Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Building Reform Regulations: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Mr. Se?n Armstrong:

I will answer the Deputy's question on boilers. As I said in the opening statement, 86% of new dwellings now install heat pumps. We introduced nearly zero energy building requirements for dwellings in November 2019.

The number of heat pumps increased quickly from approximately 50% to more than 80% as a result of the regulation's introduction. The number of heat pumps has been increasing by 2% each quarter. Recently, we made an adjustment to the accounting methodology for the BER system to take account of the grid's decarbonisation. This will further reduce emissions from heat pumps. Using the current rate of increase of 2% per quarter, we expect to see fossil fuel boilers fully phased out by the end of next year. With our recent adjustments, we might even see that happen earlier. It is happening. Oil boilers and solid fuel burners are no longer being installed as the main heating systems for new dwellings.

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