Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 1416: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of electricity used in the Custom House for the past three years; if he will provide a monthly breakdown for this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2623/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The total amount of electricity used in the Custom House over the past three years is set out in the table. While electricity consumption has increased between 2005 and 2007 by 5%, total energy consumption in the same period has decreased by 6%.

In accordance with its Environmental Policy Statement, my Department is fully committed to the conservation and effective management of our consumption of resources, including electricity consumption. This is a critical element of our ongoing accreditation to ISO 14001, achieved for our Headquarters in the Custom House. To minimise energy consumption, my 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 etc. Staff are encouraged on an ongoing basis to avail of all opportunities to reduce wastage within offices. My Department is also working with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Sustainable Energy Ireland with a view to introducing further energy saving measures.

My Department has also committed to obtaining its electricity from renewable sources and, following a tender process under the auspices of the OPW, a contract is now in place with Energia for the supply of electricity from renewable sources to the Department's main offices.

My Department will also be among the first Departments to participate in the recently launched OPW Optimising Power @ Work, Staff Energy Awareness Campaign. This aims at achieving a minimum of 15% reduction in total annual carbon dioxide emissions by implementing an intensive staff energy awareness campaign to ensure that buildings are being operated in the most efficient manner possible with respect to all energy consuming processes.