Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress his Department has made in achieving the 33% target of energy efficiency in the public sector; if energy use in buildings under the responsibility of his Department is being monitored; if so the person by whom it is monitored; the recent trends; if buildings under the responsibility of his Department are being retrofitted to improve energy efficiency; if there are capital budgets for energy efficiency measures in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13124/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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In accordance with its Environmental Policy Statement, my Department is fully committed to continuous improvement in office environmental performance including achieving energy efficiencies. This is a critical element of our ongoing accreditation to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard achieved for our Headquarters in the Custom House since 2003.

My Department recently launched the OPW led 'Optimising Power @ Work' staff energy awareness campaign which aims at achieving an annual reduction in energy consumption equating to a minimum reduction of 15% CO2 emissions. As part of the process, energy usage in three of the Department's main buildings is being monitored by OPW. Trends for the first three months of 2008 indicate that total energy consumption for these buildings has reduced by 16% over the same period in 2007.

Energy consumption is being monitored in all the Department's main buildings by Corporate Development Unit within my own Department. A range of energy consumption measures has been undertaken, including installation of a Building Energy Management System in the Custom House enabling more efficient heating management, as well as, and where possible in main buildings, use of energy efficient light bulbs, thermostats on radiators, timer switches on boilers, high levels of insulation, a powersave function on office equipment and photocopiers with duplex facilities.

With OPW, a programme of works is currently underway in the Custom House to introduce further energy consumption measures, and such works will be undertaken in other buildings following energy audits undertaken as part of the 'Optimising Power @ Work' campaign. Sustainable energy initiatives are also being incorporated into new buildings such as Ballycroy and Clara Bog Visitor Centres. Furthermore, in collaboration with OPW, my Department has set high environmental specifications for its proposed decentralised offices in the South East. In particular, the headquarters building underway in Wexford will be a flagship project with enhanced environmental standards above statutory requirements under the current Building Regulations.

OPW has a capital budget for the maintenance of State buildings including energy efficiency measures. The Department supplements this budget covering minor works from its own accommodation budget.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the promise in the programme for Government which promised to require all street lighting and traffic lighting systems to be energy-efficient and replace inefficient systems; the progress he has made in achieving this target; the additional funds he has given to local authorities to achieve this target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13132/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Delivering on these commitments is a matter for local authorities and I will be seeking updates on implementation in the context of reporting progress under the National Climate Change Strategy. I am aware, for example, from the draft Climate Change Strategy for Dublin City that the City Council has already converted 3,000 traffic lights to more energy-efficient LED signal types and intends to complete the change over by 2010. I expect that these efficiency initiatives will be implemented by local authorities in the context of ongoing management and maintenance of traffic and street lighting, and will result in significant savings in energy costs.