Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will make a statement on the need to reduce CO2 emissions from domestic and non domestic buildings; and if he will increase with immediate effect the standards for energy performance of new buildings. [22540/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Direct greenhouse gas emissions (excluding electricity consumption) from domestic and non-domestic buildings accounted for almost 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2004, down from over 17% in 1990. Over this period, emissions from the residential sector fell by 3.5%, despite an increase of over 40% in housing stock. This reduction is primarily attributable to the shift from coal and peat to oil and natural gas. In the same period, emissions from the non-residential (commercial and institutional) sector increased by 29%. Taken together, the two sectors accounted for an increase of 4.5% over the 1990-2004 period.

A series of revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations has been made over the last number of years, to meet higher thermal performance and insulation standards envisaged in the National Climate Change Strategy. Revisions to Part L which came into effect in January 2003 will deliver annual reductions of 250,000 tonnes of CO2 by 2012. In December 2005 further amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations were made to partly transpose Articles 3, 4, and 5 of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive and incorporate higher thermal performance/insulation standards for new non-domestic buildings commencing on or after 1 July 2006, leading to an additional 45,000 CO2 reduction per annum by the end of 2012. The regulations also provide the legal basis for the introduction of a revised building energy performance assessment methodology for new dwellings. This expresses the energy performance of the building as a single parameter — CO2/m2/ per annum — and provides explicit recognition of the possible contribution of high-efficiency boilers, e.g. condensing boilers, and renewable energy technologies. The thermal performance standards for new dwellings are due for review and further upward adjustment by 2008.

In addition, the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive introduces a requirement for Building Energy Ratings. From January 2007 all new housing will be required to be rated on the basis of calculated energy performance. Rating of all newly constructed buildings and existing buildings for sale or rent will be applicable from January 2009. A building energy rating will allow prospective tenants or buyers to objectively compare the energy demand and performance of a building.

The recent announcement by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, of a €22 million grant scheme for renewable heat technologies in the commercial sector will, when fully implemented, result in a further reduction of 160,000 of CO2 emissions per annum from that sector.

As a result of these measures, I am satisfied that Ireland has established very high standards of thermal performance and insulation for residential and non-residential buildings. These standards will progressively reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions in both sectors, in line with the objectives of the National Climate Change Strategy.