Public bodies have made €1.3 billion in energy savings and avoided 4.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions since 2009 according to latest analysis by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Annual Report 2019 on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance shows that by the end 2018 collectively the public sector was 27% more energy efficient and on course to achieve its 33% energy efficiency target by the end of 2020.
This is the second consecutive year of marked improved performance, following the introduction of the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy in 2017.
Between them the 345 public bodies and 2,678 schools who reported on their energy performance for 2018 achieved an aggregate improvement in efficiency increasing to 27%, up from 24% the previous year. For 2018, this delivers a further €246 million in avoided energy spend and 761,000 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions.
Announcing the publication of the report today, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton TD, said:
“The public sector must lead by example in delivering on our climate commitments. This report gives us an important insight. The increase of a further three percentage points across the board is to be welcomed and will help ensure we reach our 33% energy efficiency target by 2020. However, the variation across the board is cause for concern – 162 public bodies delivered more than 30% energy efficiency over the period but 49 either deteriorated or improved by less than 10%. The Climate Action Plan target of 50% efficiency by 2030 must now be regarded as a minimum in the context of enhanced climate ambition and the actions required to deliver on that ambition.”
William Walsh, CEO of SEAI said:
“The SEAI public sector programme supports public bodies to achieve necessary changes in their energy behaviour towards achieving national targets. We provide support ranging from training, advice and mentoring to significant capital grants towards large scale investments. If public bodies wish to lead by example and show the ambition required to achieve our goals, they can be assured of committed and expert resources being made available to them by SEAI. This report, and the continued progress demonstrated, is testimony to the ongoing success of these interventions.”
A full copy of Annual Report 2019 on Public Sector Energy Efficiency Performance is available at www.seai.ie