Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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653. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the special measures his Department is taking to reduce energy usage in the scenario in which members of the public are being asked to do the same. [20297/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has undertaken numerous measures to reduce its energy usage. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) recently published its Annual Report for 2021 on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance. The report notes that my Department has exceeded the baseline target of a 30% energy reduction. We currently stand at an energy savings of 39.6% and are on the glide path to meet the 50% target by 2030 as set out in the Climate Action Plan.

In addition, my Department renewed its ISO 14001:2015 Standard Accreditation on 02 Sept 2021. This accreditation certifies both the effectiveness of the Department’s Environmental Management Systems and also, that they are in compliance with international best practice. Furthermore, we are the first Government Department to achieve this accreditation on a multi-site basis. Officials in my Department work closely with colleagues in the OPW on an ongoing basis, to reduce energy usage in all Departmental locations. Some specific measures undertaken by my Department to reduce its energy usage include:

- The installation of new energy efficient heat pumps in the Custom House, Dublin.

- The retrofitting of lights in the Car Park of our Wexford offices with energy efficient LED bulbs.

- Working with the OPW on a programme to swap out old internal light fixtures with new energy efficient, motion activated bulbs throughout all main office locations.

- Significant roof insulation works were carried out in our Ballina offices in 2021. These works have improved the offices Building Energy Rating (BER) from C1 to B2. Light fixtures throughout the building were also replaced with energy efficient bulbs during this project.

- My Department commissioned feasibility studies regarding the installation of Solar Panels in our main office locations. Based on the recommendations of those studies, we are proceeding with the installation of solar panels in our Ballina Offices. Officials in my Department are working with the OPW regarding tendering for these works. After installation, which is planned for Q3 2022, it is envisaged that the Ballina Office, which is over 30 years old, will upgrade its BER to A2. It is estimated that the Solar Panels will cater for 24.3% of onsite electricity requirements.

- My Department has implemented a One Device Policy which has moved away from issuing desktops as the standard ICT equipment to now issuing laptops, which has significantly reduced power consumption.