Written answers

Wednesday, 4 October 2006

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Energy Conservation

9:00 pm

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of water which was used in buildings owned or leased by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; if he will provide the details of any water audits undertaken; the current or future conservation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31090/06]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of energy which was used in buildings owned or leased by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; the energy source and suppliers used; the details of energy audits undertaken; current or future conservation plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31089/06]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 154 together.

In accordance with its Environmental Policy Statement, my Department is fully committed to the effective management of our consumption of water and energy resources. This is a critical element of our ongoing accreditation to ISO 14001:1996 which we achieved for our headquarters offices in 2003. We are working towards achieving this certification for all our offices. In the meantime a number of objectives guide our activities across the Department, including a reduction in the quantity of consumable resources used by the Department.

As non-domestic water users, water meters are being installed in all of my Department's offices in accordance with the Government's Water Pricing Framework. This will enable the Department to monitor water usage throughout the Department's various offices. In the meantime, my Department is taking measures to eliminate wastage including through the installation of more efficient water dispensers. As regards energy usage, the Department's policy is to use a number of energy saving devices such as energy efficient lights, powersave function on electrical office equipment and photocopiers with duplex facilities. Energy consumption in my Department's headquarters decreased from 982,000kWh in 2003 to 948,635kWh in 2005, representing a reduction of 3.4%.

We are also liaising with the Office of Public Works, who provide maintenance services to the Department, to implement other effective measures to reduce energy and water consumption.

The Department had been committed to obtaining its electricity from renewable sources for some time and following a tender process, under the auspices of the Office of Public Works, a contract is now in place with Energia for the supply of electricity from renewable sources to the Department's main offices.

Under the Government's decentralisation programme the bulk of my Department's Dublin based operations are being decentralised to four locations in the South East. The Department is liaising with OPW to ensure that best practice in building management guides the planning and design of the Department's new offices including provision for minimisation of waste, energy conservation, renewable energy sources and water conservation measures.

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