Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 20 November 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Supporting a Just Transition: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. Seán Armstrong:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to address it on the topic of a just transition. I am joined by my colleagues, Mr. Paul Benson, principal officer, and Mr. Laurence Keating, assistant principal, from the social housing delivery division.

I would like to say a few words about Project Ireland 2040, which the Government launched last year. It sets a number of ambitious climate action objectives specific to the built environment sector, including delivering more sustainable growth of compact and connected cities, towns and villages. Greater energy efficiency is a key benefit of this type of compact growth. Compact growth also encourages the reuse of existing buildings.

Over recent months, we have been implementing our Department's actions under the climate action plan across multiple areas, particularly the built environment. We are driving a number of actions that will contribute to energy efficient housing. These include the implementation of regulations to introduce nearly-zero energy dwellings and major renovations to existing dwellings to a building energy rating, BER, of B2, or cost-optimal level, from 1 November 2019. A circular issued this year to local authorities for phase 2 retrofitting, which covers support for external wall insulation and renewables, including heat pumps.

I will first focus on what we are doing to achieve nearly-zero energy buildings, NZEBs, in new dwellings. From 1 November of this year, all new dwellings commencing construction will be NZEBs, subject to transitional arrangements. Under the previous regulations, a typical new dwelling was built to an A3 BER. The NZEB requirements will equate to an A2 BER. This represents a 70% improvement in energy efficiency and a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with 2005. It also introduces 20% renewables as a percentage of the total building energy use. An analysis of Central Statistics Office, CSO, data shows that 98% of dwellings built since 2015 have achieved an A rating.

With existing buildings, the challenge is inevitably more difficult. The energy performance of buildings directive, EPBD, requires that where a building is undergoing a major renovation, the whole building should be brought up to a cost optimal level insofar as that is technically, functionally and economically feasible. Our technical guidance documents provide detailed guidance in respect of how this can be achieved in practice for buildings undergoing a major renovation. The performance levels have been set to be proportionate to the original cost of works and ambitious but realistic so as not to create an unintended barrier to renovation. Of course, building regulations will not increase renovation rates in themselves, but they will ensure that, when renovations are carried out, they are carried out to this level - typically a B2 rating or the cost-optimal equivalent.

Regarding social housing, funding of some €139 million has been provided since 2013 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in more than 70,000 local authority homes. In addition, energy efficient measures have been incorporated into the 9,000 plus vacant social housing units that have been returned to productive use since 2014. This effectively means that over 50% of our social housing stock has been energy retrofitted. While energy efficiency activity had traditionally been focused on the refurbishment of vacant properties, the current energy retrofitting programme, launched in 2013, was aimed more broadly at the social housing stock, especially to improve the energy efficiency of older apartments and houses by reducing heat loss through the fabric of the building in order to improve comfort levels and address issues relating to fuel poverty. This programme has two phases. Phase 1 focused on the lower cost improvements, such as cavity wall and attic insulation. Phase 2 is now targeting higher cost measures, for example, fabric upgrades, glazing, etc. While many local authority dwellings have undergone shallow retrofits in phase 1 of the social housing retrofit programme, there remains significant opportunity for further retrofit of these dwellings by installing heat pumps, external insulation and energy efficient windows.

The retrofit task force is developing the framework for the midlands retrofit programme. The Department is engaged with local authorities on an ongoing basis in respect of retrofitting programmes and is planning to meet relevant midlands local authorities in the coming weeks. The midlands scheme will act as an economic stimulus for the region as well as resulting in an improved overall housing stock.

We are working hard to address climate change in the built environment through planning policy, building regulations and retrofit of social housing. Through these policies we are ensuring that the quality of the homes we are building and retrofitting for future generations continues to achieve the high standards we are setting for decarbonising our built environment.

We will be happy to address whatever questions members may wish to pose.

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