Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the type of heating system required to meet standards for local authority housing for new builds and when heating systems are being upgraded under planned maintenance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14399/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations 1997, as amended, sets out the minimum statutory requirements in relation to the thermal performance of buildings. The Building Regulations apply to new buildings and, in certain circumstances, to works involving an extension, material alteration or material change of use to existing buildings. The regulations do not distinguish between social or privately owned housing.

Under Part L of the Building Regulations, central heating and hot water systems should be as efficient in use as is reasonably practicable. In the case of central heating systems utilising oil or gas, the boiler seasonal efficiency should be not less than 90% while for systems utilising a biomass independent boiler, the boiler seasonal efficiency should not be less than 77%.

In addition, central heating and hot water systems should be effectively controlled so as to ensure the efficient use of energy by limiting the provision of heat energy use to that required to satisfy user requirements insofar as reasonably practicable. In this context, the aim should be to provide the following minimum level of control: -

- automatic control of space heating on the basis of room temperature;

- automatic control of heat input to stored hot water on the basis of stored water temperature;

- separate and independent automatic time control of space heating and hot water;

- shut down of boiler or other heat source when there is no demand for either space or water heating from that source.

Furthermore, all hot water storage vessels, pipes and ducts associated with the provision of central heating and hot water in a dwelling should be insulated to prevent heat loss.

My Department recognises the need continually to improve the standard and energy efficiency of local authority owned housing stock. Constraints on capital budgets for new stock are resulting in greater emphasis being placed on local authorities maintaining and improving their social housing stock and on the early return of vacant units to productive use. In this context, local authority improvement works programmes for 2012 should reflect the key national priorities of returning vacant properties to productive use, improving the energy efficiency of older stock and reducing both national energy usage and CO2 emissions.