News

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland unveils ambitious 5 year strategic plan

10th March 2010

The five-year lifetime of this strategy will see savings worth a total of €6 billion delivered, and support 5,000 - 10,000 jobs each year

Authority will play a leading role in Ireland's sustainable energy drive

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has today (Wednesday, 10 March, 2010) unveiled a five-year strategic plan with a mission of transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices, and a vision of making Ireland a recognised global leader in sustainable energy. Sustainable energy practices are already delivering significant savings to the Irish economy, with lowered business costs and household energy bills resulting from efficiency measures, and reduced fossil fuel imports from our increased use of renewable energy. Over the course of SEAI's five-year strategy, new savings worth €6 billion over its lifetime will be generated by sustainable energy actions, at the same time supporting 5,000 - 10,000 jobs every year.

Over 40,000 Building Energy Rating Certificates Issued by SEI in First Six Months of 2009

15 June 2009

Increasing level of public awareness of requirement for a BER certificate

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has today announced new figures for the Building Energy Rating (BER) scheme which show that over 40,000 BER certificates have been issued by SEI since 1st January 2009 when it became mandatory by law for all homes offered for sale or rent to have a BER. Combined with the number of BER certificates issued prior to this date during the phased implementation, a total of 44,000 BERs are now published on the SEI website at www.sei.ie/ber. There are currently over 2,700 BER assessors registered with SEI to carry out this work.

Ireland’s Energy Efficiency Improving – SEI

28th May 2009

Annual energy efficiency savings reached €750 million in 2007

The Irish economy recorded savings of €750 million in 2007 as a result of energy efficiency measures undertaken since 1995. The economy recorded a 10% improvement in energy efficiency between 1995 and 2007 and the savings made in 2007 alone were the equivalent to the annual energy usage of half a million houses. These are some of the findings of a new report on energy efficiency published today by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). The report, Energy Efficiency in Ireland 2009, shows that Ireland performed better than the European average for energy efficiency gains in both the residential and industrial sectors.

Highlights:

Total final consumption of energy in the economy would have been 8.4% higher in 2007 were it not for energy efficiency improvements made since 1995
The energy savings due to energy efficiency improvements recorded in 2007 were two and a half times greater than the contribution of renewable energy
Energy efficiency for industry improved by 16% between 1995 and 2007
Energy efficiency for the residential sector improved by 15% in the same period
Despite the fact that transport energy use grew faster than the economy between 1995 and 2007, energy efficiency in the sector improved slightly by 1.4%.

New green FÁS courses for construction sector

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms. Mary Coughlan, T.D., today (Tuesday, 19 May 2009) announced the detail of a number of new training programmes for those who have lost their jobs in the construction sector. The new FÁS courses are aimed at helping those in construction convert or upgrade their skills set to take advantage of the new wave of green and clean-tech opportunities coming on-stream nationally.

The Tánaiste said: “The Government is committed to providing assistance to those workers who have lost their jobs through increasing their skills levels and, in some cases, helping them develop new skills sets that will allow them take advantage of opportunities in new emerging growth areas within the construction sector. These include the installation of energy efficient and renewable technologies, together with compliance and energy rating work.”

Full details here: http://www.entemp.ie/press/2009/20090519a.htm

Home Energy Saving Scheme now open for business

Dublin, 25th March 2009

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today announced that the €50 million Home Energy Saving Scheme is 'open for business'.

From today (25 March) Sustainable Energy Ireland will accept applications from householders wishing to save money and energy by insulating their properties.

Announcing the opening, Minister Ryan said, "Since I announced that I had secured the funding for this scheme, there has been an unprecedented level of interest from the public. Sustainable Energy Ireland has received 94,000 calls and website visits. SEI has assured me that from today applications received online will be processed in under 3 days. I am pleased that so soon after the initial announcement we are up and running, with all the proper procedures in place.