Increase in energy use in Irish buildings despite recession
Written by Lenny Antonelli
Rising energy use in buildings contributed to an increase of 1.5% in overall energy demand in 2008, despite the economy contracting by 3% over the same period, a new report from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) reveals today.
SEI announces 2009 sustainable energy award winners
Written by Lenny Antonelli
The retail and telecoms sectors were the big winners at Sustainable
Energy Ireland's sixth annual awards in Dublin last Friday, with Dunnes
Stores, Heatons, O2 and Eircom each taking awards at the all-island
event.
The awards aim to highlight "excellence in business energy management", and this year included entries from over 100 organisations.
Engineers urge government to act on climate change
Written by News Desk
Ireland risks social and economic disaster from climate change unless the government takes urgent action, according to the Irish Academy of Engineers.
In a new report the group says delivering critical infrastructure must be prioritised, otherwise the country risks polluted drinking water, extensive flood damage and power blackouts.
Think tank: alternative energy can't replace dwindling fossil fuels
Written by News Desk
An alarming new study jointly released by two prominent California-based environmental/economic think tanks concludes that unrelenting energy limits, even among alternative energy systems, will make it impossible for the industrial system to continue operating at its present scale, beyond the next few decades. The report finds that the current race by industries and governments to develop new sustainable energy technologies that can replace ecologically harmful and rapidly depleting fossil fuel and nuclear technologies, will not prove sufficient, and that this will require substantial adjustments in many operating assumptions of modern society.
Ireland's big employers reduce energy costs by E60m
Written by Jeff Colley
Ireland’s largest employers knocked E60 million off their energy costs in 2008 through efficiency measures, energy minister Eamon Ryan announced yesterday at the Sustainable Energy Ireland global conference on energy management in Farmleigh, Dublin.
Construct Ireland nominated for 7 Irish Magazine Awards
Written by Lenny Antonelli
Construct Ireland has received seven nominations for this year's Irish Magazine Awards, the most nominations of any business magazine. Only Hot Press received more nominations across all categories.
The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, according to a whistleblower at the International Energy Agency who claims it has been deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying.
300m annual energy saving potential for Irish businesses
Written by News Desk
Ireland’s small businesses could save €300 million a year through
simple actions to reduce energy costs, Sustainable Energy Ireland has
announced. This follows the completion of 1,500 small business energy
assessments over the past two years, giving SEI the most comprehensive
knowledge of the energy practices and challenges facing small
businesses today.
Construct Ireland policies in programme for government
Written by Jeff Colley
Construct Ireland’s recent lobbying and campaigning work has paid off spectacularly with news that two policy proposals have been adopted into the reneweed programme for government .Editor Jeff Colley made detailed submissions to the Green Party on several issues, with proposals for a pay as you save policy to stimulate national energy upgrade work and a policy to dramatically increase the impact of Building Energy Ratings finding their way into the document agreed between Fianna Fáil and the Greens.
Green shoots at EcoBuild and Plan Expo from 3 to 5 November
Written by News Desk
This year’s Plan Expo, Ireland’s largest building exhibition, will take place at RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin from Tuesday, 3 November to Thursday, 5 November. Green building is at the heart of this year’s event: the EcoBuild exhibition of green building suppliers will take up almost half the floor space, while a first-time conference entitled Rebuilding Ireland will explore the role that green building and architecture can play in Ireland’s economic recovery.
Gormley launches government architecture policy
Written by Lenny Antonelli
Environment minister John Gormley yesterday published the
government's policy on architecture for 2009 to 2015, titled Towards a
Sustainable Future: Delivering Quality Within the Built Environment.
SEI announces funding for Irish ocean energy companies
Written by News Desk
Ten Irish companies developing ocean energy technologies will share
e4.3millon in funding from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the
national energy authority announced yesterday.
Ireland ranked fourth in the world for wind power
Written by Lenny Antonelli
Ireland now ranks fourth in the world for the contribution of wind
energy to electricity use, according to the International Energy
Agency's 2008 Wind Energy Annual Report.
Comhar report proposes massive "green new deal"
Written by Lenny Antonelli
SPENDING ON the smart economy should be increased eightfold to
almost e4 billion a year to make Ireland a world leader in creating
green collar jobs, according to the national advisory body on
sustainable development.
In a report on a “Green New Deal” for Ireland published yesterday, Comhar argued that a multi- billion euro commitment would be needed if Ireland was to become a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
Construct Ireland campaigns to energy upgrade Ireland
Written by Jeff Colley
Construct Ireland has launched a campaign calling for the introduction of pay as you save (PAYS), a system with the potential of substantially energy upgrading the Irish building stock. PAYS overcomes obstacles to the en masse uptake of energy investments such as the requirement for upfront capital, unease at signing up to debt in the case of loans, and lack of confidence in the suitability of particular measures and technologies in a given building. EPA chief calls for urgent action on green economy
Written by News Desk
IRELAND CANNOT afford to wait before investing in the green economy,
the director general of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
said.
Speaking at the organisation’s annual conference, Mary Kelly said there were significant economic opportunities for Ireland in becoming a low-carbon and greener economy.
80% of homeowners want energy upgrade through utility bills
Written by News Desk
80 per cent of Irish homeowners would be interested in paying for comprehensive energy upgrade work through a repayment tariff on their utility bills, a survey has found.
The results, from the monthly online omnibus for August by leading market research consultancy Amárach Research, coincide with the launch of a Construct Ireland campaign calling for energy upgrades across Ireland’s building stock through energy suppliers.
Joseph Little Architects launches sustainable design consultancy
Written by Jeff Colley
Leading green architect Joseph Little has launched a specialist green design consultancy to assist architects and building companies. On Monday 14 September environment minister John Gormley officially launched Building Life Consultancy, the new initiative of Joseph Little Architects at the company’s offices in North Great George’s St.
Deadline for Green Awards applications approaches
Written by News Desk
Irish companies and public bodies interested in recognition for their contribution to the environment have less than two weeks to apply for a Green Award. The deadline for entering this year's Green Awards has been extended to 18 September. Construct Ireland will sponsor the Green Building category for the first time this year.
Construct Ireland defies recession with 11.4% circulation rise
Written by News DeskDespite the construction industry downturn, Construct Ireland has announced an 11.4 per cent increase in circulation over the last year, the largest percentage circulation increase of any Irish magazine.