Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of energy usage in his Department that comes from renewable resources; and the measures that have been implemented in Departments to conserve energy and reduce emissions. [10461/09]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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40% of all energy used in the Department is from renewable sources.

All of the electricity supplied to the Department's main buildings at Adelaide Road and Tom Johnson House and the storage facility at Sandyford, is from renewable sources. This results from a contract with a specific supplier negotiated by the Government Supplies Agency under which 100% of electricity supplied to my Department is from renewable sources.

Electricity is supplied to the decentralised office in Cavan town by the ESB. This office is not included in the electricity contract as it was not occupied by the Department at the time of contract. A portion of the electricity also comes from renewable sources. The energy for heating the Dublin buildings referred to is supplied by Bord Gáis. While natural gas is considered a clean fuel it is not renewable energy.

The responsibility for addressing overall policy in relation to management of energy consumption across the public sector is a matter for the Office of Public Works (OPW). The OPW has embarked on the development of a structured energy management system to promote and achieve best practice energy efficiency in all State Buildings. The Department is working closely with the OPW in respect of buildings under its management.

As regards activity in the Department, an Energy Team was established in late 2007 with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions from energy consumption. The Energy Team has worked closely with the OPW and emissions for 2008 show a reduction of almost 9% over 2007 for the Department's building in Adelaide Road, and a reduction of almost 4% in Tom Johnson House.