Government funding of €9 million has been granted to 43 organisations involving capital investment projects of approximately €25 million, under the national Energy Efficiency Fund (EEF) for public and private sector businesses.
The projects, 20 of which are public sector, and 23 private and voluntary sectors, will be completed by the end of 2010, and the energy efficiency actions taken will create lifetime savings of over Eur70 million. Some 50,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions will also be avoided each year as a result, equivalent to taking over 100,000 cars off Irish roads.
The EEF, which is being managed and coordinated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides support for upgrades to buildings, services and facilities involving ambitious packages of energy efficiency investment actions aimed at achieving ongoing and lasting energy savings. Projects relate mainly to thermal and electrical energy usage in buildings. The fund, which was launched in May 2010, was oversubscribed with applications by its closing date in August.
“We must tackle the needless waste of energy across all sectors. In these straightened times, no one can afford to pay for unused energy. Increased energy efficiency is the one sure way to secure enduring reductions in energy use and energy expenditure,” comments Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. “For every euro granted by the Government under this scheme, Eur10 in savings is delivered. The benefits far outweigh the costs. This is an important Government scheme delivering instant savings for both public and private enterprise.”
Professor Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEAI says: “The EEF is a timely example of organisations in Ireland working towards best practice in energy efficiency to deliver real energy reductions in all sectors of our economy. There are tremendous opportunities for almost every company in Ireland to learn from these organisations and replicate the benefits of energy savings by following in their footsteps.”