplyforstate-supportedincentives,

throughtheirenergysupplierorotherprovider.

Voluntaryagreementsarealreadyinplacewitha

numberofthelargestenergysuppliers,confirming

theircommitmenttomakingenergyefficiencymore

affordablefortheircustomers.

Athree-yearenergysavingstargetof2,000

GWhwassetfor2011-2013,tobeachievedbya

combinationofenergysupplier-ledinitiativesand

SEAIprogrammeactivity.Thetargetfor2011was

500GWh,whichwasmet(576GWhdelivered).The

annualtargetsfor2012and2013are750GWh.

Implementation GroupThisActionPlanwillbecloselymonitoredon

anongoingbasisbyaCross-Departmental

ImplementationGroupthatwillreportto

Governmentatregularintervalsonprogress

beingmadetowardsour20%target.Asactions

areimplemented,newmeasuresandsavingswill

beidentified,andthisActionPlanwillberevised

accordingly.WewillpublishanupdatedActionPlan

in2014,inaccordancewithEuropeanCommission

requirements.

Key Sectoral MeasuresThefollowingaretheprincipalmeasurescontained

inthisActionPlan,andrepresentthekeytargets

forGovernmenttoachieveour2020commitments.

(Thenumberingreflectsthatintherelevantsections

laterintheActionPlan.)

Public Sector

11. Wewillintroduceobligationsonallpublic

bodiestodevelopandimplementenergy

managementprogrammesappropriatefor

theirorganisations.

17. Wewillintroduceanobligationonpublic

bodiesthatarecontractingthedevelopment

ofcapitalprojectswithprojectedenergy

consumptioninexcessof1GWhperannum

toformallyintegratetheprinciplesofenergy-

efficientdesignintotheprojectdevelopment

phase.Publicbodiesmustadheretothe

overallappraisalprinciplesandrequirements

ofthenewPublicSpendingCodeinthefirst

instance.

23. Wewilldevelopanenergymonitoringand

reportingsystemtosatisfythereporting

requirementsofbothS.I.542of2009and

theNEEAP,andtofacilitatepublicbodiesin

reportingonenergyefficiencyintheirannual

reports.

Energy Supply

29. Wewillprioritiseenergyefficiencyin

investmentdecisionsfornew-generationplant.

35. Wewillworkcollaborativelytomaximisethe

fullpotentialofSmartGriddeploymentin

Ireland.

30. Wewillcontinuetoinvestigatethescopefor

reducingenergytransmissionandoperational

losses.

32. Wewillsignificantlyexpandourdemand-side

managementinitiatives.

11ExecutiveSummary

Transport

40. Wewillcontinuetoincentivisethepurchaseof

moreenergy-efficientvehicles.

46. Wewillcontinuetopromotemobility

managementplansinschoolsandworkplaces

andathome.

50. Wewillusespatialplanningpoliciestoreduce

unnecessarycommuting.

51. Wehaveintroducedacarbontaxonpetrol

anddiesel,whichsendsastrongpricingsignal

toroadusers.

Business

64. TheBetterEnergyWorkplacesschemewill

achievesignificant,measurableandverifiable

energyperformancegainsinthepublicand

privatesectorsthatwillactasexemplars,

leadingtoreplicationofenergy-efficient

retrofitmeasuresacrossthesesectors.

66. WewillextendtheLargeIndustryEnergy

Network(LIEN)membership,achievedeeper

energysavingsandintensifyparticipation

intheinternationalenergymanagement

standardISO50001.

67. WewillensurethattheSMEsectorhasaccess

tothenecessarysupportstoreapthefinancial

benefitsfrominvestmentinappropriate

energymanagementpractices.

68. WewilldeveloptheAcceleratedCapital

Allowance(ACA)productslistandTripleE

registertoserveastherecognisedreference

listforenergy-efficientprocurement.

69. Wewilldeveloptheconstructionindustry’s

capacitytoachievehigherenergy

performancestandardsandcreate

sustainablejobsoverthelifetimeofthisAction

Plan.

Residential

81. Wewilltargetthoseinenergypovertythrough

theimplementationoftheAffordableEnergy

Strategy.

83. WewillimplementtheprovisionsoftheRecast

EnergyPerformanceofBuildingsDirective

(EPBD).

85. Wewillencourageindustrytoworktowards

thebuildingrequirementsoutlinedinthe

frameworkforachievinglow-ornearlyzero-

energyhousingonavoluntarybasisfrom2013.

Cross-Sectoral

86. WewillensurethattheBetterEnergy

ProgrammewillupgradeIreland’sbuilding

stocktohighstandardsofenergyefficiency,

therebyreducingfossil-fueluse,runningcosts

andgreenhouse-gasemissions.

88. WewillleadanESCOActionPlanwhichwill

targetanumberofstakeholdersincluding

relevantpolicymakers,marketactors,potential

EnergyPerformanceContractcustomersand

financiers.

89. WewillintroduceanappropriatePay-As-

You-Save(PAYS)modelforIrelandtoreplace

existingExchequersupportsfordomesticand

non-domesticenergyefficiencyupgrade

measures.

95. Wewillinvestigatethemechanismbywhich

wecouldreplicatetheEnergyEfficiency

OpportunitiesProgrammeintoourlarge-

industrysupports.


13

Energy Efficiency First

ImprovingIreland’senergyefficiencyisanessential

partofIreland’senergypolicyandisdesigned

tosteerIrelandtoanewandsustainableenergy

future,onethathelpsusstimulateeconomic

renewalandreduceenergycosts.Ourresearch

showsthatinvestinginenergyefficiencywill,on

average,delivera5:1return.Wecannotignore

suchaneconomicopportunity.TheNEEAP

representsourplanofaction:howwerealisethese

savingsforthebenefitofIrishsociety.Ifdelivered,

NEEAPwillrealisesavingsof€2.36billion(€2011)

in2020.Embeddingthe‘energyefficiencyfirst’

principlewillhelptocreateandretainemployment,

leadtomultipliereffectsinthelocaleconomy

andstimulateinnovationinthegreen-techsector.

Efficientenergyusedirectlycontributestosecurity

ofenergysupply,sustainabletransport,affordable

energy,competitivenessandenvironmental

sustainability.

TheGovernmenthascommittedtoachieving,

by2020,a20%reductioninenergydemand

acrossthewholeoftheeconomythroughenergy

efficiencymeasures.RecognisingthatGovernment

mustleadbyexample,weremaincommitted

toachievinga33%reductioninpublic-sector

energyuse.Sincethepublicationofthefirst

actionplan,newpolicymeasureshavebeen

takenorwillsoonbelaunchedtostrengthenand

deepenourenergysavingsefforts.Moreover,the

EuropeanUnionpolicycontextisevolvingwiththe

publicationofanEnergy2020strategythatplaces

evengreateremphasisontheroleofenergy

efficiencyinachievingour2020targets.

Global Energy Efficiency

InitsWorldEnergyOutlook2011,theInternational

EnergyAgency(IEA)containedastarkwarning

that,despiteeconomicuncertainty,thegrowthin

primaryenergydemandjumpedby5%in2010and

ispredictedtoincreasebyone-thirdby2035.One

ofthekeyfindingsisthat“therearefewsignsthat

theurgentlyneededchangeindirectioninglobal

energytrendsisunderway”.

Thereportstatesthatenergyisattheheartof

theclimatechallenge,especiallywhensetinthe

contextofalong-termtargettolimittheglobal

averagetemperatureincreaseto2°C.Itfurther

arguesthatgivenalmost80%ofthetotalenergy-

relatedCO2emissionspermissibleby2035inorder

nottoexceedthislimitarealready“lockedin”by

theexistingcapitalstock;inthecontextofrising

incomesandpopulationoverthelongtermdriving

furtherenergydemand,itisclearthatstringent

actionisrequiredbeforethecurrentdecadeisover.

EfficiencygainscancontributemosttoEUemissions

reductionsbutasignificantramp-upineffortis

urgentlyrequired,drivenbystrongpolicyaction.

Higherefficiencystandards,agradualreduction

insubsidiesforfossilfuelsandaccelerated

implementationwillallberequiredifefficiency

improvementsaretoaccountfor50%ofthe

cumulativeCO2abatementrequiredoverthe

periodoftheIEA’soutlook.Simplyput,according

totheIEA,“themostimportantcontributionto

reachingenergysecurityandclimategoalscomes

fromtheenergythatwedonotconsume”.Clearly,

anypost-2020targetsthatmaybeagreedwillbea

matterfornegotiationatEUlevel.

Chapter 01Introduction


Energy 2020 Strategy2 TheEuropeanCommissionhassetoutastrategy

forcompetitive,sustainableandsecureenergy

overthenext10years,whichwillrequireenergy

investmentsofsome€1trillion.Thestrategy

focusesoninvestment,thepublicsectorasan

exemplar,buildingsandtransport,andthecritical

roleofnationalenergyefficiencyactionplans.

ThecontextisanacknowledgementthattheEU

20%energyefficiencytargetby2020remains

challenginginthelightofcurrentprojectionsand

requiresurgentaction.

2 Energy2020–Astrategyforcompetitive,sustainable

andsecureenergyhttp://ec.europa.eu/energy/

strategies/2010/2020_en.htm

Thestrategyfocusesonfivepriorities:

1. Achievinganenergy-efficientEurope.

2. Buildingatrulypan-Europeanintegrated

energymarket.

3. Empoweringconsumers.

4. ExtendingEurope’sleadershipinenergy

technologyandinnovation.

5. Strengtheningtheexternaldimensionofthe

EUenergymarket.

Itissignificantthatenergyefficiencyisthenumber

onepriority.TheCommissionacknowledgesthat

“energyefficiencyisthemostcosteffectiveway

toreduceemissions,improveenergysecurityand

competitiveness,makeenergyconsumptionmore

affordableandcreateemployment”.

Figure 1: EU Energy Targets

Source: EU Commission, June 2011

Reduce greenhouse gas levels by 20%

Increase share of renewables to 20%

Reduce energy consumption by 20%

Meeting all three “20-20-20 by 2020” goals becomes a matter of urgency

-20%

20%

-10%Currenttrend to 2020

100%Currenttrend to 2020

Currenttrend to 2020

15Chapter01—Introduction

Nevertheless,theCommissionexpressesconcern

abouttheeffortstoachieve20%energysavings

by2020.Thecommunicationstates:“Thequalityof

NationalEnergyEfficiencyActionPlans,developed

byMemberStatessince2008,isdisappointing,

leavingvastpotentialuntapped.Themove

towardsrenewableenergyuseandgreaterenergy

efficiencyintransportishappeningtooslowly.

Whilewearebroadlyontrackforthe20%targetfor

renewables,wearealongwayfromachievingthe

objectivesetforenergyefficiency”.

TheEuropeanCouncilofFebruary2011underlined

theneedtoinjectimpetustotheEU’senergy

efficiencyobjectivesbycallingontheCommission

totake“determinedactiontotaptheconsiderable

potentialforhigherenergysavingsofbuildings,

transportandproducts”.3

3 EuropeanCouncilConclusions04/02/2011,EUCO2/11

European Energy Efficiency Plan4 TheCommissionpublishedtheEnergyEfficiency

Plan(EEP)inMarch2011asadetailedresponse

settingoutthemajorpolicyactionstobepursued

undertheFlagshipInitiativeforaResourceEfficient

Europe.5InadvanceofpublishingtheEEP,the

Commissioncarriedoutadetailedmapping

exerciseontheachievementofthe20%energy

efficiencytargetfor2020,whichconcludedthat,on

currentestimates,itwillnotbereachedwithexisting

policymeasures.

TheCommissionhasagainunderlinedthe

enormousenergy-savingpotentialinbuildings,

4 EnergyEfficiencyPlan2011–Communicationfromthe

CommissiontotheEuropeanParliament,theCouncil,

theEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommitteeandthe

CommitteeoftheRegionsCOM(2011)109/4,March2011

5 COM(2011)21

Figure 2: Progress to EU Energy Targets

Source: EU Commission, June 2011

So far the EU is not on track to meet its 20% energy saving target by 2020

Prim

am

ry e

ne

rgy

co

nsu

mp

tion

*, M

toe

1400

1450

1500

1550

1600

1650

1700

1750

1800

1850

1900

Projections from 2007 Projections from 2009 20% Energy saving obejectives

*Gross inland consumption minus non-energy uses

Business as usual

Statustoday

-20%objective

1842 Mtoe

1474 Mtoe

1678 Mtoe

GAP


andalsothetransportsectorwhichisthesubject

ofaseparatewhitepaper.6Thepublicsectorhasa

criticalroleinleadingfromthefrontandcreating

newmarketsforenergy-efficienttechnologies,

servicesandbusinessmodels.Industry,too,has

aresponsibilitytopromoteenergyefficiency

measuresacrossthewholeenergysupplychainin

ordertoimprovecompetitivenessandprofitability.

EU Legislative Initiatives TheEnergy Services Directive (ESD)7isthemain

legislativemechanismthroughwhichenergy

efficiencypolicyatEUlevelisdelivered.Thedirective

seekstopromoteend-useenergyefficiencyinEU

memberstatesthroughsupportmeasuresandthe

removalofinstitutional,financialandlegalbarriers.

TheESDissettobelargelyrepealedbytheEnergy

Efficiency Directive (EED) adoptedbytheCouncil

andParliamentinOctober2012.

TheEEDwilltranslatecertainambitiouselementsof

theEuropeanEnergyEfficiencyPlanintobinding

measures.Theproposedlegislativeprovisionsset

bindingmeasuresonmemberstates,includingan

annualrateofrenovationforcentralgovernment

buildingsof3%;anobligationonpublicbodies

toprocureproducts,servicesandbuildingswith

highenergy-efficientperformance;obligations

onindustryrelatingtoenergyauditsandenergy

managementsystems,andacommonframework

fornationalenergysavingsobligationschemes

equivalenttoannualenergysavingsof1.5%of

energysales.Thenewdirectiveenteredintoforce

on4December2012andmustbetransposedby5

June2014.

6 RoadmaptoaSingleEuropeanTransportArea–Towardsa

competitiveandresourceefficienttransportsystemCOM

(2011)144,March2011

7 EnergyServicesDirective2006/32/EC

IrelandtransposedtheESDthroughtheEnergyEnd-

UseEfficiencyandEnergyServicesRegulations2009

(S.I.542of2009)whichprovidedfornationalenergy

efficiencysavingtargets;energyservicesincluding

theavailabilityofenergyauditstofinalcustomers;

theexemplaryroleofthepublicsector,andthe

promotionofenergyefficiencybyenergysuppliers.

AprimaryfocusofboththeESDandtheEEDison

domesticandcommercialbuildings,asthesesectors

accountfor40%oftotalenergyconsumptioninthe

EU.The Directive on Energy Performance in Buildings

(EPBD),adoptedin2002,primarilyaffectsenergy

useandefficiencyinthebuildingsectorintheEU.

IrelandtransposedtheEPBDthroughtheEnergy

PerformanceofBuildingsRegulations2006(S.I.666of

2006)whichprovidedfortheBuildingEnergyRating

(BER)systemtobeadministeredandenforcedbythe

SustainableEnergyAuthorityofIreland(SEAI).

TheRecast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

(EPBD),8adoptedinMay2010,statesthatreduction

ofenergyconsumptionandtheuseofenergyfrom

renewablesourcesinthebuildingssectorconstitute

importantmeasuresneededtoreducetheUnion’s

energydependencyandgreenhouse-gasemissions.

Thedirectiveaimstohavetheenergyperformance

ofbuildingscalculatedonthebasisofacost-optimal

methodology.Memberstatesmaysetminimum

requirementsfortheenergyperformanceof

buildings.

TherecastEPBDrequiresIrelandtoensure,among

otherobligations,thatbuildingenergyratingsare

includedinalladvertisementsforthesaleorlease

ofbuildings;thatEnergyPerformanceCertificates

aredisplayedinpublicandprivatelyowned

buildingsfrequentlyvisitedbythepublic;that

heatingandair-conditioningsystemsareinspected;

8 DirectiveontheEnergyPerformanceofBuildings(Recast)

2010/31/EU


thatconsumersareadvisedontheoptimaluseof

appliances,theiroperationandreplacement,if

necessary;thatenergyperformancecertificates

andinspectionreportsareofgoodquality,

preparedbysuitablyqualifiedpersonsactinginan

independentmatter,andareunderpinnedbya

robustregimeofverification;andthatanational

planisdevelopedtoincreasethenumberoflow-or

nearlyzero-energybuildings,withthepublicsector

leadingbyexample.Thedirectivewastransposed

bytheEuropeanUnion(EnergyPerformanceof

Buildings)Regulations2012(S.I.243of2012).

TheEcodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) was

transposedbytheEU(EcodesignforCertainEnergy-

relatedProducts)Regulations2011(S.I.No.203of

2011)whichextendsthescopeofanearlierdirective

(2005/32/EC)toawidervarietyofproductsthatcan

contributetoenergysaving.

TheEnergy Labelling Directive (2010/30/EU)was

transposedbytheEU(EnergyLabelling)Regulations

2011(S.I.No.366of2011),whichextendthe

applicationofthedirectivetoanincreasingrange

ofproductswhichhaveadirectorindirectimpact

onenergyconsumptionduringuse.Theregulations

obligesuppliersofenergy-usingproductscovered

byanEUmeasuretosupplyanenergylabeland

fichewiththeproduct.

National Policy MostactionspublishedinthefirstNEEAPhavebeen

significantlyprogressedoverthelastthreeyears.

Aprogrammetoplaceenergysavingstargetson

energysupplierswhosupplymorethan75GWhof

energyperannumhasbeenintroduced.Sixteen

participatingcompanieshavesignedvoluntary

agreementstodeliverenergysavingsbetween

2011and2013.Ourobjectiveistoencourage

theremainingcompaniestoconcludevoluntary

agreementsorbesubjecttoamandatory

obligation.Theintroductionofacarbontaxin

Budget2010of€15pertonneonnon-Emissions

TradingScheme(ETS)installations,whichwas

increasedto€20inBudget2012,providesan

incentiveforenergyefficiencyinallsectors.Overthe

lastdecadethestandardsforbothhousingandnon-

residentialbuildingshavebeenconstantlyreviewed

andstrengthened,leadingtoasituationwherethe

mandatoryminimumenergyefficiencyrequirements

forbuildingsareamongthehighestinEurope.

Despiteconsiderableprogress,challengesremain.

Thesearemostevidentinthetransportand

publicsectors,towhichthisupdatedstrategy

willgiveparticularfocus.Moreover,thecurrent

economicuncertaintymayaffectourability

tomeetcertaintargets.Clearly,theshort-term

outlookischallengingbutthismayalsopresent

anopportunityforenergysupplierstolaunch

innovativeproductofferingstoencouragegreater

take-upbasedonlifecyclecostsavings.Allofthese

effortswillhaveanimpactonnationalenergy

reductiontargets.

TheNationalReformProgramme(publishedApril

2011)recommitsourambitiontomovetowardsa

20%increaseinenergyefficiencyinlinewithoverall

EU2020headlinetargets.

Public ConsultationAnationalconsultationexercise,designedto

informthepreparationofthesecondNEEAP,was

completedin2011;32responseswerereceived

fromavarietyofsources,andmostofthesefrom

theenergysector.Aswellassubmissionsfromlarge

energyorganisationsandsuppliers,manyalso

camefromlocalenergyagenciesandregional

authorities.


TheActionPlanwaswidelywelcomed;many

respondentsunderlinedtheurgencyattaching

torealisingthefullpotentialofenergyefficiency,

whileacknowledgingthedifficultchallengeof

meetingthetargets,andtheneedtomonitor

progressandprioritiseactionsaccordingtotheir

cost-effectiveness.Therewasastrongdegree

ofconsensusonarangeoftopics,includingthe

importanceoftheBetterEnergyProgrammeand

SmartMeteringProject,andtheongoingneedfora

moreefficienttransportsector.

TheSEAI’slatestenergydemandforecast9illustrates

thepotentialimpacton2020energydemand

resultingfromsavingsthroughachievingthe2020

national20%energysavingstarget.Figure3above

showsthechangedtrajectoryoffutureenergy

demandineachsectoroftheeconomycompared

toabaselinescenarioinwhichnofurtherenergy

efficiencypoliciesareimplemented(beyond

9 EnergyForecastsforIrelandto2020,SEAI,2011report

thosepoliciesandmeasuresexistingattheendof

2010).Futuretotalfinaldemandisinfluencedboth

bytheenergysavingsexpectedandprojections

foreconomicgrowthovertheperiod.Demandis

forecasttoremainconstantlybelow2004levels

asaresultoftheinteractionofongoingenergy

efficiencyimprovements,asdetailedinthissecond

NEEAPmodelledto2020,anddevelopmentofthe

economyoverthattime.

Abroadrangeofbenefitsfromimprovedenergy

efficiencyflowfromtheactionsdetailedinthisplan.

Thesebenefitscanbecategorisedunderthethree

pillarsofenergypolicy:competitiveness,securityof

energysupplyandenvironmentalsustainability.

Figure 3: Total final demand by sector (NEEAP/NREAP scenario)

Industry

Mto

e

Transport

1990 1993 1996

Historical Trend Projection

1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017 2020

Household Services Agriculture Baseline

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14


Competitiveness

Itisgenerallyacceptedthattheeraofcheapfossil

fuelsforenergyproductionisover.10Asenergycosts

becomeamoresignificantpartofbusinessand

householdexpenditure,wemustreducetheamount

ofenergyusedinordertorelievethispressure.

Anenergy-efficienteconomyisamore

competitiveone.Businessescanproducemore

outputperunitofenergyandgainmarket

share.Householdswithmoredisposableincome

availableafterpayingenergybillsarebetter

abletoparticipateinothermarkets.Theenergy

savingsachievedtoend2010bytheprogrammes

andmeasuresdetailedinthisplanrepresent

areductioninenergyspendofapproximately

€470millionperannum.Realisationoftheenergy

savingsambitionoutlinedfor2020represents

approximately€2.4billion(€2011)insavingsto

businessandhouseholds,moneythatwillbe

availabletostimulatetheeconomyinotherways.

Achievingenergyefficiencyinourbusinessesand

homescanalsoprovidejobsintheconstruction,

engineering,design,ICTandotherrelatedsectors.

Recognisingthejob-creationpotentialoftheGreen

Economy,theActionPlanforJobs2012containsan

actiontopublishandimplementanewplanforthe

developmentoftheGreenEconomy.11Itshouldbe

recognisedthatenergyefficiencyimprovements

formakeypartofrealisingthispotential.In

particular,wewillcontinuetoraiseawarenessand

provideopportunitiesforcompaniestoreduce

energyusethroughprovidingadvisoryservicesand

appropriatesupports.

10 Seeforexample,‘Theageofcheapenergyisover,IEA

ExecutiveDirectorwarns’,InternationalEnergyAgency(IEA),

21April2011.

11 ActionPlanforJobs2012:http://www.djei.ie/

publications/2012APJ.pdf

Security of supply

Intoday’sworldofvolatileenergyprices,over-

relianceonimportedfossilfuelsleavesaneconomy

exposedtopricespikessimilartothoseexperienced

in2008.Morerecentlywehaveseenworldwide

energypricefluctuationsduetopoliticalunrest

inoil-exportingcountries.Irelandisparticularly

vulnerabletosuddenpricemovesaswerelyheavily

onimportedgasforelectricitygeneration,for

someenergy-intensiveindustrialprocessesandfor

heatingmanyofourhomesandbusinesses.12Our

transportsectorisalsoheavilyreliantonoilimports.

Reducingdemandthroughefficiencylowers

ourrelianceonfossilfuels,andisthecheapest

wayofreducingthisreliance.Diversificationof

energysupply,includingincreasedpenetrationof

renewableenergysources,willalsobenefitIreland

inthisregard.

SustainabilitySavingenergyresultsinlessCO2andother

greenhouse-gas(GHG)emissions,contributingto

ournationalemissionreductiontargets.Itiswell

recognisedthatenergyefficiencyisoneofthemost

cost-effectiveoptionsavailabletosocietytoreduce

GHGemissions.Ireland’s Low-Carbon Opportunity,

forexample,highlightedthetechnicalabatement

potentialinIrelandavailableata‘negativecost’

tosociety,particularlyfromenergyefficiency

improvements.13Inlightofrecenttrendsinworldoil

prices,the€120/barrelscenariopresentedinthat

reportnowseemsmorelikelythantheprevious

headlineresult,estimatedat€60perbarrel.

12 Detailedinformationisprovidedin‘TheEconomicImpactfor

IrelandofHighOilandGasPrices–Pathwaystoriskmitigation

andalowcarbonfuture’.ReportcommissionedbySiemens

Ltd,July2010.

13 Ireland’sLow-CarbonOpportunity,SEI(nowSEAI),2009


Figure 4: GHG abatement potential and costs

Irelandisasmallperipheralenergymarketon

thewesternedgeofEurope,withadispersed

populationandgridinfrastructure.Wearethus

heavilydependentonfossil-fuelimportsfor

transportandpowergeneration,whichmakes

usparticularlyvulnerabletooilpricevolatility.

Nevertheless,thereisconsiderablepotentialfor

bioenergy.Wehavesomeofthebestocean

andwindresourcesinEurope,whichpresents

anexcellentexportopportunityinrenewable

energy.Ourexperienceindevelopinganall-island

electricitymarket,soontobefollowedinthegas

market,isuniqueacrosstheEuropeanUnion.

Thepolicyimperativeisimplementingenergy

demandreductionintheteethofaneconomic

recessionandaverychallengingcapitalinvestment

climate.Alliedtothisaretheuncertaintiesinworld

oilmarketsandthechangingglobalgasmarket,

whichmaintainthecompetitivenesspressureson

theIrisheconomy.

Giventhelonger-termhorizonassociatedwith

energypolicyimplementation,theEUresponded

tothe2050challengewiththeRoadmapfor

movingtoacompetitivelow-carboneconomy

in2050.14Theroadmapproposesthattheenergy

sectormustsupportaCO2reductionof93%to

99%,therebybecomingalmostcarbon-neutral.In

thesubsequentEnergyRoadmap2050(published

inDecember2011),theCommissionsetoutthe

challengesofsuchanenergytransition,while

proposingaframeworkforalong-termstrategyfor

14 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.

do?uri=COM:2011:0885:FIN:EN:PDF

Figure 5: Global Cost Curve of GHG Abatement Opportunities beyond Business as Usual.11

Abatement beyond ‘business as usual,’ GtCO2equivalent per year in 2030

Co

st o

f A

ba

tem

en

t, €

pe

r tC

O2e

qu

iva

len

t

Livestock

Avoideddeforestation

Industrialmotor systems

CCS; coal retrofit

Coal-to-gas shift

Waste Industrial CCSBiodiesel

Low-cost forestation

CCS, enhanced oil recovery, new coalindustrial feedstock substitution

Wind; low penetrationCofiring biomass

Medium-cost forestation

Carbon capture and storage (CCS); new coal

Approximate abatement required beyond ‘business as usual,’ 2030

Nuclear

Higher-costabatement

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

Further potential

Marginal cost, € per tCO2equivalent

-40 -50-25

5 10 15 20 25 30 35

550 ppm 450 ppm 440 ppm

332618Industrial non-Co2

Standby losses

Sugarcane biofuel

Fuel efficiency in vehicles

Water heating

Air-conditioning

Lighting systems

Fuel efficiency in commercial vehicles

Energyefficiency measures

Building insulation


sustainable,competitiveandsecureenergy

inEurope.

Insuchachallengingglobalclimate,thepriorities

remainto(a)securecompetitivelypricedenergy

supplyforbusinessandconsumers,creatingthe

necessaryconditionsforasustainableenergy

mix,and(b)rolloutacost-efficientsmartenergy

infrastructure,supportedbyastableenergy

investmentframework,toattainanenergy-

efficienteconomy.

TheSEAIhaspublishedanumberofroadmaps

thatconsidertheperiodupto2050.Theseinclude

anassessmentofthescaleofthechallenge,

opportunitiesandpolicyoptionsforongoing

developmenttowardsasustainableenergysystem

forIreland.Aseriesofsixroadmapshasbeen

developed,withthoserelevanttoenergyefficiency

includingelectricvehicles,theresidentialsector

andsmartgrids.15

Inthemediumterm,theCommissionpublishedthe

Flagship Initiative for a Resource-Efficient Europe.16

Memberstatesarerequiredtoprioritiseenergy

efficiencyaspartoftheEurope2020Strategy,given

thattheUnion’s20%energyefficiencytargetisone

offiveheadlinegoals.ItalsoflagstheCommission’s

intentiontopushformandatoryenergy-saving

targetsin2014shouldmemberstatesfailtobeon

trackforrealisingthe2020energy-savingtarget.The

emphasisintheEuropeancontextisonpromoting

thebenefitsofenergyefficiencyforeconomic

recovery,restoringcompetitivenessandcreating

businessopportunities.

TheEnergyEfficiencyDirective(2012/27/EU),

repealingDirectives2004/8/EC(Cogeneration)and

15 Availableathttp://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_

Publications/Energy_Modelling_Group/

16 http://ec.europa.eu/resource-efficient-europe/pdf/

2006/32/EC(EnergyServices),haswideimplications

forIreland.Thenewlegislationplacesenergy

efficiencyatthecoreoftheEU2020energystrategy

andrequiresmemberstatestofurtherdecouple

theirenergyusefromeconomicgrowth.


23

TheCommissionandmemberstateshaveagreeda

robustandambitiousenergyefficiencyframework

thatwillkeepusontrackforour2020targets,and

supportemploymentandsustainablegrowth.

National TargetsTheGovernmentsetoutinthefirstNational

EnergyEfficiencyActionPlan(NEEAP)howIreland

wouldmeeta20%nationalenergysavingstarget

(equivalentto31,925GWh)by2020.17The20%

reflectsawiderEUambitionaspartofthepackage

ofclimate-changemeasures,oftenreferredtoas

the20:20:20targets,whichincludestheintention

toreduceby20%primaryenergyconsumption

acrosstheEUby2020.Aspartofthisprocess,and

inaccordancewiththeEUEnergyServiceDirective

(ESD),memberstateshavesigneduptoachieve

anindicative9%energy-savingtarget,or1%per

17 Boththenon-ETSandETSsectors

yearto2016inthenon-ETSsectors.Ireland’s20%

targetincorporatesthisobjective,andsetsamore

ambitiouslevelofenergysavings,expandingtheir

scopetoincludebothsupplyanddemand-side

efficiencygains.

Thesethreetargets18coverthefollowingareas:

• A9%savingstargetfor2016associatedwiththe

EnergyServicesDirective(ESD),applicableto

non-EmissionsTradingScheme(non-ETS)sectors

only

• A20%nationalsavingstargetfor2020asset

intheGovernment’s2007EnergyWhitePaper

18 Alltargetsaresetonthebasisofapercentagereductionof

averagehistoricenergydemandovertheperiod2001–2005

fortherelevantsectors.Energydemandinthepublicsector

iscalculatedasaresidualinIreland’senergybalance,as

producedbytheSEAI(EPSSU)annually.Detailofongoingwork

toimprovetheaccountingprocedureforenergydemandfor

thepublicsectorisprovidedinChapter3ofthisreport.

Chapter 02Energy Savings Targets – Progress and Future Ambition

Figure 5: Energy and CO2 savings and target trajectory to our national 20% energy savings target for 2020

Achieved to end 2010: 8,310 GWh

CO2 savings (kt) 0 Public Sector Business Buildings

Retrofit Mobility - Transport Energy Supply

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 20200

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

Target Trajectory

Target 31,925 GWh

Ene

rgy

Savi

ng

s (G

Wh

PEE

)

CO

2 a

ba

ted

(kt

)


2007,Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for

Ireland,applicabletothewholeeconomy–i.e.

bothnon-ETSandETSsectors

• A33%savingstargetspecificallyforthepublic

sectorfor2020

Progress to Date

ESD 9% by 2016 target

TheindicativeESDtargetiscalculatedin

accordancewiththemethodologyoutlined

inAnnex1ofDirective2006/32/ECas13,117

GWh.19StatutoryInstrument542of2009,20

whichtransposestheESD,setsaninterim(2010)

indicativetargetof5,000GWh.Estimatedsavings

achievedtotheendof2010amountto4,815

GWh,representingasignificantachievement,

butfalljustshortofthetarget.Thesesavingshave

beenachievedacrossabroadrangeofenergy

usersinthepublic,commercial,household,

transportandagriculturesectors.Largeemitters

ofgreenhousegasescoveredbytheETS21and

aviationandmarinebunkerfuelsareexcluded.

Projectedsavingsto2016frommeasuresdetailed

inthisActionPlanareexpectedtoexceedthe

2016ESDtarget(17,130GWh).

19 Targetisexpressedinprimaryenergyequivalent(PEE)terms.

Theconversionfromfinalenergyconsumptiontoprimary

energyequivalentisbasedonastandardisedfactor2.5for

electricity(AnnexII,EnergyServicesDirective).Itaccountsfor

theconversionlossesinelectricitygenerationandmakesunits

ofdifferentenergystreamsmorecomparable.

20 S.I.542of2009,EuropeanCommunities(EnergyEnd-use

EfficiencyandEnergyServices)Regulations2009

21 AsdefinedinDirective2003/87/EC

National 20% target

Energyefficiencygainsachievedtotheendof

2010accountforover26%(8,310GWh)ofthe2020

target.Thislevelofsavingsrepresentsareduction

inenergyspendofapproximately€470millionper

annum.EstimatedreductionsinCO2emissionsof

twomilliontonneshavealsobeenachieved.Should

allmeasuresdetailedinthisActionPlanreachtheir

fullpotentialby2020,itisestimatedthatenergy

savingstotallingover34,060GWhperannumwill

havebeenachieved,leadingtoareductionin

annualemissionsofover7.7MtCO2.Thisrepresents

apotentialreductioninenergyspendacrossall

sectorsofapproximately€2.4billion(€2011)asa

resultofthesavings.

Mostofthesavingstodatehavebeenachievedin

thebuildingssectorthroughbothimprovedBuilding

Regulationsandresidentialretro-fitschemes.

Largeindustryhascontributedalargeportionof

thebusinesssectorsavingsthroughdeployment

ofsustainableenergymanagementsystemsand

efficiencyimprovementsbymeansofincreaseduse

ofco-generationandrenewableheatingsources.

Retrofitgrantschemeshavebeentrialledforthe

commercialsector.Transportmeasures,including

therecalibrationoftaxationtopromoteefficient

vehicles,havealsocontributedsignificantsavings.

Public sector 33% target

Todemonstratetheleadingroleofthepublic

sectorindrivingdeliveryofenergyefficiency

improvements,andtodemonstratethebenefits

available,aspecific33%savingstargethasbeen

setforthepublicsectorfor2020,equivalentto3,240

GWh.Savingsachievedinthepublicsectortothe

endof2010represent20%ofthetarget.ThePublic

SectorProgrammeandBetterEnergyWorkplaces

(publicsector)willbethemaindeliveryagentsfor

theremainderofthetarget.

25Chapter02—EnergySavingsTargets

Improvementstonewandexistingpublic-

sectorbuildingsmadethroughdemonstration

programmesandgrantschemeshavecontributed

mostsavingstodateinthepublicsector.This

includesefficiencygainsthroughthedeployment

ofcogenerationandrenewableheatingsources.

Publictransportefficiencyimprovementshavealso

beenachieved.

Table1abovesummarisesprogressmadetowards

achievingthethreetargetsoutlinedabove.A

detailedbreakdownofsavingsfrommeasuresto

theendof2010,andestimatedcontributionsfrom

existingandfuturemeasures,isprovidedforeach

targetinTable2.

2016 Target: Energy Savings Achieved and Projected

Thefollowingtableprovidessavingsestimatesfor

thesamelistofactionsasabove,butincludesonly

savingsachievedinthenon-ETSsectorsthatare

eligibleforaccountingagainsttheESDtarget.These

estimatesaremadefortheperiodto2016,reflecting

theapplicableperiodofthe9%reductiontargetfor

theESD,equivalentto13,117GWh.

Table 1: Targets, progress and ambition

EnergyServicesDirective

20169%target

(non-ETSonly)

National202020%target

(wholeeconomy)

Publicsector2020

33%target

Target(GWh) 13,117 31,925 3,240

Progressto2010(savings

achieved)

37% 26% 20%

Estimated2016savings 131% 66% 60%

Estimated2020savings n/a 107% 100%


Table 2: Savings estimates for relevant non-ETS sectors by 2016

Energysavings(GWhPEE) CO2savings(kt)

2010 2016 2010 2016

PublicSector

PublicSectorProgramme 75 645 17 149

GreenPublicProcurement(viaACA) 25 155 5 33

SEEEPandEERF(publicsector) 90 90 21 20

PublicSectorBuildingDemonstrationProgramme 140 140 33 32

CHP(publicsector) 120 160 29 38

ReHeat(publicsector) 110 125 26 30

Publictransportefficiency 90 160 23 40

BetterEnergy(publicsector) 0 500 0 114

Business

SEAILargeIndustryProgrammes 320 445 80 107

SEAISMEProgramme 150 400 36 91

ACA(privatesector) 55 370 13 80

SEEEPandEERF(privatesector) 175 175 42 41

CHP(privatesector) 280 370 68 90

ReHeat(privatesector) 250 290 61 70

BetterEnergy(commercialsector) 0 500 0 114

Buildings

2002BuildingRegulations–Dwellings 1,280 1,280 312 312

2008BuildingRegulations–Dwellings 85 1,210 21 295

2011BuildingRegulations–Dwellings 0 380 0 93

BuildingRegulations–NearlyZero-Energy

Dwellings

0 15 0 3

2005BuildingRegulations–Buildingsotherthan

dwellings

185 300 45 72


dwellings

0 390 0 93


Themaindifferencesbetweentheabovetableand

the2020targettablearetheexclusionofsavings

intheETSsector,namely:electricitysupply-side

savingsandareductioninthecontributionfromthe

largeindustryprogrammes,muchofwhichrelates

tocompaniesparticipatingintheEUETS.

Onthebasisoftheestimatesabove,Irelandwill

surpassits2016targetof13,117GWhwithafullrollout

ofthemeasuresdetailedabove.Figure6onthe

nextpagesummarisesthesavingscontributions

fromdifferentsectors.

Energy-efficientboilerregulation 200 800 49 195

DomesticLighting(Eco-DesignDirective) 200 1,200 47 259

GreenerHomesScheme(GHS) 120 120 28 28

WarmerHomesScheme(WHS) 125 130 33 33

HomeEnergySaving(HES)scheme 365 365 90 90

SmartMeterrollout 0 375 0 80

BetterEnergyHomes(residentialretrofit) 0 3,000 0 740

Mobility–Transport

Electricvehicledeployment 0 265 0 68

Vehicleregistrationtax(VRT)andannualmotor

tax(AMT)rebalancing

185 825 47 211

Improvedfueleconomyofprivatecarfleet(EU

regulation)

190 1,575 48 402

Moreefficientroadtrafficmovements 0 375 0 96

Totals 4,815 17,130 1,175 4,120


20% Target: Energy Savings Achieved and Projected

Thefollowingtableincludessomecompleted

actions(totheendof2010),someongoing,and

somecommittedfutureactions,suchasfuture

buildingregulations.

Figure 6: Achieved 2010 and estimated future savings contributions to the 2016 ESD target

Public Sector Business Buildings

Retrofit Mobility - Transport

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20160

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

Target 13,117 GWh

Ene

rgy

Savi

ng

s (G

Wh

PEE

)

18,000

Target Trajectory


Table 3: Energy savings actions to 2020


2010 2016 2020 2010 2016 2020

PublicSector

PublicSectorProgramme 75 645 1,255 17 149 281

GreenPublicProcurement(viaACA) 25 155 285 5 33 59

SEEEPandEERF(publicsector) 90 90 90 21 20 20

PublicSectorBuildingDemonstration

Programme

140 140 140 33 32 31

CHP(publicsector) 120 160 185 29 38 45

ReHeat(publicsector) 110 125 125 26 30 30

Publictransportefficiency 90 160 160 23 40 40

BetterEnergy(publicsector) 0 500 1000 0 114 223

Business

SEAILargeIndustryProgrammes 1,595 2,235 2,730 398 539 642

SEAISMEProgramme 150 400 505 36 91 113

ACA(privatesector) 55 370 690 13 80 140

SEEEPandEERF(privatesector) 175 175 175 42 41 40

CHP(privatesector) 280 370 430 68 90 104

ReHeat(privatesector) 250 290 290 61 70 70

BetterEnergy(commercialsector) 0 500 1,000 0 114 223

Buildings

2002BuildingRegulations–Dwellings 1,280 1,280 1,280 312 312 312

2008BuildingRegulations–Dwellings 85 1,210 2,110 21 295 514

2011BuildingRegulations-Dwellings 0 380 835 0 93 203

BuildingRegulations–NearlyZero-Energy

Dwellings

0 15 225 0 3 55


dwellings

185 300 300 45 72 71



dwellings

0 390 865 0 93 205

Energy-efficientboilerregulation 200 800 1,200 49 195 293

DomesticLighting(Eco-DesignDirective) 200 1,200 1,200 47 259 242

GreenerHomesScheme(GHS) 120 120 120 28 28 28

WarmerHomesScheme(WHS) 125 130 130 33 33 33

HomeEnergySaving(HES)scheme 365 365 365 90 90 90

SmartMeterrollout 0 375 625 0 80 126

BetterEnergyHomes(residentialretrofit) 0 3,000 6,000 0 740 1,476

Mobility–Transport

Electricvehicledeployment 0 265 690 0 68 175

Vehicleregistrationtax(VRT)andannualmotor

tax(AMT)rebalancing

185 825 655 47 211 168

Improvedfueleconomyofprivatecarfleet(EU

Regulation)

190 1,575 3,015 48 402 769

Moreefficientroadtrafficmovements 0 375 715 0 96 182

Aviationefficiency 255 255 255 65 65 65



EnergySupply

Electricitygenerationefficiencyimprovements 1,690 1,675 4,055 422 293 524

Transmissionanddistributionsavings 275 325 360 66 71 73

Totals 8,310 21,175 34,060 2,046 4,980 7,665


Thetableonthepreviouspagedoesnotrepresenta

comprehensivelistofallactionsbeingundertakento

improveenergyefficiency.Manycross-sectoraland

underpinningmeasuresforwhichanenergysavings

estimatehasnotbeenmadearedetailedelsewhere

inthisplan.Thetableincludesthoseactionsthatare

morereadilyquantifiable,eitherbyestimationorsome

combinationofmeasurementandextrapolation.The

methodsusedforarrivingattheseestimatesareinline

withEUguidelines(whereavailable)andaredetailed

furtherbelowandinAnnex1.

Sector Summary

Public Sector

Contributionshavealreadybeenmadeinthe

publicsectorthroughrecentgrantschemes–

SupportsforExemplarEnergyEfficiencyProjects

(SEEEP)andEnergyEfficiencyRetrofitFund(EERF)

–andthroughdeploymentofCHPandrenewable-

heattechnologies(ReHeat),bothofwhichprovide

efficiencyimprovementsoverconventional

energysources.Mostfuturesavingsrequiredto

meetthe33%public-sectortargetby2020willbe

achievedthroughtherecentlylaunchedPublic

SectorProgrammesupportingstrategicenergy

managementinthesector.

Business Sector

Themostsignificantcontributioninthissectorwill

comefromsupportsprovidedbytheSEAItolarge

industryinIreland.Thesesavingsstemfromworking

closelywithover150ofthelargestenergy-using

companiesinIreland,accountingforaround

70%ofindustrialenergyuse.Otherkeyareasof

opportunitybeingexploitedincludesupports

providedtoSMEstorealiseenergysavings,and

theavailabilityoftaxbreaks(viatheAccelerated

CapitalAllowancescheme)thatprovidefurther

incentivesfordeploymentofthemostenergy-

efficienttechnologiesonthemarkettoday.

Buildings

Theincrementalimprovementofbuilding

regulationsinboththedomesticandcommercial

sectors(viaBetterEnergy)willcontinuetoprovide

avaluablecontributiontoenergysavingstargetsin

thefutureasweseektoensureallnewconstruction

istothehighestenergystandardspossible.

Separateregulationsforefficientlightingthrough

thephasing-outofincandescentlightbulbsandfor-

highefficiencyboilersarealsoprovidingsignificant

savings,inparticularintheresidentialsector.

Theretrofitofourbuildingsinboththepublicand

privatesectorsholdsthestrongestpotentialfor

energysavings–afactrecognisedacrosstheEU

asmemberstatesworktoimprovethestandardsof

thebuildingstock,whichwillbeoccupiedformany

yearstocome.TheBetterEnergyProgrammewillbe

themechanismthroughwhichsuchupgradeswill

beachieved.

Mobility – Transport

MandatesatEUlevelrequiringimprovement

totheinternalcombustionenginewillleadto

significantsavings.Thesearebeingsupplemented

wellinIrelandbychangestomotorvehicleand

registrationtaxestopromotethepurchaseoflow-

emissionvehicles,apolicythathasalreadyhada

powerfuleffectonvehiclepurchasingpatterns.The

deploymentofelectricvehiclesalsoholdspotential

inIrelandwhereitiscurrentlysupportedbyagrant

schemefortheirpurchase.Theincorporationof

efficientdrivingrequirementsintoroadlicensing

testsaswellastrainingcourseswillalsomakea

valuablecontribution.


Energy Supply

Improvementsintheefficiencyofelectricity

generatingstockasawholereducestheamount

ofprimaryenergy(fuels)neededtogeneratea

unitofelectricity.Upgradesofolderplantwith

newefficientplant,expectedbetweennowand

2020,togetherwithincreasedrolloutofrenewable

generation(e.g.fromwind)willprovideasignificant

inputtoachievingthesavingstargets.

Thefigurebelowindicatesthesavingsachieved

totheendof2010andthoseexpectedfromthe

variouspoliciesandmeasuresoutlinedupto2020.

Asweapproach2020andtheimperativeforenergy

efficiencygainsmomentum,therateofperannum

savingsrequiredtomeetourtargetincreases.As

canbeobservedbelow,demand-sidemeasures

ontheirownarenotcurrentlyestimatedasbeing

sufficienttoreachourtarget.Improvementson

thesupplyside,includingimprovedefficiencyof

electricitygeneration,willberequiredtorealiseour

2020target.

Public Sector Target: Energy Savings Achieved and Projected

Abreakdownofenergysavingsachievedtothe

endof2010,andexpectedto2020,inthepublic

sectorisprovidedinTable4below.Whensavings

duetoimprovedefficiencyofthepublictransport

fleetaretakenintoaccount,measuresdeliveredto

dateaccountforaround18%ofthepublicsector

energysavingstargetof3,240GWh.

Realisingenergyefficienciesinthepublicsector

isoneofthekeyactionsunderpinningthisAction

Plan.Notonlywilltheachievementofthe33%

targetmakeasubstantialcontributiontotheoverall

20%target,itwillalsogreatlyreducethecostof

runningthepublicservice.Asoutlinedabove,a

Table 4: Achieved and expected savings in the public sector


2010 2016 2020 2010 2016 2020

PublicSectorProgramme 75 645 1,255 17 149 281

GreenPublicProcurement(viaACA) 25 155 285 5 33 59

SEEEPandEERF(publicsector) 90 90 90 21 20 20

PublicSectorBuildingDemonstration

Programme

140 140 140 33 32 31

CHP(publicsector) 120 160 185 29 38 45

ReHeat(publicsector) 110 125 125 26 30 30

BetterEnergy(publicsector) 0 500 1,000 0 114 223

Publictransportefficiency 90 160 160 23 40 40

Total 650 1,975 3,240 155 455 730


numberofprogrammesandgrantschemesare

inplacetosupportthedeliveryofthepublic-

sectortarget,centraltowhichisthemonitoring

andverificationsystemthatwaspilotedin2011

andwasrolledoutin2012.Theestablishmentof

adedicatedprogrammeofsupportsforpublic-

sectorbodiestosupportachievementofthe

remainderofthetargetisfurtheroutlinedinthe

public-sectorchapterofthisplan.

Itshouldbenotedthatthemixofmeasuresoutlined

aboveissubjecttochangebetweennowand

2020,andrepresentsonepossiblecombinationof

measuresthatmightbesufficienttoreachourgoal.

Astheprioritiesofanevolvingeconomychange

orasnewtechnologiesbecomeavailable,for

example,betweennowand2020,somemeasures

willbephasedoutandnewonesintroducedto

taketheirplace.

CO2 Targets: Emissions Avoided and ExpectedAnancillarybenefitofenergyefficiencysavings

istheavoidedCO2emissions,estimatedatover

2mtonnesin2010and5mtonnesin2016.Ifthefull

20%efficiencytargetisachievedin2020,totalCO2

emissionssavingsof7.7mtonnesareestimated.This

reductionisequivalenttoemissionsfromaround1m

homesor3.5mpassengercarsby2020.

Figure 7: Relationship between economic growth (GDP) and energy demand (Total Primary Energy

Requirement) and energy-related CO2 emissions

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

260

2008 2009 2010

280

300

GDP (CSO) TPER

Energy CO2


Challenge of Realising Savings AmbitionsMuchoftheambitionforfuturesavingsis

accountedforwithinthebuildingsectors;broad-

scaleretrofit(viaBetterEnergy)andongoing

improvementstoBuildingRegulationsarerequired

todeliverontargets.Anongoingfocusonlarge

industryisrequired,togetherwithmaintenance

oftaxincentivesforenergyefficiencyproducts

inthetertiarysector.Promotionofsustainable

energymanagementinlargeenergy-using

public-sectorentitieswillalsoplayamajorrolein

futureachievements.Greenpublicprocurement

representsafurtheropportunityforefficiencygains

inthesector.Improvedefficiencyofpassenger

vehiclesandtaxationmeasureswilldrivefuture

transportsavings.

Energydemandishistoricallycoupledtoeconomic

growth.Inotherwords,astheeconomygrows,

energydemandtraditionallyincreasesalso.

However,inrecentyearsdemandandgrowthare

progressivelybeingdecoupledduetogreater

efficienciesandreducedeconomicoutput.With

reducedeconomicactivity(sincethebeginning

oftherecessionin2007),energydemandhasalso

declined.However,onthebasisthatourenergy

savingstargetsarecalculatedasafixedamountof

energysavingsin2016and2020(basedonhistoric

energydemandovertheperiod2001to2005),this

reductiondoesnotcontributetoourtargets.Only

actionstakenexplicitlybyhouseholders,businesses

andtheGovernmenttoimprovetheratio between

an output of performance, service, goods or

energy, and an input of energy count as an energy

savinginthecontextofourtargets.

Achievingthetargetsisthusmorechallengingthan

ever.Theeconomicdownturnhasputadditional

pressureonlargeandsmallbusinesses,andon

householders,reducingtheirabilitytoself-finance

energyefficiencyimprovementsandlimiting

theiraccesstocapital.TheroleforGovernment

tofacilitateandencourageinvestmentand

demonstratethebenefitsofinvestmentinenergy

efficiencyismoreimportantthanever.



37Chapter03—ThePublicSector

Chapter 03The Public Sector

2020 Vision

Thepublicsectorwillimproveitsenergyefficiency

by33%andwillbeseentoleadbyexample–

showingallsectorswhatispossiblethroughstrong,

committedaction.

Achieving the Vision• Centraladviceandmonitoringserviceswill

beestablishedtosupportpublicbodiesto

structuretheireffortsbyincorporatingenergy

managementintotheircultureanddecision-

makingprocesses.

• Publicprocurementguidelineswillbedeveloped

toencourageconsiderationofenergyefficiency

acrossallpublicprocurement.

• Public-sectorexperienceswillbeusedto

publiciseinnovationsandactionsthatothers

cantaketoimprovetheirefficiency.

• Energymonitoring,reportingandverificationwill

beembeddedinthepublicbodies’cultureand

businessprocesses.

Introduction

Thepublicsector’sannualenergyspend

amountstosome€500million.Thisconsiderable

purchasingpowercanbeleveragedtopromote

themarkettoprovideenergy-efficientgoods

andservices.TheSEAI’sexperienceisthatproven

managementandtechnologysolutionscan

deliversubstantialsavingsinenergyuse.Thiscan

releasevaluablefundswheretheyareneeded:

fordeliveringpublicservices.

Ifapproachedsystematically,thepublicsector

canactasanearlyuserandpioneerofnewand

efficienttechnologies,therebydemonstratingtheir

feasibilitytotheprivatesector.

Furthermore,infulfillingitsexemplarrole,thepublic

sectorsendsaveryimportantleadershipsignal.By

demonstratingitscommitmenttoexcellentenergy

performance,thesectorcanprovideconfidence

toothersinthemarketthatthereisanexcitingand

profitablefuturefortechnologiesandservicesthat

emphasiseenergyefficiency.Althoughthepublic

sectorconsistsofadiversesetofinstitutionsand

activities,withequallydiversepatternsofenergy

use,effectiveenergymanagementisthecommon

goalformakingvaluableenergysavingsintheshort

term,forsustainingthosesavingsovertimeandfor

achievingtheambitious2020target.

Goodenergymanagementpracticesprovidea

frameworkforsuccessbyhelpingpublicbodies

togetorganised.Acriticalenableristosecure

senior-levelmanagementcommitmenttomotivate

behaviouralchangeinstaff.Aboveall,embedding

soundenergymanagementstructuresfacilitates

gooddecision-makingonfourkeyaspectsof

energyefficiency:designing,procuring,and

operatingandmaintainingbuildings,equipment,

vehiclesandinfrastructure.


Thebestavailabledataforthepublicsectoris

derivedfromservices-sectordata,whichisset

outintheNationalEnergyBalance22(produced

annuallybytheEnergyPolicyStatisticalSupportUnit

intheSEAI).Totalservices-sectorenergydemandis

calculatedasaresidualfollowingdeterminationof

thefinalenergyuseintheindustrial,residentialand

transportsectors.Theservicessectorconsumption

isthensplitbetweenpublic-sectorandcommercial

services,basedonanestimatedratio.The2010

energybalanceattributes645ktoe(7,500GWh)

totalfinalconsumptiontothepublicsector.Thisis

equivalentto11,380GWhinprimaryenergyterms.

22 http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Statistics_Publications/

Energy_in_Ireland/Energy_in_Ireland_1990-2009.pdf

TheSEAIandtheDepartmentinitiatedathree-year

projecttoestablisharobustmonitoringandreporting

system.Thishasenabledpublicbodiestoreporton

theirenergyconsumptionsince2011(inaccordance

withtheirreportingobligationsunderS.I.542of

2009).Todatealmost28,300MeterPointReference

Numbers(MPRNs)andnearly2,400uniqueGas

PointRegistrationNumbers(GPRNs)havebeen

collatedintoasingleNationalPublicSectorEnergy

Database.23Theaggregateelectricityconsumption

throughtheMPRNsinthedatabaseamountedto

approximately4,400GWhin2010(TPER),whilefor

gastheaggregateenergyconsumptionamounted

toabout1,500GWhin2010(TPER).

23 AnMPRNisaMeterPointReferenceNumberwhichisaunique

numberassignedtoeverysingleelectricityconnectionand

meterinthecountry.AGPRNisaGasPointRegistration

Numberwhichisauniquereferencenumberassignedto

everygaspointonthenatural-gasnetwork.

Figure 8: Energy usage in the public services sector

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0

0.020

0.080

0.120

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2007 20092006 2008 20102002

0.060

0.100

0.040

0.7

Public Services Final Energy Usage

Mto

e

kgo

e/€

(co

nst

an

t)

Public Services Final Energy Intensity


Themainpublicsectorenergyconsumersare:

• Public-sectorbuildings,whichprimarilyconsume

electricity,naturalgasandoil-basedfuelsas

wellassmalleramountsofrenewableandsolid

fuels.Theseincludeoffices,hospitals,clinics,

nursinghomes,schools,prisons,barracksand

gardastations.Altogether,thereareover10,000

public-sectorbuildings,about2,100ofwhichare

managedbytheOfficeofPublicWorks(OPW).

• Utilities,whichprimarilyconsumeelectricity

–e.g.localauthoritywaterservicesfacilities,

streetlighting.

• Publictransportfleets,whichprimarilyconsume

diesel,gasolineandelectricity–e.g.Iarnród

Éireann,BusÉireann.

• Othertransportfleets,whichprimarilyconsume

dieselandgasoline–e.g.ambulances,local

authorityvehicles,DefenceForcesvehicles.

The33%targetappliestoallenergyconsumed

bypublicbodies,includingenergysourcedfrom

electricity,fossilfuels,renewables,transportfuels

andfuelsusedforplantandmachinery.

ONGOING NEEAP 1 ACTIONS

Public Sector Programme

TheSEAI’sPublicSectorProgrammewasestablished

in2009toprovidearangeofintegratedsupports

tohelppublic-sectororganisationsrealisevaluable

energysavingsandworktowardsthe33%target.

Thefocusoftheprogrammeistounderpinpublic

bodies’owneffortsinreachingthetargetby

embeddinganenergymanagementcultureinthe

publicsector.

1. We are supporting public-sector bodies through the Energy Partnership programme.

Previous NEEAP action text: We will establish a high-

level Working Group to draw up an Action Plan for

achievement of the 33% energy savings target for

the public sector.24

TheSEAIPartnershipProgrammehelpspublic-

sectorbodiestoworktowardsthe33%target,while

savingmoney,improvingtheenvironmentand

meetingnationalobligations,byreducingtheir

energyusage.Itengagesatseniormanagement

levelinorganisationsandprovidestailoredsupport,

deliveredinpartnershipwiththoseorganisations

thatdemonstratecommitmenttostrategicenergy

management.

InNovember2010,agroupof14leadingpublic

bodiescommittedtotheSEAI’sEnergyPartnership

initiativetodelivertotalcumulativeenergysavings

of€330millionby2020.Thisinitialgroup,whichhave

acombinedannualenergyspendinexcessof€200

million,isexpectedtobejoinedbyotherpublic

bodiesacrossthesector,committingtosimilar

energysavingsbyimplementingenergyefficiency

measures.

24 Whereappropriatewehaveupdatedthetextofexisting

actionsasnecessarytoreflectpolicydevelopments.Thetext

initalicsisfromthefirstNEEAP.


Case Study: The bulk of Bus Éireann’s annual

energy consumption is the fuel used by its

vehicle fleet (over 30m litres of diesel per annum).

This provides the greatest potential for energy

saving, so Bus Éireann and the SEAI have been

working together through the Energy Partnership

Programme to develop an eco-driving training

programme. ECO-driving trials with drivers from

Bus Éireann’s Kells, Co. Meath depot in September

2009 demonstrated that savings are possible in

test conditions, and a programme was carried

out for the training of a further 245 drivers in 2010.

Bus Éireann is aiming for at least 5% savings in real

traffic and road conditions. Eco-driving will also

reduce the company’s emissions.

In addition, energy-efficient lighting was installed

in the Waterford and Broadstone garages, with

approximately 7% reductions in electricity bills.

Lighting upgrades are now planned for other

garages across the country.

2. We are facilitating and enabling the

exchange of energy efficiency best

practice between public-sector bodies at

local, national and international level.

Previous NEEAP action text: We will put in place

mechanisms to facilitate and enable the

exchange of energy efficiency best practice

between public-sector bodies at local, national

and international level.

Best Practice Energy AssessmentsSince2009,theSEAIhasprovidedfree,one-to-

oneadviceandmentoringtooverfourhundred

public-sectorfacilitiesthroughitsAdviceMentoring

&Assessmentsservice.Thisserviceisdeliveredby

expertenergyadvisorsthathelpandmotivate

theseorganisationstoassesstheirownenergyuse,

identifyopportunitiesforsavingsandtakeactionto

realisesavings.Todate,theparticipantpublic-sector

facilitieshaveachieved75GWhinannualsavings.

Best Practice Working Groups

InJune2009,theSEAIestablishedthreeenergy

efficiencyworkinggroupsinthefieldsofWater

Services,PublicLightingandInformation

CommunicationsTechnology.Eachworkinggroup

comprisedparticipantsfrombothcentralandlocal

governmentsaswellastheprivatesector.Thegoal

ofeachgroupistohelpsetpublicbodiesona

pathwaytodesigning,procuring,operatingand

maintainingrelevantenergyusersinanefficient

andeffectivemanner.Themainworkactivities

undertakenincludedtheassessmentofenergy

performanceineachsectorandtheidentificationof

opportunitiesforsavingsthathavewideapplicability

acrosseachsector.

Case Study: There are approximately 420,000

public lights in Ireland, ownership of the vast

majority of which resides with local authorities,

consuming about 205 GWh of energy annually.

Public lighting represents 15-35% of total energy

usage in a typical local authority.

The Public Lighting Working Group implemented

targeted work-streams to develop standard

solutions for the sector. The group also identified

best-practice projects already implemented and

considered the scope for replication.

The group concluded that there is much scope for

achieving valuable energy savings in the sector;

for poorly performing systems (of which there are

many), opportunities exist for up to 20-30% savings.

The primary source of opportunity lies in improving

the design and procurement of systems to integrate

new lighting and maintenance technologies.


The group developed a clear vision for energy

efficiency in public lighting and outlined a roadmap

for overcoming challenges and for setting local

authorities on the road to achieving the vision.

In2011,theSEAIestablishedanewworkinggroup

onFinancingRetrofitinthePublicSector.Thefocus

ofthisgroupistofacilitatethedevelopmentofa

marketforinnovativemodelsbasedontheconcepts

ofenergyperformancecontractingthrough

networkingandbest-practicesharing.

3. We are supporting the integration of Energy

Efficient Design into capital projects.

Previous NEEAP action text: We are supporting

exemplary design and energy management

practice by public sector organisations through SEI’s25

Public Sector Building Demonstration Programme.

Itpaystobothconsiderandintegrateenergy

efficiencyattheearlieststagepossibleincapital

projects.Since2009,theSEAIhasprovided

bespoke,one-to-oneadvicetopublicbodieson

integratingtheprinciplesofenergy-efficientdesign

(EED)inenergy-intensivecapitalprojects.EEDisa

methodologythatfacilitatesthedesign,construction

andmanagementofprojectssothattheyconsume

theminimumquantityofenergyduringsubsequent

operation.EEDisalwaysdrivenbyasound‘business

case’,i.e.iteitherlowersoverallprojectcapital

expenditureorhasaveryshortpaybackwhen

operationalsavingsareaccountedfor.

In2009and2010,theSEAIsupportedeightEEDreviews

forlargecapitalprojects,includingtheNational

PaediatricHospital,MetroNorth,anewschool

developmentandseveralwaterservicesfacilities.

25 NowtheSEAI.

Case Study: An energy-efficient design

review was carried out on the upgrade of the

wastewater treatment plant at Osberstown, Co.

Kildare. The detailed design of the plant was

largely complete, so the scope of the review was

limited to suggesting improvements to optimise

that design. The main element of the review

was a one-day workshop attended by the local

authority, the design consultants and an SEAI

EED expert.

Even with limited intervention, the EED review

identified a package of annual energy savings

of the order of €177,000, with an estimated

investment cost of €193,000. Over 20 years, the

package will deliver an estimated €3.5 million

worth of savings. The same approach is currently

being rolled out for other proposed projects in

Kildare County Council.

4. We are providing funding support for Energy

Efficiency Projects in the public sector.

Previous NEEAP action text: We will introduce energy

efficiency programmes for Government Departments,

State Agencies, Local Authorities, the Health Service

and all other areas of the public sector.

Beginningin2008withtheSupportforExemplary

EnergyEfficiencyProjects(SEEEP),followedbythe

EnergyEfficiencyRetrofitFund(EERF)andmore

recentlytheBetterEnergyWorkplaces(BEW)

Scheme,theStateisprovidingExchequersupport

forthepublicsectortoundertakeenergyefficiency

measures.In2011the85projectsfundedunderBEW

delivered€11millioninenergysavings,withaone-

yearpaybackontheState’sinvestment.

5. We are working together with Local Authorities

to reduce their energy consumption.

Previous NEEAP action text: We are localising the

delivery of energy efficiency measures through the

Local Energy Agencies.


Altogether,localauthoritiesspendabout€110million

annuallyonenergy,mostofwhichisconsumed

bywaterservicesfacilitiesandpubliclighting.

Incooperationwithlocalenergyagencies,and

withsupportfromtheCountyandCityManagers

Association(CCMA),theWaterServicesNational

TrainingGroup(WSNTG),theDepartmentof

Environment,Community&LocalGovernmentand

theSEAI,manylocalauthoritieshavesetoutonthe

pathtoachievingsubstantialenergysavingsby2020.

Since2009,theSEAIhasworkedwithovertwenty

localauthoritiesthroughitsworkinggroupsand

suiteofpublic-sectorsupportofferings.Ina2011

surveyofenergymanagementinlocalauthorities

undertakenbytheCCMAinconjunctionwith

theSEAIandtheWSNTG,atotalof384energy-

savinginitiativeswerereportedashavingbeen

implementedsince2008–withestimated

combinedsavingsof€5.4millionperannum.

6. We have developed a framework for energy-

efficient public procurement.

Previous NEEAP action text: We will introduce

Guidelines for Green Public Procurement.

Better Procurement

National Procurement Service Framework Contracts

TheNationalProcurementService(NPS)provides

acentralprocurementserviceforgovernment

departments,localauthoritiesandagencies.It

placescontractsforavarietyofgoods,suppliesand

services,includingelectricity,naturalgas,petroleum

productsandbiofuels.

TheNPShasestablishedaframeworkagreementto

facilitatethepurchaseofelectricityforthepublic

service.Theoverallpotentialvalueoftheelectricity

frameworkis€920millionoverthefour-yearperiod

ofthecontract.Itspecifiestheproportionof

electricityrequiredtobegeneratedfromrenewable

sources.Theseproportionsfollowthenationalpolicy

requirements,whichstipulatethattheannualtarget

tobeachievedin2011is24.6%,risingto40%in2020.

ByApril2012theNPShadsuccessfullyrun

aggregatedcompetitionsforthesupplyof

electricitytocentralgovernment,vocational

educationcommittees(VECs),localgovernment

anduniversities.ThroughthesecompetitionstheNPS

hasexceededthenationalpolicyannualtargets

intheareaofrenewablesources.Anassociated

projectwithDCENRandSEAIhasenabledtheNPS

tocontributealargeamountofenergydatato

whatmaybecomethefirstpublic-servicenational

energydatabase.

Inallotherframeworksorcontractsestablishedby

theNPS,fullcognisanceistakenfirstofanynational

policythatneedstoorcanbegiveneffectthrough

theprocurementprocess.Asrequired,appropriate

specificationsarewrittentoensurethattheoutput

oftheresultantcontractcomplieswiththenational

targetsandguidelines.

Framework for Energy Efficient Procurement

InJanuary2012theGovernmentlaunched

Green Tenders – An Action Plan for Green Public

Procurement withaviewtoassistingpublic

authoritiestosuccessfullyplanandimplement

greenpublicprocurement(GPP)byhighlighting

existingbestpracticeandoutliningfurtheractions

tobetakentoboostgreenpublicprocurement.

Chapter7ofGreenTendersfocusesontheenergy

sector.TheroleofthepublicsectorinGPPcan

beanimportantelementindrivingtheenergy

efficiencyagendainthewidercontextofclimate

changeandenergypolicy.

Energy-efficientprocurementisbetterprocurement

becauseitresultsinfinancialsavingsoverthe

usefullifeoftheproduct,aswellasenvironmental


savings.TheEuropeanCommunities(EnergyEnd-use


requirepublicbodiestofulfilanexemplaryrolewith

regardtoenergyefficiency.Morespecifically,the

EU(EnergyEfficientPublicProcurement)Regulations

2011obligepublicbodiestoonlypurchase

equipmentfromtheTripleERegisterofenergy-

efficientequipment.

Publicprocurementshouldtakeenergyefficiency

intoaccountsoastohelpIreland’spublicsectorto

meetthe33%energyefficiencyimprovementtarget

for2020undertheNEEAP.

TheSEAI,DECLGandDCENRhavedeveloped

athree-partframeworkforenergy-efficient

procurement,whichispresentedinChapter7of

Green Tenders – An Action Plan for Green Public

Procurement.Theframeworkhelpspublicbodies

toundertakeenergy-efficientprocurementby

improvingwhattheyprocureandhowtheyprocure.

Energy-efficientprocurementnotonlyreduces

energyconsumptionanddeliversenvironmental

benefits,italsosavesmoney.Eachpartofthe

frameworkaddressesoneofthefollowingthree

broadcategoriesofpurchases:

• Energy-usingproducts–e.g.purchasingor

leasingequipment,vehiclesorbuildings,

implementedinlegislationbyS.I.151of2011.

• Energyservices:procuringaservicedirectly

relatedtotheuseofenergy–e.g.designand

implementationofenergy-efficiencyretrofit

worksoranonsitepowergenerationsolution,

provisionoflocallygeneratedenergysupplies.

• Capitalprojects–e.g.constructinganew

building,wastewaterplantorhospital.

NEW ACTIONS

Wehaveestablishedaframeworktoachievethe

visionsetoutandtofullyembedenergyefficiency

inthepublicsector,assistingitinachievingthe

33%targetandfulfillingrelatedobligations.This

frameworkwillenablepublicbodiestotakestrong,

committedaction.

Legislation

7. We have introduced several important pieces of

legislation to promote energy efficiency in the

public sector

• TheEuropeanCommunities(EnergyEnd-Use


(S.I.No.542of2009)transposeDirective2006/32/

ECintoIrishlaw.Theregulationssetoutseveral

obligationsonpublicbodieswithrespecttotheir

exemplaryroleinenergyefficiency,puttingin

placeobligationsandstandardsforenergy-

efficientprocurement,energymanagement

practices,energyaudits,theuseofenergy-

efficientbuildingsandannualreportingonthe

actionsbeingtakentoimproveenergyefficiency.

• TheEuropeanUnion(EnergyEfficientPublic

Procurement)Regulations2011(S.I.No.151of2011)

amendtheenergy-efficientpublicprocurement

provisionsofS.I.No.542of2009.Thenew

regulationsincludeanobligationonpublicbodies

toonlypurchaseorleaseequipmentorvehicles

thatmeettheenergyefficiencycriteriapublished

bytheSEAIforrelevantproductcategoriesonthe

TripleERegisterofenergy-efficientequipment.

• TheTripleERegisterisabenchmarklistof‘bestin

class’energy-efficientproducts,managedbythe

SEAI.Typically,TripleEproductsare10-15%more

energy-efficientthanstandardalternativesand

havereducedenergyrunningcosts.Onalifecycle

basis,theycanachievesignificantenergysavings.


• TheEuropeanCommunities(Renewable

Energy)Regulations2011(S.I.No.147of2011)

transposeDirective2009/28/ECintoIrishlaw.

Theseregulationsrequirepublicbodiestofulfil

anexemplaryroleinthecontextofthedirective,

whenconstructingorrenovatingpublicbuildings.

8. The OPW will continue to operate the Optimising

Power @ Work programme in support of public-

sector energy savings targets.

Thestate-wideenergyconservationcampaigntitled

OptimisingPower@Work(Phase1)waslaunchedin

January2008andranuntilMay2010.Phase2began

inJune2010andisexpectedtoconcludein2013.

TheaimofPhase1wastoachieveareductionof

15%intotalannualCO2emissionsineachofabout

250large(>1000m2)buildingslocatedthroughoutthe

country,whichareowned/leasedbytheOPWfor

usebygovernmentdepartmentsandagencies.The

mainfocusoftheprojectwastheimplementation

ofanintensivestaffenergyawarenesscampaignin

eachbuilding,atthesametimeensuringthatthe

buildingswerebeingoperatedinthemostefficient

mannerpossiblewithrespecttoallenergy-consuming

processes,whilemaintainingorimprovingcomfort

conditions.Theprojectalsoincludedbasicenergy

auditsofthebuildings.

Phase1oftheinitiativedeliveredaveragetotal

savingsofapproximately12.0%inCO2emissions.The

reportedsavingsarecalculatedagainstabenchmark

year,whichformostbuildingswas2007(theyearprior

tocommencementofthecampaign).

Oneofthemainfactorsthatinfluencedthelevelof

savingsachievedinaparticularbuildingwasthe

levelofstaffengagement.Thegraphbelowshows

theaverageCO2savingsachievedforthevarious

categoriesofengagement:

Itisinterestingtonotethatbuildingsthatdidnot

participateinthecampaigninPhase1(butwhere

monitoringhadbeeninstalled)increasedtheir

Figure 9: Average CO2 savings related to extent of engagement

Excellent -19% Good -12% Fair -2% Not Participating 11%

-20%

-15%

-10%

-5%

0

5%

10%

15%

Ene

rgy

Savi

ng

s (G

Wh

PEE

)

Excellent Good Fair NotParticipating


emissionsonaverageby11%overthe2yearperiod

ofPhase1.

Itisessentialthatthesavingsalreadyachieved

bemaintained;experienceshowsthatwithout

interventionthebuildingswillquicklyreverttotheir

pre-campaignconsumptionlevels.Phase2of

[email protected]

mainaimsofPhase2aretoachieve:

1 20%averagesavinginCO2emissionsacross

the250buildingsinthecampaign.

2 Minimumsavingof15%inCO2emissionsin

eachbuilding–i.e.thosebuildingsthatdid

notachievea15%savinginPhase1willbe

intensivelytargetedinPhase2toimprove

theirperformance.

3 5%furtherreductioninCO2emissionsin

buildingsthathavealreadyachieved(in

Phase1)inexcessofthe20%target.

ThenextphaseoftheOPWcampaignwillbeto

targetsmallerbuildingswithfloorareasbetween

500m2and1000m2.Energy-loggingequipmentwill

firstbeinstalledinthese.Anumberofpilotstudies

willthenbeconductedtoascertainthescopefor

savingsandthemosteffectivemeasuresthatcanbe

undertaken.

Inthelongerterm,buildingsintheportfoliowithfloor

areasof<500m2willbetargeted.Itisunlikelythat

theenergyspendinthesewilljustifytheinstallation

ofdedicatedenergymonitoringequipment,so

atailoredenergyinformationcampaignwillbe

designedforthese.

9. The Department of Education and Skills will

continue to improve the energy efficiency of

existing schools and construct highly efficient

school buildings.

TheDepartmentofEducationandSkillsisatthe

forefrontofdesignwithrespecttosustainableenergy

efficiencyinschoolbuildings.Thisperformancehas

beenrecognisedatbothnationalandinternational

leveloverthepastfifteenyearswithsustainable

energyawardsforexcellenceindesignand

specification.

TheDepartment’sTechnicalGuidanceDocument

(TGD)setsthebenchmarkforsustainabledesign

inschoolbuildings,withaclearfocusonenergy

efficiency.Thisapproachissupportedbyastrong

researchprogramme,with39researchprojectsat

variousstages.

TheDepartmentisconstructingtwoschoolstothe

passivehousestandard–theworld’sleadinglow-

energybuildingstandard.Feedbackfromthetwo

schoolswillinformfutureschooldesignandidentify

theoptimumlevelofpassivedesignopportunities

forincorporationinIrishschooldesignstandards.All

primaryschools(first-level)builtinaccordancewith

theTGDarecapableofachievinganA3Building

EnergyRating(BER)andallpost-primaryschools

(second-level)arecapableofachievingaB1BER.

Inadditionto56majorschoolbuildingprojects

underwayin2012,theMinisterforEducationandSkills

hasannounceddetailsof219majorschoolbuilding

projectswhichwillbeginoverthenextfiveyears,as

partofa€2billioncapitalinvestmentprogramme.

TheSEAIandtheDepartmentaredevelopinga

numberofstrategicprojectswiththeaimofhelping

schoolstoreduceenergycostsandthusconcentrate

moreresourcesontheircorefunction–delivering

education.Theseincludeprojectsto:


• Stimulatethemarketfordeepenergyefficiency

retrofitprojectsincohortsofschoolsusing

innovativeprocurementmodels(e.g.energy

performancecontracting,ESCos)–withapilot

projecttocommencein2012/2013.

• Developapackageofsupportsandanonline

energyadviceportalforschools–www.

energyineducation.ie

• Exploreonapilotbasisameteringanddisplay

programmeforschoolenergyandwater

consumptionmonitoring.

Organising for Success

Achievingthe33%targetby2020willinvolvemore

thansimplypickingthe‘low-hangingfruit’.Itwill

requireimplementingacoherentstrategyforchange

sothatpublicbodiescantackletheenergyefficiency

challengethroughcomprehensiveorganisation-wide

effort.Tofacilitatethis,organisingforsuccessinthe

frameworkisabouthelpingpublicbodiestostructure

theireffortsbyincorporatingenergymanagement

intotheircultureanddecision-makingprocesses.

10. We will develop a suite of integrated

programmes and supports to assist public

bodies to comply with their obligations, meet

national targets and achieve significant energy

and cost savings.

Theseprogrammeswillbuildonthelessonslearned

throughtheSEAI’sPublicSectorProgrammeand

expandthevaluablerelationshipsalreadyin

placebetweentheSEAIandotherpublic-sector

stakeholders.ThroughtheSEAI,wewilldevelop

partnershipswithmorepublic-sectororganisationsto

fosterlong-termcommitmenttoenergymanagement

andplanning.

TheSEAIwillalsoworkwithstrategicstakeholdersto

developbespokeenergymanagementstructures

andsupportprogrammesforspecificsub-sectors

–e.g.forlocalauthorities(incooperationwith

theCounty&CityManagersAssociation,the

WaterServicesNationalTrainingGroup,theLocal

GovernmentManagementServicesBoard,local

energyagenciesandtheDECLG),forschools(in

partnershipwiththeDepartmentofEducation&

Skills)andforpublicbuildings(withtheOfficeof

PublicWorks).

11. We will introduce an obligation on all public

bodies to develop and implement energy

management programmes appropriate for their

organisations.

Aspartoftheseprogrammes,allpublicbodieswillbe

requiredtoestablishandimplementannualaction

planstomakeincrementalprogressyear-on-year,

andtoidentifyandprioritiselonger-terminitiativesto

achievetransformationalchange.

12. We will also introduce obligations on public

bodies that spend more than €5 million

annually on energy to fulfil an exemplar role in

energy management by:

• Publishing3-yearenergyefficiencystrategies.

• Formallysettingenergyefficiencyobjectivesand

targetsandreportingonprogressagainstthemin

theirannualreports.

• ImplementingtheISO50001Energy

ManagementSystem.

13. We will introduce an obligation on public-sector

bodies to invite proposals from the market for

energy-saving solutions where the public body

has an annual energy bill equal to or greater

than €500,000.


14. We will encourage the development of industry

representative groups.

Theprivatesectorcanplayanimportantrolein

enablingthepublicsectortoachieveourtargets.The

SEAIwillsupportthedevelopmentofrepresentative

groupsandwillpartnerwiththemtoovercome

marketbarriers,todevelopapproachesformaking

bestuseofprivate-sectorresourcesandcapabilities,

andtodriveactionontheground.

Best Practices and Innovation

Ourframeworkofactionsinvolvestheidentification,

promotionandimplementationofappropriatebest

practicesforpublicbodies.Wewilldevelopasuite

ofinformationresourcesbasedoninternationalbest

practicesandonthelessonslearnedfromnotable

localsuccessstories.Wewillfacilitatethetransferof

thisknowledgetopublicbodiestoempowerthemto

takeaction.

15. We will build on the success of the three working

groups set up by the SEAI to address energy

efficiency in Water Services, Public Lighting

and ICT by establishing new working groups to

tackle the technological, organisational and

cultural barriers to better energy performance in

specific technology / end-user segments.

Akeyaspectofthesuccessoftheworkinggroupswill

beinrequiringthatallpubliclightingisefficientand

effective,withlowestwhole-lifecost.Aprogramme

ofreplacementofinefficientstreetandtrafficlighting

willbedeveloped,involvinglocalauthorities.Wewill

requirethatallwaterandwastewaterfacilitateswillbe

designed,procured,operatedandmaintainedinan

efficientandeffectivemanner.

16. We will provide independent expert energy

advisors to undertake enhanced energy

assessments at specific public sector facilities

– to assist public bodies in identifying, targeting

and achieving large-scale energy savings. This

will help them to unlock the valuable energy

savings potential that exists at their facilities by

identifying the business case for action.

17. We will introduce an obligation on public

bodies that are contracting the development

of capital projects with projected energy

consumption in excess of 1 GWh per annum

to formally integrate the principles of energy-

efficient design in the project development

phase. Public bodies must adhere to the overall

appraisal principles and requirements of the

new Public Spending Code in the first instance.26

Thiswillhelptointegratebestpracticesinprojects

fromtheoutsetandminimisethelife-cycleenergy

intensityofthesedevelopments.Itwillsavemoney

byreducingbothcapitalcosts(e.g.forutilitiesand

processes)andoperationalenergyconsumption.

18. We will work together to overcome barriers to

the deployment of innovative solutions and

will disseminate lessons learned to all market

participants.

TheSEAIwillcooperatewithotherstateagencies,

suchasForfásandEnterpriseIreland,andother

stakeholderstoestablishthepublicsectorasa

demonstration‘testbed’totrialinnovativeenergy-

efficienttechnologiesandservices.

19. We are facilitating the sharing and exchange of

information on energy management between

public bodies.

26 ThePublicSpendingCodeisavailableat:www.

publicspendingcode.per.gov.ie


ThePublicSectorEnergyLink,launchedinMay

2011,isanetworkforsharingandexchanging

information,knowledgeandreal-lifeexperience

onenergymanagementinthepublicsector.The

networkingtakeplacesbothonlineandthrougha

seriesofworkshopsontopicsofinteresttomembers.

AdministeredbySEAI,ithelpspublic-sector

professionalstogetanswersandsolveproblems

throughsharingandexchangingknowledgeand

experienceonenergymanagementwiththeirpeers

inotherpublicbodies.

Wewillcontinuetodevelopahigh-levelworking

groupforpublic-bodyleadersandmanagerstoliaise

andnetworkwithpolicymakers.Theobjectivesof

thisgroupwillbetoovercomepracticalbarriersand

shareexperiencesamongseniormanagementand

officials.

20. We will work with public bodies to fulfil their

exemplar role with respect to building energy

efficiency by:

• Developinganinventoryofpublic-sectorbuildings

bytheendof2013.

• Assistingpublicagenciestoimprovethe

operationalBuildingEnergyRatingsoftheir

buildingstoB3(orbetter)byJanuary2012andto

A3(orbetter)byJanuary2015.

• Encouragingtheretrofitofupto3%ofcentral

Governmentbuildingseachyear.

• Requiringthateachrefurbishmentbringthe

building(s)uptotheenergyperformancelevelof

thebest10%ofthenationalbuildingstock.

• RequiringthatDisplayEnergyCertificatesbe

prominentlydisplayedinallbuildingsthatare

occupiedbypublicbodiesandwhichhavetotal

usefulfloorareasover500m2.

• ReducingtheusefulfloorareathresholdforDisplay

EnergyCertificatesto250m2forallbuildings

occupiedbypublicbodiesfrom9July2015.

• Requiringthatallnewbuildingsoccupiedor

ownedbypublicbodiesfrom31December2018

benearlyzero-energybuildings.27

Procurement and Funding

Itisessentialtofullyintegrateenergyefficiencyin

allpublicprocurementprocesses–byimproving

whatpublicbodiesprocureandhowtheyprocure.

Achievingthisobjectivewillrequireinnovationinterms

ofhowenergysavingprojectsarefinanced.

21. The SEAI will develop materials and training to

improve competence with respect to energy-

efficient procurement in public bodies.

Wewilldevelopnationalguidelines,practical

procurementtemplatesandmodelformsofcontract

tohelppublicbodieswiththeenergy-efficient

procurementofgoods,servicesandcapitalprojects.

Theseresourceswillassistpublicbodiestoalign

contractualarrangementswithbestpracticesin

energymanagement,andwillbeconsistentwiththe

energyprocurementguidancesetoutintheGreen

PublicProcurementActionPlan.

22. We will investigate options for the provision of

private and public finance for energy efficiency

projects through innovative project-based

financing arrangements.

ThroughtheworkinggrouponFinancingRetrofitinthe

PublicSector,wewillworktoidentifyandovercome

thebarriersthathavelimitedtheuse(todate)of

innovativeprocurementmodelsbasedonthe

conceptsofenergyperformancecontracting.Such

27 Anearlyzero-energybuildingisabuildingthathasaveryhigh

energyperformancewhendeterminedinaccordancewith

AnnexIofDirective2010/31/EU.


modelscanfacilitaterisk-sharingbetweentheprivate

andpublicsectorsandreduceoreliminatetheneed

forupfrontinvestmentbythepublicsectorindeep

energyefficiencyretrofitprojects.

Measurement and Verification

Oneofthecore/centralelementsofouraction

frameworkistheembeddingofenergymonitoring,

reportingandverificationinpublicbodies’culture

andbusinessprocesses.

23. We will develop an energy monitoring and

reporting system to satisfy the reporting

requirements of both S.I. 542 of 2009 and

the NEEAP, and to facilitate public bodies in

reporting on energy efficiency in their annual

reports.

Thissystemwillalsohelptoinformthedevelopment

ofnationalpolicyandprogrammes,facilitatethe

generationofnationalstatistics,provideinputsfor

thepreparationofreportsinfulfilmentofIreland’s

internationalreportingobligations,andfacilitate

thedevelopmentoftheenergyservicesmarket.It

willalsobeausefultoolfortheSEAItoevaluateits

public-sectorprogrammeofferings.Themonitoring

andreportingsystemwillbeimplementedinphases

to2013.

Wewillpublishareportonenergyconsumptioninthe

publicsectorin2013,andannuallythereafter.

24. To achieve this, we will investigate and,

where appropriate, develop and implement

a methodology to formally assign robust and

transparent energy-saving targets (by 2020) on

an organisational, sub-sectoral or technology

basis within the public sector.

The2020targetisambitiousanddeliveringallof

therequiredsavingswillbechallengingtoachieve

formanyorganisations.Therefore,itisimperative

thatindividualpublicbodiesaremotivatedtowork

towardsclearlydefinedtargets.Thisactionwill

challengethosesegmentsofthepublicservicewith

thegreatestpotentialtosaveenergytomakethe

mostsignificantcontributionstotheoveralltarget.

Wewillidentifyappropriateproject-levelverification

protocolsandpromotetheirusebypublicbodies

toverifyenergysavingswhenimplementingretrofit

projects.Thiswillhelptostimulatetheuptakeof

innovativeprocurementandfinancingarrangements

forretrofitprojectsinthesector.

Case Study: The Department of Communications,

Energy and Natural Resources and the SEAI have

established a monitoring and reporting project

team to deliver the system. Following a review of

international best practices in the field, the team

developed a detailed methodology for tracking

progress towards the 33% target.

• The web-based system will enable public

bodies to track their energy consumption,

energy performance (e.g. in terms of their

core activities using an appropriate energy

performance indicator) and progress towards

the 2020 target.

• It will add value for public-body users by

enabling them to better understand energy

consumption, target areas for improvement,

identify opportunities, review progress,

monitor & benchmark performance, and

validate savings. It will also stimulate senior

management in the public sector to fulfil an

exemplary role with respect to energy efficiency

by delivering pertinent information – and

value – through an attractive scorecard-based

metrics system.

• The system will use a baseline period of 2001-

2005, but accommodate other baselines in

the absence of this data. It will account for the

persistence rates of different energy savings

over time.


• It will accommodate the reporting of electricity,

thermal and fleet consumption in a manner

consistent with the fuel split used for national

reporting purposes by the SEAI EPSSU. Energy

consumption data for electricity and natural

gas will be inputted directly from the databases

operated by the regulated meter operators (ESB

MRSO and Bord Gáis Networks). Public bodies

will augment this automatic data-feed with self-

reported data for non-network-connected energy

consumption (e.g. oil, transport fuels, solid fuels).

• To minimise the data manipulation and reporting

burden on public bodies, the system will share

data with the Environmental Protection Agency’s

Carbon Management Tool and the National

Procurement Service’s energy procurement

systems. The system will also be capable of being

linked to a future Display Energy Certificates

system. The system will incorporate a verifiable

methodology for calculating energy savings that

is easily understood, workable and robust, that

can accommodate new entrants and can capture

changes in activity over time.

• It will facilitate the allocation of energy efficiency

targets.

In addition to developing the design concept for the

system, the project team has:

• Developed guidance materials for public bodies

describing their energy reporting obligations

(see www.seai.ie/Your_Business/Public_Sector/

Reporting/).

• Piloted the system with 18 public bodies, with a

combined annual energy spend of €119 million.

• Managed the submission and collation of over

30,000 unique public-sector electricity and natural-

gas meter numbers into a National Public Sector

Energy Database. These meter numbers have been

categorised according to end-use type, location

and public body, and then been submitted to the

regulated meter operators, who returned historical

consumption data associated with each.

• Developed a template and guidance materials

to enable public bodies to report on their energy

performance in their annual reports.

Beginning with the pilot phase and continuing over

the coming years, the system will generate better

energy consumption data for the sector. The 2011 pilot

exercise and initial data exchange with the meter

operators improved the quantity and quality of energy

consumption data available; the consumption data

gathered for 2010 accounted for 62% of the energy

consumption reported for ‘public services’ in the

National Energy Balance. The data returned indicated

a disparity in the magnitude of energy consumption

between different public bodies. For example:

• The 1% of MPRNs in the National Public Sector

Energy Database that consumed the most

electricity in 2010 (the ‘biggest’ MPRNs) accounted

for 51% of the reported electricity consumption.

• The ‘biggest’ 10% of MPRNs consumed 85% of the

reported electricity consumption in 2010.

• The 10 largest consuming public bodies consumed

48% of reported electricity consumption.

Significant data gaps exist and building a complete

and accurate consumption profile for the sector will

take several years.

The next step in the project is to procure a web-based

software solution to implement the system.



53Chapter04—EnergySupplySector

2020 Vision

TheIrishenergysectorwilldelivercompetitively

priced,low-carbonenergytoallcustomersand

assistthemtouseitasefficientlyaspossible.

Achieving the Vision• Userswillbeempoweredtomonitorand

regulateenergyusethroughtherolloutofsmart

meteringtechnology.

• Marketactorswillcontributetodemand-side

energysavingsthroughthedeliveryofenergy-

savingtargets.

• Competitionandchoicewillbepromoted

throughthedevelopmentoftheall-island

wholesaleenergymarketandthenationalgas

andelectricityretailmarkets.

Introduction

Theenergysupplysectorisofcriticalimportance

totheoverallachievementofthenational20%

target.Energyefficiencieswillberealisedfromthis

areaintwoways:thesupplysideandthedemand

side;botharenecessaryandofferstrongenergy

savingpotential.

Thegenerationofelectricityischaracterisedby

theuseofgas,withatrendinrecentyearsof

bringingintoproductionmoreenergy-efficient

combined-cyclegasturbines(CCGTs).These

changes,togetherwithvaluableimprovementsin

infrastructureand,mostrecently,theintroduction

ofincreasinggenerationfromwind,haveresulted

inanupwardefficiencytrendsincethelate1990s.

Despitetheseimprovementsandevenbytoday’s

standards,generationisrelativelyinefficient,with

significantlossesoccurringinconvertingprimary

energysources,suchasgas,oilorcoal,into

electricity.Typically,50%to65%oftheenergyofthe

Chapter 04Energy Supply Sector

Figure 10: Efficiency of electricity supply 1990–2010

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010


inputfuelislost.Afurther7.5%to8%islostthrough

transformers,overheadlinesandunderground

cablesintheelectricitytransmissionanddistribution

networks.Reducingtheselossesisapriorityofthis

ActionPlanandisanimportantpartofthenew

EnergyEfficiencyDirective.

Theenergysupplysectoriscontinuouslyevolving,

takingintoaccountchangesindemand,market

characteristicsandothersupply-sideconsiderations

suchastheavailabilityofprimaryfuels.Theeffect

ofthesechangeshasbeenagradualimprovement

intheefficiencyofelectricitygeneration,whichis

highlightedinFigure10onthepreviouspage.

Followinganextendedperiodofoveradecade

fromthelate1980sduringwhichtherewaslimited

investmentingridinfrastructure,improvements

insupply-sideefficiencytookplace.Thiswas

drivenbyshiftsfromoldpeatandcoal-fired

generationplant,withanefficiencyofaround30%

to35%,tomodernpeatplantwithanefficiency

ofaround40%,combined-cycleplantwithan

efficiencyofaround50%to55%,andincreased

windpenetration(100%).Othertechnologyand

operationalimprovements,suchasreduced

lossesintransformers,motorsandgenerators,

havealsocontributed,ashavereinforcementsof

thetransmissionanddistributionnetworks.28The

reducedefficiencyevidentin2010wasdueto

alowerthanaveragewindyear,leadingtoan

increasedproportionofgenerationfromCCGTin

lieuofwindgeneration.

ThecurrentgenerationcapacitymixinIreland

comprisessome30%new,efficientCCGT

generationcapacity;37%condensingsteamcycle

(mostlyolderplant);10%open-cyclegasturbine

28 Forexample,upgradingthe10kVdistributionsystemto20kV

hasmadeasignificantcontributiontoreducingdistribution

losses.

peakingplant;7%dispatchablehydro,andalmost

13%wind.Overthenextsevenyears,1,300MWof

olderplantwillpotentiallybereplacedbyabout

850MWofefficientCCGTandincreasedwind

capacity.

Thereisstillconsiderablescopeforincreasing

efficiencyfurtherinthegeneration,transmission

anddistributionofelectricity.TheAll-IslandGrid

studies,Grid25andtheFacilitationofRenewables

studiesareimportantstrategicdocumentsthat

identifytherangeofopportunitiesforimproved

energyefficiency,suchasthedeploymentofnew

technologies,reinforcementofgrid,replacing

assets,increaseduseoflocalgenerationand

theintroductionofimprovedload-management

regimes.Continuedimplementationofefficient

marketincentivesisapriorityoverthelifetimeofthis

ActionPlan.

Inorderfortheenergysupplysectorefficiencies

tobedelivered,allmarketparticipantswillneed

toworktogether,withtheCommissionforEnergy

Regulation(CER)havingaprominentroleinensuring

thesectorisconstantlychallengingitselftoreduce

unnecessaryenergyusage.Likewise,theintroduction

ofvoluntaryagreementsbyenergysupplierswill

placeanincreasedemphasisonenergysuppliers

valuingenergyservicesandnotjustenergysales.

Actionspromotingefficiencyofenergysupplyand

useforheatandtransportarecoveredintheother

sectoralchaptersandbyAction27below.



SincethepublicationofNEEAP1,anumberofkey

developmentsintheenergysectorhavetaken

placeinthefollowingareas.

All-Island Energy Market

25. We are promoting competition and choice

and continuing to developing the All-Island

Energy Market Development Framework

across a range of energy priorities, building

on the establishment in 2007 of the Single

Electricity Market, leading to a more efficient

supply sector.

Thekeyfactorininfluencingcorrectinvestment

decisionsisthatpricesatwhichenergyisbought

andsoldshouldappropriatelyreflectlongand

short-termcosts.TheAll-IslandEnergyMarket

DevelopmentFrameworkhastheoverallaimof

providingamorecompetitiveenergymarketof

betterscale,improvedsecurityofsupplyand

reducedenergycostsintheinterestofconsumers

bothNorthandSouth.LaunchingtheSingle

ElectricityMarket(SEM)inNovember2007wasa

majorstep.TheSEMisthewholesaleelectricity

marketoperatinginIrelandandNorthernIreland.

TheSEMprovidesforacompetitive,sustainableand

reliablewholesalemarketinelectricity,aimedat

deliveringlong-termeconomicandsocialbenefits

thataremutuallyadvantageoustoNorthern

IrelandandIreland.Themarketencompasses

approximately2.5millionelectricityconsumers–2.2

millioninIrelandand0.3millioninNorthernIreland.

TheSingleElectricityMarketOperator(SEMO)

facilitatesthecontinuousoperationand

administrationoftheSEM.TheSEMwillunderpin

capitalinvestmentdecisionsaffectinggeneration,

importandexportofelectricity,andthroughthat

investmentintransmissionanddistribution,leading

toamoreefficientsupplysector.

WeareworkingwithNorthernIrelandtoprogress

commonarrangementsforgasasanotherstrategic

goaloftheAll-IslandEnergyMarketDevelopment

Frameworkwhichwouldconstituteanimportant

steptowardsachievingimprovedsecurityofsupply

andreducedenergycostsingasprovision.

Winter Peak Demand Reduction Scheme

26. We are providing incentives to encourage

large energy users to reduce peak energy

use.

TheWinterPeakDemandReductionScheme

(WPDRS)wasintroducedinwinter2003/04as

anincentivetoencouragemediumandlarge

electricitycustomerstoreduceelectricity

consumptionduringthepowersystem’speak

hours(5pm–7pm)inthewintermonths(November–

March).Manyindustrialandcommercialcustomers

havetakenadvantageofthescheme.

Participantsarerewardedfordemandand

consumptionreductionsviapaymentsbased

onpre-approveddemandreductionandpeak

consumptionreductionrates.Customerswho

reducetheirdemandandconsumptionaccording

tothelevelstheycommittoarerewarded.

Customerswhosignificantlydeviatefromthese

levelsdonotreceivepayments,orreceivealower

payment.Paymentsaremadetoparticipantsby

theirrespectivesupplier.

Theschemehasdeliveredapproximately100MW

ofdemandreductionintheyearssinceitwasset

up,theequivalentofatleasttwoexistinglow-

meritpeakingunits.Inlightofthepublicationof

theDemandSideVisionfor2020in2011,which


envisagedthedevelopmentofmoremarket-based

demand-sidemanagement(DSM)schemes,the

CERpublishedaconsultationpaperonplansto

phaseouttheWPDRSschemeby2013,subject

tothedevelopmentofviableSEMmarket-based

demand-sideschemes.

Electricity Distribution Losses

27. We will reduce electricity distribution losses to

7.5% in 2010.

AspartoftheDistributionSystemOperator’s(DSO)

revenuecontrolcoveringtheperiod2006to2010,29

incentiveswereplacedontheDSOtoreduceits

networklosses.Networklossesaremeasuredby

theDistributionLossAdjustmentFactor(DLAF)

value,whichwasreducedfrom8.2%to7.5%.The

electricitydistributionlosstargetwasachievedfor

the2006–2010period.

Energy Savings Targets

28. We are working towards the introduction of

Energy Savings Targets for energy suppliers.

TheBetterEnergyprogrammewaslaunchedin

May2011onfootoftwoconsultationexerciseson

thedesignofenergysavingstargetsforenergy

suppliers.Atargetof2,000GWhwassetforthe

three-yearperiodfrom2011–2013.Energysuppliers

areexpectedtodeliver1,000GWhofthistarget.

TheBetterEnergyprogrammeoperatesonthebasis

ofvoluntaryagreementsbetweenqualifyingenergy

suppliersoperatingintheelectricity,gas,solid

fuelsandoilsectors.Primarylegislationhasbeen

introducedintheformoftheEnergy(Miscellaneous

Provisions)Act,2012tofurtherunderpinthe

29 CER/05/138CERDecisionPaperonDistributionSystem

OperatorRevenues

operationoftheenergysavingstargets.

Centraltothedeliveryoftheenergysavings

targetswillbethecontinuationofthecooperative

approachbetweentheenergysuppliersand

Government.Thisprocesswillbesupportedbya

governancestructurethatallowsforopenand

substantivediscussionontheoperationofthe

programme.Theprogrammewillbereviewedatthe

endof2013withaviewtointroducinganewthree-

yearenergysavingstargetscycle.

Investment in New Generation Plant

29. We will prioritise energy efficiency in

investment decisions for new-generation

plant.

Inthenextfewyears,1,300MWofolderplantwill

potentiallybereplacedbyefficientCCGTand

increasedwindcapacity.30Installingthemore

efficientCCGTplanttypicallyincreaseselectricity

productionefficienciesfrom30–35%to50–55%.This

shifttowardsmoreefficientgas-firedplantcould

alsoreducetheprimaryenergyconversionfactor

appliedtoelectricityproduction.

Theconstructionofmodernpowerplan,and

theever-increasingcontributionfromrenewable

electricitysourceswillcontinuethetrendtowards

moreefficient,lesscarbon-intensivepower

generationupto2020.Itisforeseenthatgaswill

constituteabout45%ofthefuelmixforelectricity

generationby2020,withoilbeingphasedoutas

aprimaryfueltype.Developmentofcleancoal

technologyforusewithcarboncaptureand

storage(CCS)willbemonitoredforapplicationin

Irelandinthemediumtolongterm.

30 Source:TheGenerationAdequacyReport2008-2014(Eirgrid,

2007)


30. We will continue to investigate the scope for

reducing energy transmission and operational

losses.

Transmissionlossesaredealtwithonanall-

islandbasisandchargedouttogenerators

appropriatelyinproportiontotheirallocated

transmissionlossfactor.Thisencouragesgenerators

tolocateinareaswheretheavailablenetwork

iswelldevelopedandthereislocaldemandfor

generation.However,aslargeramountsofwind

comeontotheelectricitysystem,locational

decisions(byinvestors)tendtobebasedonwind

resourceratherthanthecharacteristicsorstrength

ofthelocaltransmissionnetwork.TheSystem

Operatorisalsorequiredtoconsiderlosseswhen

decidingonwhichplantshouldbedispatched

inwhichorder(thepolicyoftheSEMisleast-

costdispatch).ThisisachallengefortheSystem

Operatorsinplanningandoperatingthesystem

andattemptingtooptimiselosses.

TheSEMCommitteeiscurrentlyengagedinareview

oflocationalsignalsontheall-islandtransmission

system.ThetreatmentoftheTransmissionLoss

AdjustmentFactorappliedtogeneratorsisoneof

thekeyaspectsofthisreview.Itisalsoimportant

thatanyeffortstoreducelossesarecost-effective.

Transmissionlossesarecurrentlyatabout2%oftotal

generationanditmayinvolveconsiderablecostto

reducelosses.Inconsideringanyinvestmentinthis

area,theSEMCommitteewillfirstdetermineifthere

isaquantifiablebenefittocustomersthatoutweighs

thecostofdevelopingthesolution.

EirGridhasasetofstrategicchallengesoverthe

nextdecadeintermsofall-islandsecurityofsupply,

sustainabilityandcompetitiveness,including

theimplementationoftheGrid25Strategy,31

31 Source:Grid25:AStrategyfortheDevelopmentofIreland’s

ElectricityGridforaSustainableEnergyFuture(Eirgrid,2008)

interconnectionandtakingontheroleofthe

transmissionassetowneraswellasoperator.

BordGáisNetworkshasimplementedanenergy

efficiencystrategy,withdedicatedresources,

whichwillberesponsibleforthedevelopmentand

implementationofongoingefficiencyimprovement

inoverallnetworksystemoperations.Thisstrategy

isalsointendedtomaintainpresentefficienciesin

thegassupplysystemaswellasdevelopingmore

efficienttechnologyforfutureinstallations.

Electricity Micro-Generation Programme

31. We will implement a wide-ranging

programme to fully investigate the

opportunities and long-term policy options for

the micro-generation of electricity via small-

scale technologies.

Micro-generationcanprovideasustainable,

reliableandaffordablealternativetothetraditional

methodsofpowergeneration.In2008,Government

madeavailablesome€2milliontofundapilot

grantschemetoinvestigatethepotentialforon-site

generationofelectricityforownuse.

Underthisscheme,electricitywasgenerated

viasmall-scaletechnologies,suchaswind

turbinesandsolarpower,withthepotential

tosellexcesspowerbacktosuppliers.Grant

supporttomeet40%oftheinitialstart-upcosts

wasmadeavailablefortheinstallationofmicro-

generationsystemsinapproximately50trialstobe

conductednationwide.Muchoftheprogramme

comprisedstudiesontechnical,economicand

marketissues.Someexamplesofthetechnologies

aresolarphotovoltaic(PV),windandmicro-hydro

(waterturbine).


Theprogrammefollowedachangeinregulationsin

2007allowingpeopletosellelectricitybacktothe

grid,whichitwashopedwouldempowerelectricity

userstotakeaction.In2009thiswasfollowedby

theannouncement(bythethenpublicelectricity

supplier)ofaregulatedpublicelectricitysupply

tarifffordomesticmicro-generationexportstothe

networkandasupplementarypaymentformicro-

generatorexportstobeprovidedbyESBNetworks.

Infurthersupportofthismeasure,an‘informand

fit’connectionpolicywasintroducedbyESB

Networkstofacilitateeasyconnectiontothegrid,

andplanningexemptionshavebeenintroduced

bytheDECLGforcertaincategoriesofsmall-scale

generationfromlow-carbonsources.

Thisaction(31)aimstoenableourfarmsand

householderstogenerateelectricityforthemselves

andbepaidfortheexcesstheydon’tuse.The

facilitytoexportbymicro-generatorswillalsobe

facilitatedintherolloutofsmartmetering.

Demand-Side Management

32. We will significantly expand our demand-side

management initiatives.

Wehavearangeofprogrammesalreadyin

operationthataredesignedtoreduceelectricity

peakloading,bringingwiththemreducedlosses

ingeneration,transmissionanddistribution.These

includeNightsaverinthedomesticmarketand

WinterPeakDemandReduction,Powersave

andWinterDemandReductionIncentiveinthe

industrial,commercialandpublicsectors.

Weconsiderthatgreaterpriorityneedstobe

giventosustained,cost-effectiveDSMinitiatives

fortheresidentialandbusinesssectors,building

onexistingprogrammesandinformedbyDemand

SideManagementinIreland:Evaluatingthe

EnergyEfficiencyOpportunities,astudypublished

bySEAIin2008.TheSEMDemandSideVision

for2020decisionpapersetoutanumberof

prioritiesinrelationtodemand-sidemanagement.

Developmentsinotherkeyareassuchassmart

meteringmayacceleratethedeploymentofsome

oftheassociatedrecommendations.TheCER(and

UtilityRegulator)willconductanannualreviewof

theimplementationofthedemand-sidemeasures

asoutlinedintheDemandSideVisiondecision

paper.TheSEMCommitteewillpublishareport

againstthesedeliverables.

Support for Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

33. We will achieve at least 800 MWe of CHP by

2020.

Combinedheatandpower(CHP)isthe

simultaneousgenerationofpower(electricity)and

usableheatinasingleprocess,atthepointofuse.

CHPusestheheatfromelectricitygenerationthat

wouldotherwisebewasted.Thisprocessleadstoa

reductioninoverallprimaryenergyusageof20%to

40%comparedwithuseoftheelectricitygenerated

atpowerstations,togetherwithheatproduced

separatelybyon-siteboilers.CHPcanresultin

savingsofupto50%ofCO2emissionscompared

withconventionalsourcesofheatandpower.

ExistingcapacityofoperationalCHPis284MWe.

TheCHPDeploymentProgrammewasrunby

theSEAIbetween2006and2010,withatotal

expenditureof€7.5m;95%ofthecapitalassistance

wasspentonthedeploymentofsmall-scale(<1

MWe),fossil-firedCHPandbiomass(anaerobic

digestionandwoodresidue)CHPsystems,with

theremainderofthegrantsreservedforfeasibility

studies.Theprogrammeresultedininstalled

capacityof15.6MWe,24.43MWth.


Development of Smart Grid

34. We are examining the convergence of

communications and electricity generation

and distribution networks in order to develop

a smart grid.

Weareexaminingtheconvergenceof

communicationsandelectricitygeneration

anddistributionnetworksinordertodevelopa

smartgridthatcanincreaseoverallelectricity

networkefficiencyandincorporateahighinputof

renewableenergy.

Asmartgridisonethatcanautomatically

controlenergydemandbysignallingconnected

equipmenttopowerdownattimeswhenincreased

demandmightcausethesystemtoexceedits

optimumefficiency.Thiscanimprovecontinuous

matchingofsupplytodemandandallowseamless

integrationofintermittentrenewableenergysources

intoapowergrid.

Smartgridscanalsofacilitatetheintroductionof

variablepricingtariffs,toincentiviseuserstouse

energyonlyattimeswhenitismoreavailable(e.g.

cheaperenergyofferedatoff-peaktimeswhen

therearehighwinds).Smartgridsreducetheneed

tostoreenergygeneratedbyrenewablesources.

NEW ACTIONS

Smart Grid Development

35. We will work collaboratively to maximise the

full potential of Smart Grid deployment in

Ireland.

Thedevelopmentofsmartgridshasgained

considerabletractioninrecentyears.EirGridhas

acentralroleinthedevelopmentofsmartgridsin

Ireland.Asmartgridcanhelptomanageincreased

operationalcomplexityandintegrateconsumer

behaviourwhileenhancingpowersystemreliability

andincreasingnetworkefficiencies.Forthe

smartgridtodevelop,Irelandmustengenderan

environmentthatallowsinnovationandenterprise

toflourishwhiletakingaccountoftheneedsof

thepowersystem.Anumberofstateagencies,

authoritiesandutilitieshavebeencooperatingin

recentyearstoenablethedeploymentofsmart

gridsinIreland.

Theadvancedtechnologiesattheheartofthe

smartgridwillbringaboutanumberofbenefits

forelectricityconsumers,suppliersandnetwork

operators,andformavitalelementinanyfuture

strategydesignedtoincreaseflexibilityonthe

demandsideandincreasecontrolovernewforms

ofrenewablegeneration.

Inthenextfewyears,EirGridwillseekfurther

opportunitiestoexploitthebenefitsofnew

technologies,includingadditionaldemand-side

participationandincreasedrenewablegeneration,

andworkwithallrelevantstakeholdersinorderto

maximisethefullpotentialofsmartgrids.


Transmission, Distribution and Operational Efficiencies

36. We will reduce electricity distribution losses to

7.1% by 2014.

TheDistributionLossAdjustmentFactorfor2012is7.3%.

TheDistributionSystemOperatorrevenuecontrol

coveringtheperiod2011to2015includesanincentive

mechanismtoreducethisvalueto7.1%by2014.

Upgrade of Electricity Distribution Network

37. We will continue to invest in the electricity

distribution network in order to reduce losses.

Inadditiontothedirectincentivestoreducelosses,

theCERhasapprovedcapitalinvestmentinthe

electricitydistributionnetwork.Thisinvestment,in

particulartheupgradeof10kVlinesto20kV,has

ledtoreducedlossesonthedistributionnetwork

andshouldleadtofurtherreductionsoverthe2011

to2015period.

Promoting Competition

38. We will continue to promote competition in

the wholesale and retail energy markets.

TheSEM,whichisagrossmandatorypool,32

isamarketthatoffersparticipantssignificant

transparencyinpricesandschedulingaswellas

aliquidspotmarket.Atitsinception,giventhe

dominantmarketsharesofESBandViridian,the

regulatoryauthoritiesputinplaceapackageof

measurestopreventabuseofmarketpowerandto

32 Thegrossmandatorypoolisamarketintowhichallelectricity

generatedonorimportedontotheislandofIrelandmustbe

sold,andfromwhichallwholesaleelectricityforconsumption

onorexportfromtheislandofIrelandmustbepurchased.

encouragecompetitioninthewholesalemarket.In

August2010theregulatoryauthoritiespublishedan

informationpaper,SEMMarketPower&Liquidity:

StateoftheNationReview,andthencommissioned

astudybyCambridgeEconomicPolicyAssociates

(CEPA)toassesshowcompetitioncanbepromoted

intheSEM.Theimplementationofnewmeasuresto

promoteandenhancecontractliquidityoutlinedin

theCEPAreportisunderconsideration.

Withthefullderegulationoftheretailmarket(April

2011)theCERiscontinuingtopromotecompetition

throughtheactiveparticipationofconsumersinthe

market.InApril2011,theCERpublishedadecision

paperonCustomerProtectionintheDeregulated

Market(CER11/057),whichsetoutanumberof

decisionstoprotectconsumersandpromote

competition.Thesedecisionsincludedthefollowing

requirements:

• Increasecustomereducationactivitiestofurther

informdomesticcustomersofderegulationand

thecompetitivemarketandtopromoteactive

switching.

• Implementaframeworkfortheaccreditationof

pricecomparisonservices.

• Reviewtheindustryswitchingprocess

documentationandidentifyifthereisaneedfor

furtherclarityinanyareas.

• Requiresalespersonnelcallingtohomesto

provideadoorstepchecklisttocustomers.

• Requiresupplierstoprovide12-monthrolling

consumptionfiguresonthebackofcustomers’

bills.

Thesemeasurespromotecompetitionbymaking

customersmoreawareoftheirconsumption,and

armingthemwiththeinformationtheyneedto

makeinformedchoicesabouttheirsupplier.


REFIT

39. We will introduce a renewable energy

feed-in tariff scheme (REFIT) to support new

renewable generation of electricity in 2012.

Arenewableenergyfeed-intariffscheme(REFIT)

tosupportnewrenewablegenerationofelectricity

wasopenedinearly2012.

Theschemeisdesignedtosupportarangeof

technologies,includingCHPusingbiomassand

anaerobicdigestion,andtoincentivisetheaddition

of310MWofrenewableelectricitycapacityto

theIrishgrid.Ofthis,upto150MWwillbehigh-

efficiencyCHP,usingbothanaerobicdigestionand

thethermochemicalconversionofsolidbiomass.


63Chapter05—TransportSector

2020 Vision

Irelandwillcontinuetoprogresstowardsamore

sustainableandenergy-efficienttransportsector,in

particularthroughpromotingimprovedtechnology

andactivelysupportingchangesintravelbehaviour.

Achieving the Vision• Wewillinvestinpublictransportinfrastructure

toenableareductioninthenumberofcar

journeys.

• Wewillensurethatfuturehousingandenterprise

developmenttakesplacealongsideappropriate

developmentoftransportinfrastructure.

• Wewillpromotealternativeformsoftransport,

includingtheuseofelectricvehicles.

• Wewillpromotecontinueduptakeofthemost

energy-efficienttechnologiesandfuels.

• Wewillcontinuetosupportandpromote

changestotravelbehaviourthatwillyielda

moresustainabletransportsystem.

Energy Usage in TransportEnergyusageinthetransportsectoramounted

toover54,350GWh,or4,674ktoe(finalenergy

consumption)in2010.Thisrepresentsareduction

on2007levelsof17.8%,basedprimarilyonreduced

economicactivityandassociatedenergydemand

fortransport.Energyusageinthetransportsector

grewby132%between1990and2010.Ascanbe

seeninFigure11below,therapidhistoricalgrowth

ratefortransportenergydemandreversedatthe

beginningoftherecessionin2007.

Acontributingfactortothereduceddemandin

thesectorisreducedroadfreightassociatedwith

buildingandconstruction,aswellasareductionin

privatecaruse.Energyintensityremainedrelatively

constantovertheperiod.Whiletherehasbeen

Chapter 05Transport Sector

Figure 11: Energy usage in transport

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

0

0.005

0.025

0.045

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2007 20092006 2008 20102002

0.020

0.030

0.015

0.010

0.040

0.035

Transport Final Energy Usage

Mto

e

kgo

e/€

(co

nst

an

t)

Transport Final Energy Intensity


anincreaseinefficiencyofvehicleuse,thishas

beenfaroutweighedbytheincreasingnumber

ofvehicles,historicchangesinenginesizesand

volumesoffreightcarried(untilrecently).Moreover,

policymeasuressuchastherebalancingofmotor

taxationhaveledtoreducedfuelusagesince

2008.Alongsidethedeclineinenergydemandin

thetransportsectorduetoeconomiccontraction,

progresshasbeenmadeonawiderangeofpolicy

measures(outlinedinfurtherdetailinthischapter).

IntroductionThetransportsectormeasuresinNEEAP1were

developedinthecontextoftheSmarterTravelPolicy

(theGovernment’sSustainableTransportPolicyfor

Ireland,whichcoverstheperiodfrom2009to2020),

publishedinFebruary2009.TheSmarterTravelPolicy

remainstheframeworkunderwhichenergysavings

andemissionsreductionswillbeachievedinthe

transportsector.Itcontainsfivekeygoals:

• toreduceoveralltraveldemand.

• tomaximisetheefficiencyofthetransport

network.

• toreducerelianceonfossilfuels.

• toreducetransportemissions.

• toimproveaccessibilitytotransport.

Thereare49specificactionsinthepolicyaimedat

achievingthesefivekeygoals.The49actionscan

begroupedintofourbroadcategoriesofaction:

(i)actionsaimedatreducingtraveldemandand

distancestravelled,(ii)actionsaimedatensuring

modalshift,(iii)actionsaimedatimproving

efficiencythroughtechnologyimplementation,

and(iv)actionsaimedatstrengtheninginstitutional

arrangementstodeliverthepolicy.Thevisionand

actionssetoutintheSmarterTravelPolicyclosely

reflectthesustainabletransportaspectsof

therecentEuropeanCommissionWhitePaper

onTransport.

ONGOING NEEAP 1 ACTIONSSincethepublicationofNEEAP1,anumberofkey

developmentsinthetransportsectorhavetaken

placeinthefollowingareas.

Energy-Efficient Vehicles

40. We will continue to incentivise the purchase of

more energy-efficient vehicles.

NEEAP1outlinedtherebalancingofVehicle

RegistrationTax(VRT)andmotortaxationto

incentivisethepurchaseofmoreenergy-efficient

cars.Overtheperiod2000-2007therewasan

unsustainabletrendofvehicletechnology

improvementsbeingoffsetbythepurchaseof

largercars.Asaresult,theenergyefficiencyofthe

nationalfleetremainedstaticovertheperiod.

TheaimofrebalancingVRTandmotortaxation

rates,whichcameintoeffectfrom1July2008,was

specificallytoincentivisethepurchaseoflower-

emission/moreenergy-efficientcars.Underthis

newsystem,bothVRTandmotortaxarepayable

basedonsevenbands(A-G).Priortothechangein

taxationrates,theaveragevehiclepurchasedhad

vehicleemissionsintheregionof164g/km.Thishad

fluctuatedaroundalevelof165-168g/kmsince2000,

untiltherebalancinginJuly2008.For2009,thefirst

fullyearforwhichfiguresareavailable,theaverage

emissionsofanewvehicleenteringthenational

fleetreducedtoaround144g/km.Thisfellfurther

toaround133g/kmin2010.Thenetresultisthat

theaveragecarenteringthenationalfleetisnow

approximately20%moreenergy-efficientthanwas

thecasepriortorebalancingofvehicletaxation.


Thisincentivisationisworkingtoensurethatthe

EU-driventechnologyimprovementsareaffecting

thecompositionofthenationalcarfleetmuch

morequicklythanwouldataxationsystemthat

doesnotoperateonthebasisofemissions/energy

efficiency.Theneteffectistospeedupthelowering

ofemissionsinthenationalfleet,comparedtoEU

measuresalone,andoffersubstantialfuelsavings

overthelifetimeofeachvehicle.Itisestimatedthat

savingsof373GWhweremadein2010duetothe

stepchangeinpurchasingpatternsandresultant

changesinthefleetstructure.

ApublicconsultationwaslaunchedinDecember

2011regardingtherevisionofthecurrentsystem

ofVRTandmotortaxtoadjustCO2bandsand

ratesinlinewithtechnologicaladvancesinmotor

vehicles.ThenetsavingfromtheEUtechnology

measuresandthetaxationrebalancingcombined

isestimatedat2,400GWhand3,670GWhin2016

and2020respectively.

Electric Vehicles 41. We will continue to support the deployment of

electric vehicles in Ireland.

ElectricvehicleswereidentifiedinNEEAP1asan

importantaspectofimprovedenergyefficiencyin

thetransportsector,andsince2009goodprogress

hasbeenmadeinensuringthatelectricvehicleswill

formanintegralpartofthenationalfleetincoming

years.

Agrantsupportscheme,whichisadministered

bytheSustainableEnergyAuthorityofIreland,

beganinApril2011andwillrunfortwoyearsin

ordertoassistthepurchaseofnewbatteryelectric

vehicles(BEVs)andplug-inhybridelectricvehicles

(PHEVs).Grantsofupto€5,000areavailable

towardsthepurchaseofaBEVand€2,500towards

aPHEV.ThesegrantswillbeinadditiontotheVRT

exemptionsofupto€5,000(forBEVs)andVRTreliefs

(forPHEVs)whichapplytothepurchaseofnew

EVs.Atotalof€1.5millionwasallocatedin2012for

thispurpose.Irelandaimstohave10%ofvehicles

poweredorpartiallypoweredbyelectricityfromthe

gridby2020.

Inaddition,theGovernmentandESBagreeda

memorandumofunderstandingwithanumber

ofcarmanufacturerstoensuresupplyofelectric

vehiclesintotheIrishmarket.TheESBissupporting

thedeploymentofelectricvehiclesbyrollingout,

subjecttotheuptakeofelectricvehiclesduring

thepilotschemeperiod,1,500publiclyaccessible

chargepointsforEVs.Thesewillbelocatedinevery

cityandtownwithapopulationofmorethan1,500.

Atotalof2,000domesticchargepointswillalso

beinstalled.Aswellastheabove,30fastchargers

willbebuilt60kmapartalongallmajorinterurban

routes.

42. We are enabling more fuel efficiency,

interurban freight and private car movements

through improved road infrastructure.

Themajorroadinfrastructuralimprovements

identifiedinNEEAP1havebeendeliveredthrough

thecompletionofMajorInterurbanRoutes(MIRs).

ThisprogrammewascompletedinDecember2010.

Wheretheinfrastructureresultedintheremovalof

trafficbottlenecksfromsmalltownsandvillagesnot

designedforinterurbantraffic,therehasbeena

reductioninunnecessaryfuelconsumptionbyboth

carsandfreightvehicles.Whenalliedtomeasures

designedtopromoteefficiencyinthetraffic

fleetanddriverbehaviour,theseinfrastructural

improvementswillcontinuetocontributeenergy

efficienciesintothefuture.


43. We are maintaining the fuel efficiency of older

private cars through vehicle testing.

TheNationalCarTestsystemcontinuestoassist

inmaintainingthefuelefficiencyofolderprivate

cars.Over860,000privatecarsweretestedin2009

andafurther890,000in2010.AllcarsinIrelandare

subjecttoperiodictestingonreachingthefourth

anniversaryoftheirfirstregistrationandeverytwo

yearsthereafter.From1June2011,annualtestingof

carsover10yearsoldwasintroduced.Inadditionto

theNationalCarTestsystem,commercialvehicles

(busesandgoodsvehicles)undergoannualtesting

forroadworthiness,whichincludesinspectionofthe

engineandfuelsystem.Thiscommercialvehicle

testingappliesannuallytoover200,000vehicles.

44. We are continuing to promote the benefits of

eco-driving.

SincethepublicationofNEEAP1,wehavemade

progressonpromotingeco-driving.TheSustainable

EnergyAuthorityofIrelandhaschampionedeco-

drivingovermanyyears,includingrecognisingin

the2011–2015StrategicPlantheneedfordriver

trainingandfleetmanagement.Furthermore,

theRoadSafetyAuthority(RSA),whichhas

responsibilityfordrivertesting,isaddressingthe

issueofeco-drivingintwoways.First,underthe

LearnerDriverTraining(LDT)programme,theRSAis

includingdrivingskillsandbehavioursthatsupport

aneco-drivingapproachaspartofthesyllabus

andassociatedmandatorylessons.Thesyllabus

incorporatesasectionondrivinginaneco-efficient

manner(LDTSyllabusreference2.9,pages52-

53),andincludes:(i)Usingprimarycontrolsinan

environmentallyfriendlymanner,(ii)Planningtripsin

aneco-efficientmanner,(iii)Maintainingconstant

speedwhenpossibleandusinggearsandengine

inaneco-friendlymanner.Secondly,aspartofa

reviewofthedrivingtest,theRSAislookingatits

approachtoassessmentoffaultstomeasurethe

degreetowhichandhowfaultmarksareapplied

tovariousdrivingbehaviourstoensurethatany

aspectofdrivingconsistentwitheco-drivingis

(a)encouragedand(b)notpenalisedbybeing

markedasafault.Whilethisisconsistentwiththe

approachtomarkingthedrivingtestascurrently

adopted,itbecameadefinedpartofthedriving

testfromspring2012.

DuringtheperiodofNEEAP2,thebroadarea

ofdriverbehaviourwillcontinuetobestudied

andprogressedinthecontextofitsabilityto

contributetoreducedfuelconsumptionand

transportemissions,whilecontinuingtofacilitatethe

economicallyefficientmovementofpeopleand

goods.

45. We will continue to assess the potential for

demand management measures.

DemandmanagementwasidentifiedinNEEAP1in

thecontextoflonger-termplans,andinparticular

linkedtotheavailabilityofhigh-qualitypublic

transportalternatives.Thebroadareacontinues

tobestudied;theNationalRoadsAuthority(NRA)

publishedaNationalRoadsTrafficManagement

StudyinFebruary2011.Thestudyisanin-depth

analysisofpotentialtrafficmanagementmeasures:

(i)controlmeasures,(ii)demandmanagementand

(iii)fiscalmeasuresincludingtolling.Consideration

oftrafficmanagementissueswillcontinueinthe

contextofpublictransportinvestmentplans,and

theneedtoensureoptimumuseoflandtransport

infrastructure.

Aninterdepartmentalworkinggrouponintelligent

transportsystems(ITS)isdevelopinganational

intelligenttransportsystemsandservicesaction

planinaccordancewiththeSmarterTravel

proposalsandstatutoryobligationsarisingfrom

theITSDirective(2010/40/EU).TheITSActionPlan

willseektorealiseefficienciesin(i)roadfreight


transport,throughimprovedtravelinformation,fleet

managementandlogistics,(ii)publictransport,

throughfleetvehiclelocationtechnology,

passengerinformationsystemsandintegrated

ticketing,and(iii)roadtransport,throughtraffic

managementandincidentmanagement

technologiesonbusysectionsoftheroadnetwork.

46. We will continue to promote mobility

management plans in schools, workplaces

and at home.

TheDepartmentofTransport,TourismandSport

(DTTS)incooperationwiththeNationalTransport

Authority(NTA),continuestosupportAnTaisce’s

Green-SchoolsTravelprogramme,whichisnow

reachingsome650schoolswith153,000pupils

nationwide.Itisexpectedthatthenumberof

schoolsparticipatingintheGreen-Schoolstravel

modulewillincreasefromaround650in2010toover

1,100in2012.Theresultsfromthisprogrammeare

impressive,showinga27%shiftfromprivatecaruse

tomoresustainablemodesoftraveltoschool.Itis

estimatedthatthisprogrammeresultedinenergy

savingsofaround7GWhin2010.

InJune2010theDTTSlaunchedaninitiativewiththe

NTAtodeliverworkplacetravelplansinIreland’s

biggest100employersbytheendof2012.Currently

some72ofthelargestworkplaces,hospitalsand

universitiesareengagedintheSmarterTravel

WorkplacesprogrammeledbytheNTA.Initialresults

showa16%decreaseinsingleoccupancycar

useanditisestimatedthatthisschemeresultedin

energysavingsofaround10GWhin2010.

Apilotexerciseinpersonalisedtravelplanning

hastakenplaceinAdamstown,ledbySouth

DublinCountyCouncil,andafurtherpilotstudy

hasrecentlyprogressedinMidleton,CountyCork.

Followingconsiderationoftheimpactsofthese

pilots,andsubjecttoavailableresources,further

progressinthisareawillbeconsideredoverthe

periodofNEEAP2.

47. We will continue to promote National Cycle

Policy Initiatives.

Inadditiontotheabovemobilitymanagement

issues,NEEAP1notedthepotentialformodal

shifttocyclingtoreduceemissionsandenergy

consumptioninthetransportsector.Since

publicationoftheNationalCyclePolicyFramework

inApril2009,theDepartmentofTransport,Tourism

andSporthasallocatedmorethan€22millionto

arangeofprojectsbasedonimprovingcycling

infrastructureandpromotingamodalshiftto

cycling.Asimilarlevelofinvestmentincycling

isplannedforthecomingyears.Thisfunding

hasmainlybeenonpilotordemonstration-type

projects,anditishopedthatthenationalcensus

ofApril2011willallowsomemeasurementofthe

impactoftheseprojectsonmodalshiftinthe

geographicareastargetedbytheprojects.A

CycletoWorkschemewasintroducedin2009.The

schemeexemptsexpenditure(uptoatotalvalue

of€1,000)onthepurchaseofabicycle(andsafety

equipment)thatwillbeusedfortraveltowork,from

incometaxonthebenefitinkindarising.

TheNationalTransportAuthority(NTA)undertook

workonacomprehensivedesignmanualforthe

provisionofcycleroutes.ThisCyclingDesignManual

waspublishedin2011.Itprovidesaframework

forthedesignanddeliveryofsafe,cycle-friendly

facilitiesthatwillfacilitateincreasedcycleusage

throughoutIreland.


Case Study: dublinbikes Strategic Planning

Framework 2011–2016

Dublin City Council in partnership with JCDecaux

launched the dublinbikes scheme on 13 September

2009. The scheme provides a fully integrated

transport alternative that is an innovative system,

allowing subscribers access to bicycles from

automated self-service stations.

The dublinbikes strategic planning framework sets

out an ambitious vision for the future expansion of

this unique form of public transport. Sustainability is

at the heart of the five-year planning framework as

the City Council aims to develop an environmentally

friendly means of public transport.

There are currently 550 bikes and 44 bike-stations

across the city, and dublinbikes is one of the most

successful bike share rental schemes in the world.

The bikes have been used for over 3.17 million

journeys, with 66,000 subscribers.

In 2010, the City Council adopted a long-term

strategy for the scheme, with the ultimate aim of

5,000 bikes and approximately 300 more stations

planned across the city. The first phase of the

dublinbikes expansion got under way in summer

2012, with 1,000 new bicycles expected by early

2013.

48. We are encouraging use of public transport

through Taxsaver commuter tickets.

TheTaxsaverpublictransportcommuterscheme,

asoutlinedinNEEAP1continuestooperate

successfully,withover3,500companiesnow

purchasingmonthly,part-yearlyorannualtickets

fortheiremployees.Employeescansavebetween

31%and52%intaxandsocialinsurancecharges

comparedtonormalticketpurchasing.

NEW ACTIONS

49. We will realise energy efficiencies through

the operation of the Ireland-UK Functional

Airspace Block.

ThefirstNEEAPnotedthattheIreland-UKFunctional

AirspaceBlock(FAB),establishedinmid-2008,

wasthefirstFABtobeestablishedinEurope.

Quantifiablebenefitsintermsofcostsand

environmentalimpactsarealreadybeingdelivered.

TheFABreportfor2009(thefirstfulloperational

year)waspublishedinJune2010.Amongthe

achievementshighlightedwerefuelsavingsand

emissionsreductionsassociatedwithtwoprojects,

theEnRouteShannonUpperAirspaceRedesign

project(ENSURE)andtheNightTimeFuelSaving

Routesproject(NTFSR).Theformerprojectdelivered

savingsof14,800tonnesoffuel,andthelatter

savingsof5,700tonnesoffuel.Thisistheequivalent

of253GWhofenergysavingsin2009.Thissaving

willoccuronanannualbasis,andcouldincrease

dependingonthenumberofservicesinplace,and

futureevolutionoftheschemes.

50. We will use spatial planning policies to reduce

unnecessary commuting.

ThePlanningandDevelopment(Amendment)Act

2010andtheNationalSpatialStrategyremainthe

cornerstoneofplanningpolicyinIreland,providing

aframeworkforthesustainabledevelopmentofour

communities.TheActwasintroducedtosupport

economicrenewalandcontinuethepromotion

ofsustainabledevelopmentbyensuringthatthe

planningsystemsupportstargetedinvestment

ininfrastructurebytheStateandbyfurther

modernisinglandzoning.

TheDepartmentofTransport,TourismandSport

togetherwiththeDepartmentofEnvironment,

Community&LocalGovernmentissponsoringthe

preparationofanurbanstreetdesignmanual.


Theoverridingaimofthismanualistosetout

designguidanceandstandardsforbothnew

andexistingurbanroadsandstreetsinIreland,

incorporatinggoodplanninganddesignpractice

andencouragingmoresustainabletravelpatterns

inurbanareas.Publicationofarevisedmanualis

expectedin2013.

Furthermore,theDepartmentofTransport,Tourism

andSporthasprovidedfinancialsupporttoa

numberoflocalauthoritypilotprojectswhich

involveretrofittingofinfrastructuretoassistin

increasingwalkingandcyclingmodalshare.

Carbon Tax

51. We have introduced a carbon tax on petrol

and diesel, which sends a strong pricing

signal to road users.

Budget2010sawtheintroductionofacarbontax

of€15pertonne.Thiswasincreasedby€5to€20

pertonneinBudget2012.Thecarbontaxisabout

sendingpricesignalstoincentiviseachangein

behaviourinbothcompaniesandhouseholdsto

reducetheircarbonemissions.

Theenergyefficiencyimpactofthecarbon

taxisdifficulttoextrapolategiventhecomplex

interactionbetweenvehiclepurchasingpatterns

setagainstabackgroundofincreasing(and

fluctuating)oilprices.However,itisclearthata

carbontaxwillhavealong-termimpactonfuel

efficiency.Researchontheissuesuggeststhatfuel

pricesareanimportantaspectinlong-termfuel

demand,withestimatedlong-runelasticitiesas

highas0.7,andshort-runelasticitiesintheregionof

0.3.33Usingaconservativeestimateofthelong-term

elasticityvaluebeing0.15indicatesthatapplying

33 ThomasSterner(2007).FuelTaxes:Animportantinstrumentfor

climatepolicy.EnergyPolicy35(2007)3194-3202.

acarbontaxof€15/tonnecouldresultinenergy

savingswithinthetransportsectorof318GWhin

2016,and331GWhin2020.34

Thelevelandtimeframeofanychangesinthe

excisearea,includingthecarbontaxrate,willbe

determinedinthecontextoftheannualBudget

cycle.

52. We will ensure that Regulation 1222/2009 on

the labelling of tyres is implemented in full.

Regulation1222/2009onthelabellingoftyres,

whichcameintoforceon1November2012,

introducesfuelefficiencylabelsforallnewtyres

fromthatdate.ThenewlabelfollowstheAto

Gclassificationsystemofexistingenergylabels,

sothebest-performingtyreswillbeawardedan

‘A’.Inadditiontoitsimpactonfueluse,thelabel

willprovideinformationabouttheproduct’s

performanceinwetconditionsandrollingnoisein

decibels.

Whiletheregulationhasdirecteffect,wewillensure

thatitisfullyimplementedthroughappropriate

marketsurveillance.

53. We will continue to improve the energy

efficiency of rail services.

Arangeofenergyefficiencyactionshavebeen

implementedinrecentyearsintheareaofrail

transport.Newrollingstockcontinuedtoenterthe

fleet,andtheselatest-generationdieselengines

resultinefficiencysavingsrelativetotheengines

thattheyreplace.Anautomaticengineshutdown

systemhasalsobeenputinplaceforalldiesel

multipleunitsinthefleet.Furthermore,trainsizes

arenowmatchedtodemand,leadingtofurther

efficiencies.Itisestimatedthatthecombined

34 Theseestimateswillbeincorporatedinabroaderanalysisof

theimpactofthecarbontaxinthenextNEEAP.


impactofthesemeasuresisresultinginenergy

savingsofapproximately26GWhperannum.

Energysavingsonelectrictractionserviceshave

beenachievedthroughtheimplementationof

‘regenerativebrakingsystems’,wherebyvehicles

arebrakedusingtheelectricmotorstogenerate

powerforusebyothervehicles.Matchingtrainsizes

todemandisalsotakingplaceforelectrictraction

services.Thesavingsfromthesemeasuresareinthe

regionof8GWhperannum.

Thereispotentialforfueladditivestoimprovethe

performanceofdieselreciprocatingengines.This

willbeinvestigatedovertheperiodofNEEAP2;

equipmenttomonitorengineperformanceinthis

regardwillbefittedtofourcommuterdieselmultiple

units(DMUs)fortesting.Furthermore,buildingonthe

savingsachievedthroughautomaticshutdownand

restartforDMUs,itisplannedtoimplementsimilar

measuresfortheauxiliaryenginesinDMUs,and

forlocomotives,subjecttosatisfactorytestresults.

Itisestimatedthatthesemeasurescouldoffer

additionalsavingsofupto37GWhperannum.

54. We will continue our programme of improving

the energy efficiency of bus services.

Since2009arangeofprogrammesaimedat

improvingenergyefficiencyhavetakenplacein

DublinBus.Reducedcongestiononroutes,brought

aboutbyimprovedbuspriorityonthenetwork,has

loweredfuelconsumption.Inaddition,anumber

oftechnicalmeasures,includingareduction

ofidleenginespeedsandtheuseofeconomy

programmesinengineandgearboxmanagement,

haveresultedinfuelsavings.Itisestimatedthatthe

combinedeffectofreducedroutecongestionand

technicalmeasuresin2010wasanenergysavingof

24GWh.

DublinBusisimplementingtheNetworkDirect

programme,whichaimstoredesigntheroute

networktorespondtodemandandbettermeet

theneedsofexistingandpotentialcustomers.The

serviceredesignhasalreadyresultedinimproved

fuelefficienciesduetoreducedbusmileages,

estimatedat32GWhin2010.

TheDublinBusNetworkRedesignprojectiscurrently

inprogress.Itisexpectedthattheresultantannual

savingswillincreasefrom32GWhin2010to44

GWhin2012.Itisplannedtointroduceaneco-

drivinginitiative,whichwillprovidedriverswith

real-timefeedbackandassistwithchangingdriver

behaviour.Thiseco-drivinginitiativeinDublinBus

isexpectedtoyieldsavingsintheregionof3GWh

in2012,risingto15GWhby2016.Inaddition,fleet

replacement–atanestimatedrateof1/12ofthe

fleetperannumwill–yieldsavingsasitisexpected

thatnewvehicleswillbeapproximately10%more

efficientthanthevehiclestheyreplace.

55. We are introducing integrated ticketing in

public transport.

Modalshifttowardspublictransportwillcontinue

tobesupportedthroughtheprovisionofimproved

passengerinformationandintegratedticketing.

Integratedticketinghasbeenrolledouttocover

servicesprovidedbyprivatebusoperators,IrishRail

(DARTandcommuterrail)andBusÉireann(Eastern

region).Thisiscomplementedbytheprovisionof

realtimepassengerinformationacrossthepublic

transportnetworkisalsoatanadvancedstageof

deliverywithintheGreaterDublinArea.

56. We are introducing programmes to improve

driver behaviour through speed enforcement.

TheGoSafeprogramme,launchedinNovember

2010,provides6,000enforcementhoursand1,475

surveyhourspermonthacrosstheroadnetwork.

Whilethemainpurposeofthecamerasisa

reductioninaccidents,injuriesandfatalities,the

increasedenforcementisalsoexpectedtoresult


inareductioninexcessivespeedsontheroad

network.

Whileitistooearlytocarryoutin-depthanalysisof

theimpactofenhancedspeedenforcement,itis

expectedthatthismeasurewillyieldquantifiable

savingsintheorderof490GWhand510GWhin

2016and2020respectively.Inadditiontothedirect

datafromtheenforcementandsurveyhours,an

annual‘freespeeds’surveyiscarriedoutbythe

RoadSafetyAuthority(RSA),whichwillprovidea

goodbasisforcalculatingfuturesavings.

Ireland’ssecondNationalEnergyEfficiencyActionPlanto202072

73Chapter06—BusinessSector–Industrial&Commercial

Chapter 06Business Sector – Industrial & Commercial

2020 Vision

Irishbusinesswillbeknowninternationallyfor

embracingenergy-efficientpractices,innovation

andcompetitiveness.

Achieving the Vision• Wearecontinuingtoprovideprocurement

guidanceandtaxincentivestoencourage

companiestobuythemostefficientequipment.

• SEAIwilloffernetworking,trainingandadvisory

servicestoallbusinessesseekingtoreduce

energyusage.

• Thelargestenergyusersareundertakingbest

internationalpracticeinpursuitofEN16001,the

EuropeanEnergyManagementStandard.

• Wewillseektomaximisethebusinessand

marketdevelopmentopportunitiesforIreland

throughtheInternationalEnergyManagement

StandardISO50001.

• TheBetterEnergyWorkplacesschemeaimsto

implementawiderangeofqualifyingsustainable

energyupgradingprojectsinthepublic,

commercial,industrialandcommunitysectors.

Introduction

Ireland’ssupportprogrammesforenergyefficiency

inthebusinesssectorarefocusedonprovidinga

sustainedsuiteofservicesthatguideandassist

businesseffortstocontinuouslyimproveefficiency

andcompetitiveness,throughstructuredenergy

managementsystemsandstimulationofinnovation.

Buildingonthecumulativemultiannualprogressto

date,substantialfurtherenergyefficiencypotential

isbeingtargetedoverthecourseofthisActionPlan.

Energy Use in Industry

Energyuseintheindustrialsectoramountedto

24,344GWh(finalenergyconsumption)in2010,a

reductionofaround23%on2007levels–largelyas

aresultoftheeconomicdownturn.Energyusage

grewby21.7%intheindustrialsectorbetween1990

and2010,asillustratedinFigure12onthenext

page.Thisgrowthmasksthenatureofstructural

changeintheeconomy,astrendstowardshigher

value-addedproducts,suchaspharmaceuticals

andelectronics,influencetheenergyintensityof

theindustrialsector.Overthesameperiodthelevel

ofenergyintensityofindustryoverallfellby66%,

reflectingthesestructuralchangestogetherwith

improvementsinenergyefficiencyovertime.


Energy Usage in the Commercial Services Sector

Bestavailabledataforthepublicandcommercial

sectorsisderivedfromservices-sectordata,based

onanestimatedratioofcommercialandpublic-

sectorenergyuseintheservices(tertiary)sector.

Aswithpublic-sectordata,services-sectordata

isprovidedintheEnergyBalance(producedby

theSEAI’sEPSSUannually)asaresidual,following

definitionofthefinalenergyuseintheindustrial,

residentialandtransportsectors.Onthisbasis,

energyusageinthecommercialsectorisestimated

tohaveamountedto12,703GWh(finalenergy

consumption)in2010.AsillustratedinFigure13

onthenextpage,substantialgrowthinenergy

useisestimatedinthesectorbetween1990and

2010(97%).

Electricityusageincreasedsignificantlyoverthis

period,possiblyreflectingthechangingstructure

ofthesectorandthegeneralincreaseintheuse

ofICTsandair-conditioning.Theenergyintensity

(measuredasenergyusageperunitofadded

valueinthesector)decreasedbyanestimated

20%,reflectingbothimprovementsinenergy

efficiencyoverallandincreasingaddedvaluefora

givenenergyinput.

Figure 12: Energy usage in industry

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

0

0.020

0.080

0.120

0.160

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2007 20092006 2008 20102002

0.040

0.060

0.100

0.140

0.180

Industrial Final Energy Usage

Mto

e

kgo

e/€

(co

nst

an

t)

Industrial Final Energy Intensity



Accelerated Capital Allowances (ACA) Scheme

57. We are providing tax incentives to encourage

companies to buy the most energy-efficient

equipment.

Mostorganisationslacktheinternalcapacityto

identify,evaluateandselectthemostenergy-

efficientproductsavailableforparticularend-use

applications.TheoperationoftheAccelerated

CapitalAllowances(ACA)schemeprovides

independentintelligencetoenergyendusers

regardingtheproductsthatarebestinclassfrom

anenergyefficiencyperspective,aswellasoffering

afinancialincentivetoorganisationstoprocure

suchproducts.

Section46oftheFinanceAct2008introduced

theACAschemeforspecificclassesofenergy

equipmentforaninitialthree-yearperiod,which

wasextendedforafurtherthreeyearsinBudget

2011.Therearenow52technologiescoveredin10

productcategories,comprisingover8,000products

registered.TheACAenablesbusinessestowriteoff

theentirecostofsuchequipmentintheyearof

purchase.TheincreasednumberofACAcategories

willgenerateaddedopportunitiesforinvestment

inenergy-efficientequipmentacrossallmajor

technologysectorsandwillcreatefurtherpotential

forcompaniestoachievefar-reachingenergy

savings.

IndicativefiguresfromtheRevenueCommissioners

showthatin2009(thefirstfullyearofoperationof

thescheme)83companiesclaimedforcapital

allowancesof€13.4millionatanestimated

taxforgoneof€1.6mthroughthescheme.The

Figure 13: Energy usage in the commercial sector

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

0

0.002

0.008

0.012

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2007 20092006 2008 20102002

0.006

0.010

0.014

0.018

0.004

1.4

0.016

Commercial Final Energy Usage (Climate corrected)

Mto

e

kgo

e/€

(co

nst

an

t)

Commercial Final Energy Intensity(Climate corrected)


provisionalfiguresfor2010showthat€4.5million

wasinvestedinACAequipment,resultinginatotal

taxforgoneof€0.6million.

Adatabaseofexemplarenergy-efficientproducts,

theTripleEproductregister,hasevolvedoutofthe

ACAspecifiedlist.Moreover,theEnergyEfficiency

PublicProcurementRegulations201135statethatall

publicprocurementshallreferencethisdatabase

whenprocuringnewequipmentorvehicles.

Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN)

58. We are supporting the networking and

exchange of best energy efficiency practice

by the largest industrial energy users through

the Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN).

TheLargeIndustryEnergyNetwork(LIEN)isawell-

establishednetworkingandinformationprogramme

forlargeindustrialenergyusers,operatedby

SEAI.Inoperationfor16years,itnowengages

some160ofthelargestenergyusersinongoing

relationships,includingsitevisits,workshopsand

annualperformancereporting.LIENmembers

shareinformationonenergy-savingtechnologies

andtechniquestomaximisesavingsandmaintain

competitiveness.Annualenergyexpenditure

acrosstheLIENisapproximately€900millionand

accountsforaround60%ofindustrialenergyusage,

representing15%ofnationalprimaryenergyusage.

Withinthenetwork,theEnergyAgreements

Programme,introducedin2006,supportsa

voluntarycommitmentbylargeindustrytoa

structuredmultiannualapproachtoenergy

management.Thisisgivenpracticaleffectbythe

adoptionandapplicationofarecognisedenergy

managementstandard(originallyI.S.393,currently

EN16001andnowtransitioningtoISO50001)verified

35 EuropeanUnion(EnergyEfficiencyPublicProcurement)

Regulations2011(S.I.No.151of2011)

byindependentaudit.Itcarriesformaltargetsand

actionobligations.Specialinvestigationssupported

bytheprogrammehaveledtotheidentification

andextractionofdeeperenergysavings

opportunitiesacrossanumberoftechnologiesand

services.

Ofthe160membercompaniesofLIEN,theEnergy

Agreementsmembershiphasgrownto90,and

isprojectedtoexpandtoover100companies

in2011.SincetheinceptionofLIEN,cumulative

weightedenergyperformanceacrossparticipating

companieshasimprovedbyalmost40%.TheEnergy

Agreementsprogrammehasgivenanewimpetus

tothecollectiveandcumulativeachievement,

reflectedinadoublingofthecumulativeenergy

savingsovertheperiod2006–9.

TheseachievementshaveledtoIrelandbeing

recognisedasaleaderinenergymanagement

systems.TheIrishEnergyManagementStandard

(I.S.393)wasinfluentialinsettingthebasisofthe

Europeanandinternationalstandards.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)

59. We are assisting the SME sector with a

targeted scheme providing assessments

of energy use and advice on energy

management.

Adedicatedsupportprogrammehasalsobeen

operatedbySEAIsince2008forsmalltomedium

energyusers.Thisoffersfreeenergymanagement

advice,mentoring,trainingandothersupport

servicestoanybusinesswillingtoshowa

commitmenttobecomingmoreenergy-efficient.

Thisservicedeliveryincludesprovisionofinitial

energyauditandoffersastructuredapproach

toenergymanagement,inaformthatcanbe

adaptedandtailoredtothelevelofenergycostsin

thecompany.


Over2,000businesses,representinganannual

energyexpenditureofover€400million,have

alreadyavailedofthisprogramme,with10%energy

savingsroutinelyfoundinthefirstyearandenergy

costsavingsofupto30%achievedinmanycases.

ICT and Energy Efficiency

60. We will continue to demonstrate the

significant potential available through

ICT efficiencies, working closely with the

industry, using technological solutions such

as virtualisation, co-location, efficient IT

hardware, optimised cooling technologies,

and energy management controls.

Theinformationandcommunicationstechnology

(ICT)sectorinIrelandisathrivingandgrowing

industry,withnineofthetop10globalICT

companieshavingastrongpresenceinIreland.The

economiccontributionofthesectorissubstantial;

theICTindustryiscurrentlyresponsibleforover

25%ofIreland’stotalturnover.Thesectoremploys

morethan74,000people.In2010,3,500newjobs

wereannouncedinthesector,onfootofanet

employmentgrowthrateof6%in2009.

TheSustainableEnergyAuthorityofIreland(SEAI)is

facilitatinganICTgroup,bringingtogetherprincipal

stakeholdersandleadersinenergyefficiencyto

developmethodstoimproveenergyefficiency.

Membershipincludeslocalauthorities,nationaland

internationalexpertsondatacentres,greenITand

cooling,keystakeholdersinpublic-sectorIT,and

theSEAI.Thegroupaimstodevelopbest-practice

guidelines,trainingguidelinesforstakeholdersand

asummaryreportofpolicyrecommendations.

TheGreenGridisaglobalconsortiumof

companies,governmentagenciesandeducational

institutionsdedicatedtoadvancingresource

efficiencyindatacentresandbusinesscomputing

ecosystems.InFebruary2011itwasannouncedthat

thepoweruseefficiency(PUE)metricdeveloped

bythisorganisationwillbeusedbyanumberof

data-centreoperatorsintheUS,JapanandEurope.

ThePUEmetricdeterminestheamountofenergy

usedbyadata-centrefacilityanditsITequipment.

PUEhasbecomethegloballyacceptedmethod

fordata-centreoperatorstomeasureandimprove

theirdata-centreinfrastructureenergyefficiency.

With€11millioninresearchfundingacross48

projectsfrom2004–2010,ICTisanareaofvaried

research,coveringtheapplicationofICTto

buildingsandprocessdesign,energymanagement

andtheuseofenergyinICTitself.Thisresearchis

beingcarriedoutbyavarietyofouroutstanding

third-levelinstitutions,andincludestheuseofICTfor

buildingdesignandmanagement,thedesignand

optimisationofICTequipmentanddatacentres,

andtheapplicationofcomputersimulationto

energyproblems.


Thebusinesssectoroffersconsiderableopportunities

forrealisingsubstantialenergyefficiencies.The

followingactionsarethosethatofferthemost

potentialoverthelifeofthisActionPlan.

NEW ACTIONS

Green Enterprise Guide

61. We will work with State enterprise and

business promotion agencies and industry

representative bodies to promote the benefits

to business of greater energy efficiency.36

Anumberofagencies(IDAIreland,Enterprise

Ireland,SEAIandtheEnvironmentalProtection

Agency)publishedinJuly2011Developing a Green

Enterprise,acost-savingguideforbusinessesand

facilitymanagersonenvironmentalsupportservices

andgrant-aidofferingsinIreland.

36 GreenEnterpriseGuide:http://www.epa.ie/downloads/

pubs/other/corporate/Developing%20a%20Green%20

Enterprise%20Navigator.pdf

Thepurposeoftheguideistoprovideinformation

onwhereabusinessorinstitutioncangofor

assistanceinrelationtowaterconservation,waste

prevention,energyefficiencyandcleantechnology

–dependingonwhethertheclientisalargeorsmall

enterprise,amultinational,orapublicinstitution.The

fouragencieswillcooperateinprovidingintegrated

eco-efficiencysupportservicesasappropriateto

businessorinstitutionalneeds.

Market Surveillance

62. We are designing a market surveillance

programme intended to test products across

a range of product fiches, under both the

Energy Labelling and Ecodesign Directives.

TheDepartmentofCommunications,Energyand

NaturalResourcesisresponsibleforallaspectsof

implementationoftheEnergyLabellingDirective

andformarketsurveillanceaspectsoftheEcodesign

Directive.Ouroverallapproachtomonitoringand

surveillanceactivitieswillencompassbothproactive

andreactiveinspectionsalliedtoproducttestingto

ensurecompliancewiththelaw.

Table 5: Summary of business sector savings achieved (2010) and expected (2016, 2020)


2010 2016 2020 2010 2016 2020

SEAILargeIndustryProgrammes 1,595 2,235 2,730 398 539 642

SEAISMEProgramme 150 400 505 36 91 113

ACA(privatesector) 55 370 690 13 80 140

SEEEPandEERF(privatesector) 175 175 175 42 41 40

CHP(privatesector) 280 370 430 68 90 104



Total 2,505 4,340 5,820 620 1,025 1,330


MarketsurveillanceoftheEcodesignDirective

primarilyentailshavingthevariousproducts

fallingwithinthescopeoftheDirectivetested

byaccreditedlaboratoriestoverifytheirenergy

efficiencyinvariousoperationalmodes.Where

testingdoesnotsupporttheclaimedefficiency

oftheproduct,theDepartmentisrequiredto

takeenforcementaction,includingorderingthe

manufacturertoreworktheproductorbanningthe

productfromourmarket.

TofulfilourobligationsundertheEnergyLabelling

Directive,themarketsurveillanceauthoritywill

outsourceinspectionfunctionstoasuitably

qualifiedmarketactorwhowillthenbeappointed

asanauthorisedofficer.Authorisedofficerswill

carryoutin-storevisualinspectionsofenergylabels

toverifythemanufacturer’sdeclarationandthat

allrelevantinformationisproperlydisplayed.The

overallaimistoprovideconsumerswithaccurate

informationatthepointofsalerelatingtothe

energyefficiencyandconsumptionofaproduct.

Therecanbewidevarianceintheenergyusage

ofproductsthatperformthesamebasicfunction.

Sometimesthemostenergy-efficientmodelcan

bemoreexpensivetobuy,butitslowerenergy

usageoverthecourseofitsusefullifemorethan

compensatesforitshigherinitialcapitalcost.The

marketsurveillanceregimewillensurecompliance

withtheEnergy-UsingProductsandEnergyLabelling

Directives,assistinginthecreationofawarenessand

amarketforenergy-efficientproducts.

Energy Star

63. We will work with our European partners

in implementing the new Energy Star

Agreement.

Wewelcomethecommunicationfromthe

CommissionontheEnergyStarProgramme37

anditsrecommendationforrenewalofthe

agreementbetweentheEUandtheUnited

States.EnergyStar38isrightlyanintegralpartof

theUnion’senergyefficiencypolicy.Theresults,

inrelationtobothpenetrationofEnergyStar

productsandcompliancelevels,isencouraging.

Moreparticularly,theindicativeenergysavings

assessmentoftheimpactofEnergyStarshows

that,inthelastthreeyears,theprogrammehas

resultedinanestimatedreductionintheelectricity

consumptionofnewofficeequipmentsoldintheEU

since2008byabout11TWh.Thistranslatesintosome

3.7MtofavoidedCO2emissions.Thatisawelcome

outcome.Welookforwardtofurtherprogramme

benefitsbasedonanewagreementwiththeUS.

Better Energy Workplaces

64. The Better Energy Workplaces scheme

will achieve significant, measurable and

verifiable energy performance gains in the

public and private sectors that will act as

exemplars leading to replication of energy-

efficient retrofit measures across these

sectors.

InMay2011,theSEAIlaunchedtheBetterEnergy

37 CommunicationfromtheCommissionontheimplementation

oftheEnergyStarprogrammeintheEuropeanUnioninthe

period2006–2010,COM(2011)337final,10June2011

38 Theprogramme,basedonanagreementbetweentheUSA

andtheEuropeanCommunity,concernsthecoordinationof

energyefficiencylabellingprogrammesforofficeequipment.

TheoriginalagreementexpiredinDecember2011.


Workplacesprogramme,whichisdesignedtoassist

intheenergyefficiencyupgradeofnon-domestic

buildings,facilitiesandservices.Theschemewas

openforapplicationsforprojectsfrompublic-

sector,private-sectorandcommunityorganisations.

Itbuiltontheachievementsofcomparable

incentiveschemesin2009and2010(seebelow).

In2009,theSEAIdelivereda€5millionprogramme

thatprovidedgrantassistancetothebusinessand

publicsectors.Theprogrammesupportedenergy

efficiencymeasuresforbusinessesandinstitutions

acrossthecountry.Over74projectswerefunded

undertheprogramme.Asaresultofthework

carriedout,annualenergysavingsworth€2.6

millionand12ktCO2wereachieved.Thepublic

sectoraccountedfor50oftheseprojectsandmost

ofthesavings,with€2.2mand9.8ktCO2saved.

InJune2010,theSEAIlaunchedthe€9million

EnergyEfficiencyFund.Theschemewasquickly

oversubscribed;over43projectswereapproved.

Thefundsupportedexemplarprojectsthat

achievedsignificantandverifiableenergysavings

andprovidedkeylearningsforotherbusinesses

andpublic-sectorbodies.Theprojects,20ofwhich

wereinthepublicsectorand23intheprivateand

voluntarysectors,werecompletedbytheendof

2010.Theenergyefficiencyactionstakenwillcreate

lifetimesavingsofover€70million,andsome50,000

tonnesofCO2emissionswillbeavoidedeachyear.

KeyobjectivesoftheBetterEnergyWorkplaces

schemearetoachievesignificant,measurableand

verifiableenergyperformancegainsinthepublic

andprivatesectorsthatwillactasexemplars,leading

towiderdisseminationandreplicationofenergy

efficiencyretrofitmeasuresacrossthesesectors.A

fundof€11millionwasdisbursedin2011toafurther85

projects.Particularattentionwasgiventodeeperand

scalableretrofitsolutionsthatachievedsignificant,

measurableandverifiableenergyperformance

gains.Atotalof€34millionofadditionalfundswere

leveraged,bringingthetotalinvestmentto€45million.

Energysavingsofover270GWhareestimatedand

56,000tonnesofCO2willbeabatedannually.

Subjecttoavailablefuturefunding,wewillcontinue

toleverageinvestmentinarangeofenergy

efficiencymeasures.Sincesuchmeasuresare

relativelylabour-intensive,theirdeliverywillalso

stimulateemployment.Afurthergoalofthescheme

istoencouragenewmodelsofservicedelivery

throughinnovativecontractual,organisationaland

financingarrangements.Thiswillhelptoestablisha

newvaluechainfordeliveryofsustainableenergy

projects,includingprocurementandcontracting

arrangementsbetweenpartners,thusdisseminating

theprinciplesofenergyperformancecontracting,

whichinturnwillinformotherlonger-terminitiatives

foractivatingsustainableenergyretrofitinvestment.

Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) / Energy Service Companies (ESCOs)

65. We will develop a standardised energy

performance contract process with a view

to overcoming the barriers that exist for the

public sector in particular.

Whiletherearerecognisedbarrierstothelarge-

scaledeploymentofESCO/EPCcontracting,the

benefitstothepublicsectorintermsofenergy

savingsareclear.

Constraintsontheavailabilityofinvestmentcapital,

amongotherfactors,haveledtotheconcept

ofEnergyServiceCompanies(ESCOs)offering

organisationsapackagedsuiteofenergyefficiency

measuresundertheaegisofanegotiatedenergy

performancecontractandengagingthird-party

financing.However,bothinIrelandandelsewhere,

thisconcepthasgenerallybeenslowtogainmarket

recognitionandacceptance.


Aftercommencingwithpublic-sectorbuildingsand

facilities,itisplannedtopromoteandfacilitatethis

businessmodel,bydevelopingaresourcetoolkit,

includingmodelcontracts,andbysupporting

exemplarprojectstoactasinfluentialcasestudies.

Inthefirsttwoyearsofthisupdatedplan,such

projectsareanticipatedinlocalauthorityand

prison-servicefacilities.Byestablishingaproving

groundfortheESCOmodelofenergyefficiency

delivery,itisintendedtopromoteandtransfer

thismodeltoaccelerateandleverageenergy

efficiencyinvestmentprojectsinboththewider

publicsectorandinthebusinesssectorasawhole.

Inparticular,wewillundertakethefollowingactions:

• DCENRandSEAIwilltargettherolloutofESCo

pilotprojectsinlocalauthoritiestomeetour

commitmentintheGovernment’sInfrastructure

andCapitalInvestment2012–2016:MediumTerm

ExchequerFramework.

• InlinewiththedevelopmentofaPay-As-You-

Save(PAYS)model,wewilllooktodevelopan

appropriateframeworktodrivethemarketinthe

commercialandpublicsector.

Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN)

66. We will extend the Large Industry Energy

Network (LIEN) membership, achieve deeper

energy savings and intensify participation

in the international energy management

standard ISO 50001.

TheLargeIndustryEnergyNetwork(LIEN)and

EnergyAgreementsprogrammescoverthemost

energy-intensivesegmentofIreland’sindustrial

base.OverthelifetimeofthisActionPlan,these

verysuccessfulprogrammeswillcontinuetheir

momentum,furtherextendtheirmembershipand

achievedeeperenergysavings.

ParticipationinEnergyAgreements,centred

onthenewinternationalenergymanagement

standardISO50001,willbeintensified,anddeeper

energyefficiencyopportunitieswillbepursued

acrossarangeoftechnologies(e.g.HVAC,steam,

compressedair,cleaning,drying,motivepower),

services(thermalandelectrical)andsubsectors

(e.g.dairy,pharmachem,ICT).Thisworkwilldraw

onthefindingsandmethodologiesemergingfrom

recentandfuturespecialistinvestigativeworking

groupstudiestargetedatthesespecificfieldsof

opportunity.

Theoveralltargetsetforthissectorisanambitious

one,representingacontinuousyear-on-yearannual

targetimprovementofalmost400GWhoverthe

lifetimeoftheActionPlan.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Programme

67. We will ensure that the SME sector has

access to the necessary supports to reap

the financial benefits from investment in

appropriate energy management practices.

OverthelifetimeofthisActionPlan,wewill

strengthenourcommunicationswiththeSME

sectorinordertoensurethatbusinessesarefully

awareofthefinancialbenefitsthatcanberealised

frommakinginformedinvestmentdecisionsand

fromadoptingappropriateenergymanagement

practicesasanintrinsicelementofbusiness

management.

Awarenessanduptakeoftheseserviceswillbe

extendedthroughonlineresources,improved

accesstoadvice,andupscaledtrainingdelivery

systems.Suchresourceswillincludesectoraland

technologyguidanceandcasestudies.Work

withkeybusiness-sectorstakeholdergroupswill

continue,andthemoreenergy-intensivesectors,


suchasthehospitabilitysector,willbetargetedin

ordertoincreaseparticipationrates.

Theone-to-oneadvice,mentoringandassessment

elementoftheSEAI’sSMEsupportsisbeing

redesignedwithaviewtochangingtoamore

market-orientedmodel.Itisplannedthatapanel

ofregisteredenergyprofessionals,alignedwiththe

provisionsofS.I.542of2009,willprovidetheservice

bymeansofavoucher-basedsupportmechanism.

Itisanticipatedthatthisnewapproachwill

facilitateeasieraccessbySMEstotheservices

offeredandultimatelyensuremoreeffective

deliveryoftheseservices.

Accelerated Capital Allowances (ACA) Scheme

68. We will develop the ACA products list and

Triple E register to serve as the recognised

reference for energy-efficient procurement.

Budget2011andsection35oftheFinanceAct

2011extendedtheACAschemeforafurther

threeyearstoDecember2014,demonstratingthe

Government’scommitmenttoaprovenincentive

forbusiness.Theextendedschemeisawin-winfor

businessandtheenvironment.Itprovidesaboost

tocompaniesthatwishtopurchasehighlyenergy-

efficientplantandmachinery,andthussaveon

energycostsandreduceCO2emissions.

Onthebasisofincreasingawarenessovertimeand

asthelistofeligibletechnologiesexpands,thereis

anestimatedpotentialtosaveupto975GWhby

2020acrossthepublicandprivatesectors,worth

over€50m(€2010).Thislevelofenergysavings

wouldresultinabatementof200,000tonnesofCO2.

TheTripleEregisterofexemplarenergy-efficient

productswillcontinuetoexpandinscopeandto

serveasarecognisedresourceforthebusiness

andpublicsectors(inthelattercasethroughthe

EnergyEfficiencyPublicProcurementRegulations

201139)whenprocuringnewequipmentorvehicles.

Moreover,theperformancethresholdsforentryon

theregisterwillcontinuetobeperiodicallyreviewed

andprogressivelyupgraded.

Progress on Building Standards

69. We will develop the construction industry’s

capacity to achieve higher energy

performance standards and to create

sustainable jobs over the lifetime of this

Action Plan.

Notwithstandingtheseverecontractioninthe

buildingsectoroverrecentyears,thefollowing

initiativeshavebeentakenwithaviewto

supportingtheconstructionindustryincomplying

withthelatestBuildingRegulationsanddeveloping

itscapacitytoachievehigherenergyperformance

standardsinfuture:

Developing Professional Design Skills :Third-

levelinstitutionsareprovidinglevels7,8and9

energyandsustainability-relatedcoursesfor

constructionprofessionals.Professionalbodies

andcontinuingprofessionaldevelopment

organisationsareprovidingadditionaltraining

forexistingprofessionals.Over6,000peoplewith

construction-relatedqualificationshavecompleted

theDomesticEnergyAssessmentProcedure(DEAP)

trainingcourseandsome530peoplewitha

minimumoflevel7qualificationaretrainedtoapply

theNon-DomesticEnergyAssessmentProcedure

(NEAP)methodology.

39 EuropeanUnion(EnergyEfficiencyPublicProcurement)

Regulations2011(S.I.No.151of2011)


Developing Construction Trades Skills :Thefollowing

trainingandsupportsareinplacetofacilitatethe

developmentoftherequiredadditionalskills:

• FÁS(IrishNationalTraining&Employment

Authority)trainingschemesforairtightnessand

thermalbridgingonsiteskills.

• IntegrationofrevisedPartLguidance

inapprenticeshipcoursesinInstitutesof

Technology.

• UpskillingcoursesfortradesthroughFÁSandthe

InstitutesofTechnology.

• Certificationschemeforair-tightnesstesters

andforcertifyingtheenergyperformance

ofwindows(WindowEnergyPerformance

Scheme),putinplacebytheNationalStandards

AuthorityofIreland.

• DECLG/SEAI/HomebondAcceptable

ConstructionDetails,availableforuseonsite.

• Thermalmodellerscertificationscheme.

Withregardtobuildingservicestrades,supports

include:

• UpskillingcoursesfortradesthroughFÁSand

InstitutesofTechnology.

• RenewablestrainingmodulesfromFÁS.

• NSAI’sPlumbingandHeatingCodeofPractice.

• TechnicalGuidanceDocumentF2010.

• Agrémentcertificationandinstallerschemesfor

innovativeandenergy-efficientproducts.

TheDepartmentofEnvironment,Community

andLocalGovernmentisworkingwithindustry

representativegroupstofurtherenhanceskillslevels

inthisarea.

Build Up Skills Ireland (BUSI)

70. We will support the Build Up Skills Ireland

(BUSI) initiative in the development of a

national qualification roadmap.

Theresidentialandcommercialsectoraccounted

forover40%ofenergyconsumptioninIreland

in2010.TheBetterEnergyUpgradeProgramme

estimatesthatuptoonemillionbuildingswillrequire

retrofittingby2020.Inthecontextofadeclinein

thenumberofpeopledirectlyemployedinthe

constructionindustryandgivenGovernment

initiativestostimulatejobcreationinthissector,it

isclearthatspecificenergyskillsarerequired.A

coordinatedup-skillingprogrammecouldoffer

sustainableemploymenttomanyinthesector.

BuildUpSkillsisanEU-wideinitiativefocusedon

thecontinuingorfurthereducationandtraining

ofcraftsmen,constructionworkersandsystems

installersinbuildings.ItsaimistodevelopaNational

QualificationRoadmapforeachmemberstate,

endorsedbyallrelevantstakeholders,thatwill

contributetomeetingour2020sustainableenergy

targets.

Todeliverthisobjective,DCENR,alongwithother

governmentdepartmentsandagencies,willwork

withtheBuildUpSkillsforIreland(BUSI)Consortium

tobringforwardacomprehensiveactionplanand

roadmapforthefuturetrainingandupskillingneeds

oftheIrishconstructionsector.


85Chapter07—ResidentialSector

Chapter 07Residential Sector

2020 Vision

AllnewIrishhousingwillbenearlyzero-energy.

Efficiencystandardsinolderhomeswillbesignificantly

improvedthroughretrofittingactions.

Achieving the Vision• AmendmentofBuildingRegulationstoimprove

efficiencyinnewhomes.

• Introductionofsmartmeterstoencourageenergy-

efficientbehaviourbyhouseholders.

• Inthedomesticsector,useofastandardised

measurementmethodologytomeasureand

calculateprogressofenergysupplierstowards

theirannualtargets.

• ImplementationoftheAffordableEnergy

Strategytotargetlow-incomehouseholdsatrisk

ofenergypoverty.

IntroductionIrelandhasbeenmakinggoodprogresstowards

meetingourinternationalcommitmentsintermsof

improvingenergyefficiencyandreducingcarbon

dioxideemissionsinthebuiltenvironment.Building

Regulationsareimportantinsettingthestandardand

drivingperformanceimprovements.Theongoing

programmeofgraduatedimprovementsinthe

energyefficiencyrequirementsfordwellingsunderthe

BuildingRegulationswillcontributeto20%ofIreland’s

overallemissionsreductionstargetsfor2020.

However,itneedstobeacknowledgedthatthelevel

ofbuildingactivityhasdecreasedsubstantiallyin

recentyears.Whiletheimprovedbuildingstandards

willcontinuetohaveanimpact,muchofourfocus

mustreturntoretrofittingolderbuildingstockifweare

tomeetourenergyefficiencytargets.

Therearestillobstaclesandmarketfailurespreventing

usfromrealisingthefulltechnicalandeconomic

potentialofenergyefficiency.Thepracticalbarriers

toinstallingenergyefficiencymeasuresincludethe

upfrontcostofmeasures,thelengthoftimerequired

formeasurestopaybackinsavings,andthe‘hassle’

involvedinplanningandcarryingoutwork.Mostof

all,manypeoplehavenevereventhoughtabout

retrofittingtheirhomesandaren’tawareoftheenergy

savingsavailabletothem.

PowerofOnewasasuccessfulinformationcampaign

thatledtonoticeablechangesinconsumer

behaviourandhaspavedthewaybypreparingthe

marketforactionthroughincentives.Smartmetering

willplayanintegralroleinencouragingconsumers

toconsiderdeepermeasuresinthecomingyears.

Intoday’sclimate,wecanencourageconsumers

morethanevertoactivelytakeupenergyefficiency

upgradesandtorealiseenergysavingsintheirbills.

Energy Usage in the Residential Sector

Energyusageintheresidentialsectoramountedto

over34,550GWh(finalenergyconsumption,climate-

corrected)in2010,adecreaseof5.7%on2007levels,

whentheimpactofclimatevariationistakeninto

account.Totalenergyusagegrewbyjust21.1%in

thesectorovertheperiod1990–2010,asillustrated

inFigure14onthenextpage,withthenumberof

householdsincreasingbyover60%.Energyintensity

(averageenergyusageperhousehold)decreasedby

over10%overtheperiod,reflectinganimprovement

inenergyefficiencyofthehousingstock,much

ofitduetothehigherefficiencystandardsofnew

housing.Notalltheimprovementsinenergyefficiency

resultedinlowerenergyusage;insomecases,higher

standardsofheatingandcomfortlevelsfollowedthe

deploymentofcentralheating.


ONGOING NEEAP1 ACTIONS

Better Energy: Homes

71. We are providing grant assistance to

householders to upgrade the energy

efficiency of older homes through Better

Energy: Homes.

Better Energy: The National Upgrade Programme

waslaunchedinMay2011.Therearefourstrands

toBetterEnergy,whichreplacedthreedomestic

energyefficiencyandrenewableenergy

programmes:theHomeEnergySavingsScheme

(HES),theWarmerHomesScheme(WHS)and

theGreenerHomesScheme(GHS),together

withabusinesssupportprogramme(formerly

theSustainableExemplarEnergyEfficiency

Programme,SEEEP).

BetterEnergy:Homes,thedomesticstrandofthe

programme,allowscustomerstoapplyforan

Exchequer-supportedincentive.Themeasures

grant-aidedunderthisstrandincluderoofand

wallinsulation,high-efficiencyboilers,heating

controlupgradesandsolarthermal.Thiswas

formerlytheHES.

BetweenthestartoftheHESin2009uptotheend

of2011,over€119millionwaspaidtohomeowners,

enabling110,000homestoundertake274,000

energyefficiencymeasures.

Better Energy: Warmer Homes

72. We are upgrading the energy performance

of homes occupied by those on low incomes

through Better Energy: Warmer Homes.

BetterEnergy:WarmerHomesisfocusedon

alleviatingenergypoverty,providingsupport

Figure 14: Energy usage in the residential sector

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2007 20092006 2008 20102002

Residential Final Energy Usage (Climate corrected)

Mto

e

kWh

/Dw

elli

ng

Residential Final Energy Intensity (Climate corrected)


forenergyefficiencyupgradesinlow-income

privatehousing,previouslycoveredbythe

WHS.Applicationsarecollectedcentrally,via

amanagingagent,orthroughanetworkof

community-basedorganisationsthatdeliverthe

retrofitworkfreeofchargetothehomeowner.

TheAffordableEnergyStrategy,publishedin

November2011,willbetheframeworkforbuilding

onthemanymeasuresalreadyinplacetoprotect

householdsatriskfromtheeffectsofenergy

poverty,whichincludethethermalefficiency-

basedmeasuresdeliveredthroughtheBetter

Energy:WarmerHomesprogramme.

Smart Metering

73. We will encourage more energy-efficient

behaviour by householders through the

introduction of smart meters.

Smartmetersarethenextgenerationofmeters,

whichcanreplaceexistingelectro-mechanical

anddiaphragmmetersandofferarangeof

benefitsforboththeindividualelectricityandgas

consumerandfortheelectricityandgassystemsin

general.Asmartmeterisanelectronicdevicethat

measurestheconsumptionofenergy,addingmore

informationthanaconventionalmeterandgiving

up-to-dateinformationonusagetotheconsumer.

Akeyfeatureofasmartmeteristheabilityto

providebidirectionalcommunicationbetweenthe

consumerandsupplier/networkoperator.

Smartmeterscan(i)facilitateimprovingenergy

efficiencybyempoweringconsumerswithmore

detailed,accurate,andtimelyinformationabout

theirenergyconsumptionandcosts;(ii)reduce

overallenergyconsumption,and(iii)reduce

overallenergybillsbyshiftinganydiscretionary

electricityusageawayfrompeakconsumption

times.Thebenefitsofsmartmeteringarerecognised

internationally;anumberofkeyEUlegislative

instrumentspromotesmartmeteringtoensurethat

consumersareproperlyinformedofactualenergy

consumptionandcostsfrequentlyenoughto

enablethemtoregulatetheirconsumption.

TheCER,workingcloselywiththeDepartmentof

Communications,EnergyandNaturalResources

(DCENR),establishedtheSmartMetering

ProgrammePhase1inlate2007withtheobjective

ofsettingupandrunningsmartmeteringtrials

andassessingtheircostsandbenefits,inorder

toinformdecisionsrelatingtothefullrolloutof

anoptimallydesigneduniversalNationalSmart

MeteringProgramme.SmartMeteringProgramme

governancestructureshavebeeninplacesince

early2008,includingaSmartMeteringSteering

GroupandaWorkingGroup,establishedand

chairedbytheCER.Thesegroupsaredesignedto

drawonthevaluableexperienceandexpertiseof

theelectricityandgasindustriesandthusconsist

ofrepresentativesfromtheDCENR,theSustainable

EnergyAuthorityofIreland,ESBNetworks,BordGáis

NetworksandIrishgasandelectricitysuppliers.

Varioussmartmeteringelectricityandgastrialsfor

residentialandsmall-to-medium(SME)business

consumerswereplannedanddesignedduring

2008andbeganin2009/10,forcompletionin2011.

Associatedcost-benefitanalysesforthenational

rolloutofelectricityandgassmartmeteringwere

alsocompletedin2011,usingthefindingsofthe

varioustrials.ThekeydeliverablesofPhase1–

namely,thecomprehensiveelectricityandgas

smartmeteringtrialsreportsandcost-benefit

analysesreports(asshowninFigure15onthenext

page)–werepublishedbytheCERin2011.


Thiscombinedsuiteofelectricityandgas

smartmeteringreportsprovidearobust,fact-

basedinformationsetthathasinformedthe

CERandstakeholdersofthemeritsofproviding

smartelectricityandgasmeterstoresidential

andSMEconsumersinIreland.Inaddition,the

comprehensivecost-benefitanalyseshelpedto

castlightontherelativeattractivenessofvarious

designoptionsfortheimplementationofsmart

meteringandthemainsourcesofriskassociated

withanationalsmartmeteringrollout.

Basedontheclearlypositivefindingsfrom

thesecomprehensivereports,theCERissueda

consultationpaper(CER/11/191)inNovember2011

outliningitsintentiontoproceedwithanational

rolloutofelectricityandgassmartmetering

inIreland.ConsultationpaperCER/11/191also

outlinedproposals,drawingfromEuropeanand

nationallegislativerequirements,onthehigh-level

objectives,datarequirements,design,functionality,

implementationapproachandtimelinesforthe

nationalsmartmeteringend-to-endsolution.The

consultationperiodclosedinDecember2011and

35responseswerereceived.TheCERpublishedits

finaldecisionpaperonthenationalsmartmetering

rolloutinJuly2012.Itisenvisagedthatthispaper,

byfinalisingtherolloutdecisionandfirmingupon

itshigh-leveldesignandrequirements,willenable

theCERtomovetheNationalSmartMetering

ProgrammeintoPhase2,wherethehigh-level

designandrequirementswillbeelaboratedonwith

theinvolvementofallrelevantstakeholdersunder

anappropriategovernancestructureandagainsta

detailedimplementationplan.

Smart Metering – Consumer Behaviour

Case Study: The success of a smart metering

rollout and the smart grid depends on consumers

responding to the information on their energy

usage in a positive way. An electronic device

linked to the smart meter displays almost real-

time information to consumers on their electricity

consumption and associated costs.

Smart meter trials are the first step towards the

realisation of a smart meter in every household.

From the 9,681 installations, 5,000 residential

consumers and 650 businesses were used

as a representative sample. The meters were

installed nationwide by the end of June 2009,

and electricity usage profiles were established

between July and December 2009. Test measures

were put in place from 1 January 2010 and ended

on 31 December 2010.

Figure 15: Smart Metering Programme Phase 1 – key deliverables

Customer Behavior Trials Findings Reports

Electricity:CER/11/080a

Gas:CER/11/180a

Technology Trials Findings Reports

Electricity:CER/11/080b

DuelFuel:CER/11/180b

Cost-Benefits Analyses Reports

Electricity:CER/11/080c

Gas:CER/11/180c


Consumption data gathered during the 12-month

test period was analysed to determine the

consumer response to the smart metering-enabled

measures tested in terms of the impact on overall

and peak electricity usage. A total of 82% of

participants made a change to the way they used

energy. The trial proves that consumers can benefit

from the deployment of time-of-use tariffs, which

make it easier to adjust consumption patterns to

times when energy is cheapest.

Housing Aid for Older People Scheme

74. We are providing grants to older people

through the Housing Aid for Older People

Scheme, including for works that will improve

the energy efficiency of their homes.

TheMinisterfortheEnvironment,Heritageand

LocalGovernmentintroducedtheHousingAid

forOlderPeopleSchemeinNovember2007.

Theschemeaimstoprovidetargetedsupport

toimproveconditionsinthehousingofolder

people.Theschememayassistwithworksthatcan

improvetheenergyefficiencyofhomes,suchas

insulation,provisionofcentralheatingandrepair

orreplacementofwindowsanddoors.Thescheme

isadministeredbylocalauthorities,whichassess

applicantsonthebasisofhouseholdmeans.The

maximumgrantavailableis€10,500,whichmay

coverupto100%ofthecostofapprovedworks.

Condensing Boilers

75. We are ensuring a move to highly efficient

condensing boilers through regulations

setting a minimum efficiency standard for all

new and replacement oil and gas boilers.

NewregulationssignedintolawinMay2011require

allnewandreplacementoilandgasboilersto

haveaminimumseasonalnetefficiencyof90%,

witheffectfrom1December2011.TheDECLGand

SEAIhavejointlypublishedaCondensingBoiler

AssessmentProcedureaspartofaguidance

documentonHeatingandDomesticHotWater

SystemsforDwellings–AchievingCompliancewith

PartL.Thisiscurrentlybeingupdatedtoreflectthe

upgraded2011regulations.

Boiler Efficiency Campaign76. Promote awareness of regular boiler servicing

benefits.

Thisawarenesscampaign,deliveredthroughthe

SEAI,seekstoencouragebuildingowners(primarily

householders)tocommittoregularboiler-servicing

practicesandreplacementofolderorlessefficient

boilersandheatingsystems.Thecampaign

prioritisesboilersthatneedmostattention(e.g.

older,lessefficientboilers)andincludesspecial

consumerawarenessandlinkedtradeinitiatives,

awardsschemesandspecificpromotionsofquality

products,suchascondensingboilers,efficient

heatingcontrolsandrenewableenergyheating

systemswhereappropriate.


Best Practice Design for Social Housing

77. We are promoting higher standards of energy

efficiency in social housing.

Thebest-practiceguidelines,QualityHousingfor

SustainableCommunities,publishedinMarch

2007,focusonpromotinghighstandardsin

design,construction,environmentalperformance

anddurability.Sustainabledevelopmentcan

beachievedthroughsettlementpatternsthat

areplannedinaccordancewithurbandesign

principlesthatcreatehigh-qualityneighbourhoods,

ofadensitythatsupportsschools,shopsand

amenitieswithineasywalkingdistancesof

dwellings.

Theguidelinesadvocatethatclimate-sensitive

designshouldtakeaccountoftheorientation,

topographyandfeaturesofthesiteofaproposed

development,soastocontrolwindeffectswhile

optimisingthebenefitsofsunlightandsolargain.

Designingforsustainabilityinvolvesachieving

energyefficiencyatthedesign,manufacture

andconstructionstagesandduringthelifetimeof

thedwellings.Theguidelinessettheambitionof

optimisingtheenergyperformanceofnewhomes,

withtheaimofreducingemissionsandimproving

energyefficiencyby60%.

Whilelocalauthoritiesareresponsibleforthe

overallstandardandqualityoftheirhousingstock,

inrecognisingthefinancialburdenofimproving

energyefficiency,theDepartmentofEnvironment,

CommunityandLocalGovernmenthasoverthe

pastnumberofyearsallocatedcapitalfunding

towardsupgradingtheperformanceofsocial

housing.Theprogrammeincludesretrofitting

measuresaimedatimprovingtheenergyefficiency

ofolderapartmentsandhousesbyreducing

heatlossthroughthefabricofthebuilding,the

installationofhigh-efficiencycondensingboilers

andotherrelatedmeasures.Theenergyefficiency

targettobeachievedbythesedwellingsisC1

ontheBuildingEnergyRatingcertificateforthe

dwelling,thoughtheextentoffundingistiedtothe

overallenergysavingsachieved.

Demonstrationsocialhousingschemeshavebeen

fundedtoachieveadvancedenergyefficiency

standards,withenergyratingsbeyondthatofthe

BuildingRegulations.Anexampleofsuchascheme

istheTraleeTownCouncil–TowardsCarbonNeutral

project.

Theseprogrammescontributetothereduction

offuelpovertyandareanexampleofthepublic

sectorbeingaleadingexampleinthesetting

ofhigherstandardsfortheenergyefficiencyof

housing.

Building Energy Rating

78. We will update the Building Energy Rating

Regulations on foot of the Recast Energy

Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

WehaverolledoutaBuildingEnergyRating(BER)

systemtonewhousesfrom2007andextendedthis

toexistinghousesfrom2009.From1January2009

alldomesticdwellingsofferedforsaleorlease

arerequiredhaveaBER.Itprovidesinformation

onthedwelling’senergyperformanceand

informsrentaldecisions.TheBERcertificateis

accompaniedbyanAdvisoryReportthatprovides

recommendationstoenablelandlordstoimprove

theenergyefficiencyoftheirproperties.Conferring

aminimumstandardforpropertiesoccupiedby

thoseinreceiptofrentalsupplementwouldallow

Governmenttoensurethatthosemostinneedare

inapositiontominimiseunnecessaryexpenditure

onenergy,whiledrivingthemarkettoprovide

morecost-efficientrentalaccommodation.


Attheendof2011,BERcertificatesforover278,000

homeswereregisteredwithSEAI,representing

approximately15%ofthenationaldwellingstock.

Spatial and Planning Policies

79. We are encouraging more energy-efficient

communities through our spatial and

planning policies.

Integratedplanningandsustainablecommunity

initiativesofferimportantbenefitsintermsof

reducedtravelrequirements,integratedservices

andbetterqualityoflife.TheNationalSpatial

Strategy2002–2020isbasedonasustainable

developmentpolicyframeworkandemphasises

publictransportaccessandsustainabletravel

throughwalking,cyclingandsettlementpatterns

thatreducedistancesbetweenhome,work,

servicesandleisure.

TheDepartmentofEnvironment,Community

andLocalGovernment’sGuidelinesforPlanning

AuthoritiesonSustainableResidentialDevelopment

inUrbanAreassetaseriesofhigh-levelaims

forsuccessful,sustainableandenergy-efficient

residentialdevelopmentinurbanareasandsetthe

contextforhousingdevelopers,theirdesignteams,

theplanningsystem,andthecommunitytheyserve

tocreatehigh-qualityplacesthat:

• prioritisewalking,cyclingandpublictransport,

andminimisetheneedtousecars.

• provideagoodrangeofcommunityand

supportfacilities,whereandwhentheyare

needed,andthatareeasilyaccessible.

• promotetheefficientuseoflandandofenergy,

andminimisegreenhouse-gasemissions.

• provideamixoflandusestominimisetransport

demand.

• enhanceandprotectthegreeninfrastructure

andbiodiversity.

SEAIissupportingsixexemplarcommunity

projects,involvingparticipationfromacrossthe

localcommunity,todevelopanddemonstrate

bestpractice,expandingintothedevelopment

ofSustainableEnergyZones(SEZ)from2015.

Thisprogrammehasthepotentialtostimulatea

nationalmovetowardssustainableenergypractice,

creatingsavingsforhomesandbusinessalike,and

attractinginvestmenttooursecure,sustainableand

competitiveeconomy.

NEW ACTIONSDuringthelifetimeofthisActionPlanthefocuswill

turntofurtherimprovingtheBuildingRegulations,

whileimplementingmonitoringandverification

mechanismstoensurethatrealenergysavingsare

beingachieved.

Consolidated Building Regulations 2011

80. We have introduced new Building Regulations,

delivering a 60% improvement in new-housing

energy efficiency standards.

Since1992,wehavebeensteadilyimprovingthe

energyperformancerequirementsforhousing,

bygreatlyimprovingrequirements(through

loweru-values)forbuildingfabricelements,

includingroofs,walls,floors,doorsandwindows.

Improvementshavealsobeenmadethrough

theimplementationoftechnologiessuchassolar

panels,heatpumps,biomassheatingsystems,

photovoltaicand/ormicrowindtechnologies.

Thecombinedeffectofthethesechangesisthat

thepermittedprimaryenergyusageforatypical

newdwellinghasdecreasedfrom200kWhperm2

perannuminthecaseofadwellingconstructed


priortothe2002requirementsto90kWhperm2per

annumunderthecurrent2008regulations.

InMay2011theMinisterforEnvironment,Community

andLocalGovernmentsignedrevisedBuilding

Regulationsintolawwhichwillresultinimproved

whole-dwellingenergyandcarbonperformance,

equivalentto60%betterthan2005standards.The

newrequirementsincludesubstantialimprovements

inwall,roofandfloorinsulation;increasedenergy

performancestandardsforwindows;reducedair

permeabilityvalues;morerigorousthermalbridging

heat-losscalculationsandspecifications;higher-

performingstandardsforoil/gas/biomassboilers,

andindependenttimecontrolofspaceheating

zones.Inthecaseofexistingdwellingsundergoing

amaterialalteration,thenewregulationsspecify

improvedenergyefficiencylevelsforbuilding

elements.Whenfullyoperative,thepermitted

primaryenergyusageforatypicalnewdwelling

constructedtotheBuildingRegulations2011

requirementswillbe60kWhperm2perannum.

Affordable Energy Strategy

81. We will target those in energy poverty

through the implementation of the Affordable

Energy Strategy.

AnInter-Departmental/AgencyGroupon

AffordableEnergy(IDGAE)hasbeenestablished,

whichrepresentsallkeygovernmentdepartments,

agenciesandenergysuppliersaswellasthe

EnergyRegulatorandNGOs.TheAffordableEnergy

Strategyhasidentified48short,mediumandlong-

termactionsthatcanbetakentotackleenergy

poverty,andfivework-streamswillbeorganisedto

progressissuesaroundtheroleofenergysuppliers,

introducinganarea-basedapproachtodeliveryof

energyefficiencymeasures,dataandinformation,

andcommunications.

Domestic Measurement and Verification Systems

82. We will implement Measurement and

Verification Systems to accurately

measure energy savings achieved in the

domestic sector.

Standardisedmeasurementspecificationshave

beenpublishedforcertifiedenergysavings

measuresinthedomesticsectors.Thesewillbe

usedtocalculatetheprogressofenergysuppliers

towardstheirannualtargets.AspertheEnergy

PerformanceinBuildingsDirective,aBuildingEnergy

Rating(BER)willberequiredtobecarriedouton

eachhomeonceenergyefficiencymeasuresare

completedonthehome;inaddition,acalculation

istobecarriedoutbytheregisteredassessor

carryingouttheBERwhichwillmeasurethe

improvementinrating(kWhimprovementbased

onthesquaremeterageofthehome)resulting

fromtheenergyefficiencymeasuresimplemented.

Ongoingresearchandanalysiswillbecarriedoutto

verifythatactualsavingsachievedareinlinewith

thoseestimated.

Driving Innovation in Building Standards

83. We will implement the provisions of the

Recast Energy Performance of Buildings

Directive (EPBD).

Directive2010/31/EUontheEnergyPerformanceof

Buildings(Recast)wastransposedbytheEuropean

Union(EnergyPerformanceofBuildings)Regulations

2012(S.I.243of2012).Fordwellings,themain

additionalrequirementstobeaddressedare:

• Ensuringthatminimumenergyefficiency

requirementsaresetatacost-optimallevel

fornewdwellingsandforexistingdwelling

undergoingmajorrefurbishment.


• Introducingregulationstorequirethat

BERratingsbequotedinadvertisingand

promotionalmaterialwhenadwellingisoffered

forsaleorrent.

• Developinganactionplanforimprovingthe

energyefficiencyofthenationalhousingstock.

84. We will develop a framework for achieving

low- or nearly zero-energy housing.

Directive2010/31/EUontheEnergyPerformance

ofBuildings(EPBD)(Recast)requiresmember

statestoensurethatallnewbuildingswillbenearly

zero-energybuildingsby31December2020.The

directivedefinesa“nearlyzero-energybuilding”as

onewithahighenergyperformancewherethelow

amountofenergyrequiredshouldtoasignificant

extentbemetfromrenewablesources,including

onsiteornearbysources.AframeworkforIreland’s

approachtomeetingtheEPBDrequirementfor

nearlyzero-energyhousinghasbeendeveloped

bytheDECLGandwillbeissuedforpublic

consultation,givingaclearindicationtoindustryof

thefutureregulatoryrequirements.

85. We will encourage industry to work towards

the building requirements outlined in the

framework for achieving low or nearly zero-

energy housing on a voluntary basis from 2013.

ThegraduatedimprovementintheBuilding

Regulationsfrom2002todate(asdescribedabove)

haveputIrelandattheforefrontofEUmember

statesintermsofenergyefficiencystandardsfor

dwellings.AlreadytherearesignsthatIrishbuilders

andmanufacturersareinnovatingandadapting

theirapproachesandproductstomeetandeven

exceedthestandardsofthelatestregulations.We

areawareatapublicpolicyleveloftheimportance

ofmaintainingthemomentumthathasbeen

createdinthisregard.


95Chapter08—Cross-SectoralMeasures

Chapter 08Cross-Sectoral Measures

2020 Vision

WewilltransformtheuseofenergyinIreland,centred

aroundinformedconsumers,providingappropriate

marketsignalsandactivedevelopmentofbusiness,

servicesandtechnologies.

Achieving the Vision• Comprehensivecampaignstoraiseawarenessof

energyefficiencyandcontributionofinefficient

useofenergytoclimatechange.

• Implementationofarangeoffiscalmeasures

toprotectandenhancetheenvironment,and

examinationofothermeasures.

• Stimulationofmarketactors,suchasESCOs,to

delivercost-effectiveenergyefficiencymeasures

tothemarket.

Introduction

Better Energy: The National Upgrade Programme

86. We will ensure that the Better Energy

Programme will upgrade Ireland’s building

stock to high standards of energy efficiency,

thereby reducing fossil-fuel use, running costs

and greenhouse-gas emissions.

TheBetterEnergyprogrammehasfiveoverarching

objectives,whichwillguidethedevelopmentofthe

programmeandinformfutureactions,asfollows:

• Deliverenergyefficiencyupgradestoonemillion

residential,publicandcommercialbuildings

by2020,andintheprocessunlocksignificant

financialsavingsforhomeowners,businessesand

thepublicsector.

• Realise8,000GWhofenergysavingsoverthe

lifetimeoftheprogramme(2011–2020).

• Improvetheenergyaffordability,healthand

comfortlevelsofvulnerablecustomersinsociety.

• Developaninnovative,competitiveand

sustainablemarketforefficiencygoodsand

servicesinsupportoftheGovernment’sstrategy

forthedevelopmentofaGreenEconomy.

• UnderpintheNationalClimateChangeStrategy

throughlow-costGHGemissionreductions.

BetterEnergy:TheNationalUpgradeProgrammewill

buildonSEAI’ssuccessfuldomesticgrantprogrammes

andwilltakethescaleofactivitytoanunprecedented

level.Itwillbecentredonengagingmarketactorsto

deliverupgradesefficientlyandeffectively,withSEAIin

anoversightroleensuringqualityandconfidenceas

thenewmarketsbuild.TheBetterEnergyProgramme

willchangethewaythatSEAIdelivershigh-volume

supportstoenergyefficiencyactivityinallsectors,and

willbringallsuchworkunderoneumbrellascheme,

withaharmonisedapproachandaunifiedandeasily

identifiablebrand,withdeliverybyenergysuppliers.

TheprogrammewilldeliveronamajorGovernment

priority,withafocusonemployment,efficiencyand

costandemissionsreduction.

TheBetterEnergyProgrammeplacesanobligation

onenergysuppliers(thatsupplymorethan75GWh

perannum)todeliverenergyefficiencymeasures,

directlyorthroughpartners,inthedomestic,

commercial,industrialandpublicsectors.Thusitwill

beamultiannualprogrammeinvolvingenergysupply

companies,energyservicesproviders,construction

workers,energyauditorsandpolicymakers,working

togethertodeliverenergysavings,costreductions

andultimatelysmallercarbonfootprintsforenergy

customersthroughoutthecountrythroughthe

upgradeofIreland’sbuildingstocktohighstandards

ofenergyefficiency.


Energysuppliershaveenteredintovoluntary

agreementswithSEAI,underwhichtheycommitto

achievinganagreedportionoftheoveralltarget,

takingaccountofitspercentagedeliveryofenergy

intothemarketandthemarketstowhichitdelivers.

TheEnergyMiscellaneousProvisionsAct40underpins

thelegislationalreadyinplacetoallowobligations

tobeplacedonenergysuppliers.

Thenewprogrammewillplayamajorrolein

achievingournationalandEuropeantargets,

whilebridgingtheenergysavingsgapasidentified

inNEEAP1.Itwillmaximisetheenergyefficiency

returnfrompublicandprivateinvestment,while

takingaccountoftheneedtoprotectvulnerable

householdsfromenergypoverty.

TheBetterEnergyprogrammeisdesignedtobenefit

allsectorsoftheeconomy,fromhouseholdersto

businessesandthepublicsector.Packagesof

measureswillbedesignedtosuiteachsector,with

theneteffectofmakingIrelandamorecompetitive

andenvironmentallyfriendlycountry.

87. We will establish a national Energy

Performance Contracting (EPC) process to

deliver innovative models of retrofitting and

financing of energy efficiency measures in

the commercial and public sectors.

Thisservicewill:

• Provideexpertassistancetopublicbodies

wishingtoimplementenergy-savingretrofit

projectsusingEPCand/ornon-Exchequer

financing.

• Developandimplementnationalframeworksfor

theimplementationofthispolicy,e.g.through

thedevelopmentofstandarddocumentation.

40 Energy(MiscellaneousProvisions)Act(No.3of2012)

• Helpshapeanationalpolicywithrespecttothe

useofthesemodelsthroughoutthepublicsector

overthecomingdecades.

Inadvanceoftheestablishmentofthisservice,

SEAIwillprovidespecialistexpertadviceand

supporttoprogressselectedenergyefficiency

retrofitprojectsthathavethepotentialtoactas

demonstratorsoftheseinnovativeprocurement

modelsandforwhichprojectchampion(s)have

alreadyshownstrongcommitment.

Energy Service Companies (ESCOs)

88. We will lead an ESCO Action Plan which will

target a number of stakeholders, including

relevant policymakers, market actors,

potential Energy Performance Contract

customers and financiers.

Theplanwilltargettheabovestakeholdersinthe

followingways:

Policystakeholders:DCENRandSEAIalongwiththe

NationalTreasuryManagementAgency(NTMA)will

prepareabusinesscaseforEPCwiththeobjective

ofinformingpolicyregardingtheaccountingand

debitlimitbarriersthatexist,andfacilitatingEPC

procurement,thedevelopmentofmodelcontracts

andbudgetring-fencingasappropriate.

EPCMarket:SEAIwillworkwithmarketactors

tobuildcapacitybyprovidingtraininginEPC

andrelatedconcepts(e.g.monitoringand

verificationprotocols).

PotentialEPCCustomers:SEAIwillrolloutamodelto

identifyandsupportEPCpilotprojectsin2012and

assistimplementationbyprovidingacoordinated

suiteofsupportsinvolvingprojectfacilitators,

networkingandaccesstoexpertlegaland

technicaladvice.


Financiers:DCENRandSEAIinpartnershipwith

NTMAwillengagewithfinancialinstitutionsto

exploredifferentfinancingoptions,includingthe

potentialtouseEUfinancingmechanisms,andthe

developmentofaGreenFundforEPC.

PAYS

89. We will introduce an appropriate Pay-As-

You-Save (PAYS) model for Ireland to replace

existing Exchequer supports for domestic and

non-domestic energy efficiency upgrade

measures.

TheProgrammeforGovernmentincludesa

commitmenttorolloutaPAYSretrofitschemeafter

2013,toreplacetheExchequerfundingcurrently

beingprovidedtotheBetterEnergyProgramme.

ThePAYSconceptisaninnovativefinancing

mechanismthatwouldallowconsumerstofinance

upgradesusingthemoneythattheywouldhave

spentontheirenergybill.Suchaschemecan

alsobeusedtostimulateinvestmentsinenergy

efficiencyinnon-domesticbuildingsandpremises.

DCENRhasestablishedaprojectteamtoundertake

thenecessarytechnicalandfinancialanalysisofa

PAYSmodelintheIrishcontext.

Thereareconsiderablecomplexitiesinvolved

inthedevelopmentofthePAYSscheme,which

requirescomprehensiveconsultationwithallenergy

supplierswhowillbeinvolvedinthescheme.

Fiscal Policy

90. We will change behaviour using the pricing

mechanisms that incorporate the externalities

of fuel consumption into the prices as

encountered by producers and consumers in

society.

Thismeansofchangingbehaviourisnormally

recognisedasthemostefficientmannerof

providingtechnology-neutralincentivesfor

newproductdevelopmentandhelpingto

alterbehaviouralpatternsregardingtheuseof

technologies.

Budget2010introducedacarbontaxatarateof

€15pertonneonfossilfuels.

InBudget2012thecarbontaxwasincreasedby€5

from€15to€20pertonne.

Thecarbontaxisaboutsendingapricesignal

toincentiviseachangeinbehaviourinboth

companiesandhouseholdsasregardsreducing

theircarbonemissions.Itwillalsoencourage

innovationbyincentivisingcompaniestobringlow-

carbonproductsandservicestothemarket.

Energy Taxation Directive

91. We will actively participate in the negotiations

on the revision to the Energy Taxation

Directive.

TheEuropeanCommissionproposedarevision

ofthe2003EnergyTaxDirectiveinearly2011.The

Commissionproposalseekstochangethestructure

ofthetaxonenergyproductsbyintroducing

twocomponentstothetax:aCO2component

andanenergycomponent.Theintroductionof

amandatoryCO2componentisnotwithoutits

challenges.Moreover,thereisaproposaltorelate

fuelsofequalusethatwouldremovethecurrent

flexibilityofmemberstatesinsettingexciserates.


Environmental Awareness

92. We will continue to raise awareness of the

impact of energy usage on climate change

and resource efficiency through supporting

a range of educational and awareness-

raising activities.

ThisincludesinitiativessuchassupportingLocal

Agenda21Partnershipprojects,GreenSchools,Tidy

Towns,promotingourclimate-changeresourcefor

primaryschoolsEcoDetectivesandworkingwith

environmentalNGOs,otherpublicbodiesandlocal

authorities.

Green Schools Initiative TheGreenSchoolsInitiativeisaninternational

environmentaleducationprogrammeandaward

schemethatpromotesandacknowledgeslong-

term,whole-schoolactionfortheenvironment.It

introducesparticipants(students,teachers,parents

andthewidercommunity)totheconceptofan

environmentalmanagementsystem.Itaimsto

increaseawarenessofenvironmentalissuesthrough

classroomstudies,andtotransferthisknowledgeinto

positiveenvironmentalactionintheschoolandin

thewidercommunity.Schoolsthathavesuccessfully

completedallelementsoftheprogrammeare

awardedaGreen-Flag.GreenSchools(Eco-Schools)

isco-ordinatedonaninternationallevelbythe

FoundationforEnvironmentalEducation(FEE).

TheDepartmentoftheEnvironment,Community

andLocalGovernmentprovidesfinancialsupportfor

theGreen-Schoolsprogramme,whichisoperated

inIrelandbyAnTaisceandalsofundedbyprivate-

sectorsponsors.Thereisaparticipationratein

excessof83%ofIrishschools,andthenumberof

schools,third-levelinstitutionsandeducationcentres

registeredfortheGreen-Schoolsprogrammemore

than3,500in2012.

Green Campus Initiative

FollowingthesuccessoftheGreen-Schools

programme,theGreen-Campusinitiativefor

postsecondaryandtertiaryleveleducational

institutionswasestablishedin2007.TheGreen-

Campusprogrammeencouragesapartnership

approachtoenvironmentalmanagementin

third-levelinstitutions,identifyingthecampus

asacommunityandemphasisingtheinclusion

ofallsectorsofthecampuscommunityinits

environmentalmanagementandenhancement.

TheGreen-Campusprogrammedoesnotreward

specificenvironmentalprojectsorimplementation

ofanewtechnology;insteaditrewardslong-term

commitmenttocontinuousimprovementfromthe

campuscommunityinquestion.

Atpresent18Irishcampusesareformallyregistered

ontheprogramme,andthreehavebeenawarded

theGreenFlag.

Green Business and Green Hospitality

TheGreenBusinessandGreenHospitalityinitiatives,

operatedbytheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,

supportbusinessesinreducingtheirenvironmental

impact.TheGreenBusinessinitiativeoffersarange

ofsupportstohelpsmallandmediumenterprisesto

identifysavings.Thewebsitewww.greenbusiness.

ieallowsbusinessestomeasureresourceuseand

identifywheresavingsmightbemade.Theycan

alsorequestafreesitevisitbyanadvisorwhowill

cometotheirpremisesandidentifyenvironmental

measuresthatcansavemoneyforthebusiness.

Greening CommunitiesAwiderangeofinitiativesareinplaceinIreland

thatfacilitateandrecogniseincreasinglevelsof


sustainableenvironmentalbehaviourandactivity.

Theseprogrammesaretakingplaceinthehome,in

schools,incommunitiesandintheworkplace(e.g.

TidyTowns,NationalSpringClean,GreenBusiness,

Green-Schools).TheGreeningCommunities

initiative,whichbeganin2010,seekstocoordinate

andintegratetheseprogrammestomaximisetheir

contributiontobuildingsustainablecommunities.

TheDepartmentoftheEnvironment,Community

andLocalGovernmentisworkinginconjunction

withAnTaisce,theEPA,NGOs,localauthoritiesand

otherstodevelopthisinitiative.

Other Awareness-Raising ActivitiesOtherinitiativestoraiseawarenessoftheimpact

ofresourceusageonclimatechangeinclude

thedigitalenvironmentalinformationservice

(www.enfo.ie),whichistobepromotedinlibraries

throughoutthecountry,andtheprovisionofschool

resourcesbytheDepartmentoftheEnvironment,

CommunityandLocalGovernmentandthe

EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.Aprimary-school

resource–EcoDetectives–waslaunchedin2010

alongwiththesecondary-schoolresource2020

Vision: A Closer Look at Ireland’s Environment.

Measurement and Verification93. We will ensure that energy measurement and

verification systems are in place across all

publicly funded programmes, as standard.

Inlightofourambitiousnationaltargetsandin

ordertoaccuratelyrecordtheimpactofthemyriad

programmesandactivityacrossallsectors,the

abilitytogenerateandanalyseenergy-related

dataisparamount.

Cross-Departmental Implementation Group94. We will establish a Cross-Departmental

Implementation Group to deliver the actions

contained in this Action Plan.

Thegroupwillcoordinateeffortsacrossgovernment

tomaintainfocusanddrivetheachievement

ofourtargets.Inparticularitwillmonitorthe

implementationofactionstoensuredeliveryacross

thevarioussectorsinvolved.

Thereare97actionsidentifiedinthisAction

Plan,withmultipleagenciesinvolvedintheir

implementation.Manyoftheseactionsarealready

intrainwhilefurtheractionswillbedeveloped

overthelifetimeofthisplanthatwillcontribute

significantlytotheachievementofoursavings

targets.Thereisanonusonalltopickupthepace

intheyearsaheadifwearetoachievewhatremain

veryambitiousnationaltargets.

95. We will investigate the mechanism by which

we could replicate the Australian Energy

Efficiency Opportunities Programme in our

large-industry supports.

96. We will review the voluntary agreements for

energy suppliers in the context of international

best practice.

97. We will fully implement the Energy Efficiency

Directive.


Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources29–31 Adelaide RoadDublin 2

SEAI National Energy Efficiency Action Plan

Documents

euenergytargets 14figure2

contentslist of figuresfigure1

progressandambition

list of tablestable1

executive summary