Environment minister John Gormley has announced details of the next generation of low carbon homes to be built in Ireland.

Turning the sod on the Emerald Project in Ballymun, which will be one of the most energy efficient housing developments ever built in Ireland, the minister also announced details of seven additional projects to be funded under a €20 million ‘towards zero carbon homes’ scheme.

A new Sustainable Energy Ireland grant scheme will offer financial support to public and private sector organisations for energy upgrades and retrofits.

Sustainable Energy Ireland has today announced new figures for the Building Energy Rating scheme which show that over 40,000 BER certificates have been issued by SEI since 1 January  2009 when it became mandatory by law for all homes offered for sale or rent to have a BER.

Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has said he expects new climate change legislation later this year to closely follow similar legislation introduced in Britain.

The Irish economy recorded savings of €750 million in 2007 as a result of energy efficiency measures undertaken since 1995. The economy recorded a 10 per cent improvement in energy efficiency between 1995 and 2007 and the savings made in 2007 alone were the equivalent to the annual energy usage of half a million houses.

The Green Party is to demand the introduction of climate change legislation as its price for continuing in government with Fianna Fáil.

ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs will be part of social partnership from now on, Minister for the Environment John Gormley has announced.

Energy minister Eamon Ryan TD has announced his department’s supplementary budget estimates for 2009.

NEW PROJECTIONS for Ireland’s Kyoto targets published barely a fortnight ago may already be out of date, Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe has said.

The €50m Home Energy Saving scheme is open for applications as of today.

There has been a significant and sustained increase in the number of Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments being completed and published since January 1,  when it became mandatory by law for all dwellings offered for sale or lease, both new and existing, to have a BER certificate.

Call for contractors to register urgently
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley have launched a national energy saving programme designed to stimulate economic recovery.

The Government has published a €4.5bn plan for sustainable transport to 2020. The Smarter Travel plan sets out Irelands travel policy for Ireland from now until 2020.

Energy minister Eamon Ryan is preparing to go to Brussels for an energy ministerial meeting next Monday should the Ukraine/Russian gas dispute continue. “While this is a serious situation, Ireland remains unaffected by the dispute at this time” he said. The minister said that his department, the energy regulator and Bord Gáis are closely monitoring developments as they unfold.

 

THE GOVERNMENT is being urged to take a much more pro-active approach to architecture by appointing a State architect to advise on policy and permitting local authorities to hire their own architects.

THE GOVERNMENT has invested almost €40 million to date in carbon-reduction projects that will help Ireland meet its Kyoto commitments.

€9m for developers of A2 rated housing

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD today announced that the Greener Homes Scheme (GHS), having made over 22,000 grant commitments to householders towards the installation of new renewable energy heating systems, will move immediately to Phase III of the scheme.

Construct Ireland can exclusively reveal that Energy Minister Eamon Ryan has today announced the launch of the pilot Home Energy Saving Scheme.