Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the proposals he has to reduce his Department's dependency on oil and gas usage; if there is a time-scale for implementing such proposed works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32410/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The draft National Energy Efficiency Action Plan sets out the measures that Government may take to achieve at least 20% energy savings across the economy by 2020. The public sector is expected to make a major contribution to achievement of that target, by reducing its energy demand by 33%. As part of this commitment the Office of Public Works is pursuing a three-pronged strategy to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions from buildings for which the OPW is responsible.

The OPW is embarking on a Heating Fuel Conversion Programme to convert the heating systems in approximately 20 large state buildings from their existing fossil fuel burners (oil/natural gas) to biomass burners. The biomass fuel will be in the form of Wood Pellets. It is estimated that this will result in an equivalent reduction of half a million litres of oil being consumed per annum. The tender process is under way and the programme is due for completion in September 2008. The use of biomass in new buildings is also considered in the design process and where appropriate, is being used as the energy source.

The OPW has invited tenders for the provision of services for an energy awareness campaign for staff in Civil Service offices for which the OPW has a maintenance responsibility. Following assessment of the tenders it is intended to start the campaign early in 2008. It is planned to run the programme for two years by which time it is expected that good practices will be established in the buildings, which it is hoped will lead to ongoing savings in the energy costs. The target is to reduce carbon emissions in each building by 15% through these local energy conservation campaigns, energy workshops and close monitoring of the performance of heating and air conditioning systems, when measured against the data collected by the OPW's web-based energy monitoring system over the past three years. The staff concerned will be able to monitor the energy reductions in their building via an Internet site.

In respect of the Energy Efficient Design of New Buildings, the OPW has a policy of designing naturally ventilated buildings whenever possible. Properly designed naturally ventilated buildings can use up to 66% less energy than equivalent fully air-conditioned types. The use of computer modelling also facilitates the proper design of naturally ventilated buildings by accurately predicting airflows, internal temperatures and internal comfort conditions. This technology is being used by the OPW to optimise energy performance in all new large building projects including the Decentralisation programme.