Fourteen Public Sector Bodies Commit to Energy Savings of €330 million by 2020
Media Release
11th November 2010
Public Bodies Leading the Way to Achieve 33% Energy Efficiency Target by 2020
A group of fourteen leading public bodies have committed to an Energy Partnership initiative with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to deliver total cumulative energy savings of €330 million by 2020. Mr Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, hosted an event in Dublin Castle today where the public bodies signed up to the Partnership, and highlighted their successes to date and their plans to achieve energy efficiency savings of 33% by 2020. The initial group of leading organisations is expected to be joined by other public bodies across the sector, which will commit to similar energy savings.
Leading by example with their energy initiatives and signing up to the Partnership are: An Garda Síochána, Bus Éireann, Courts Service of Ireland, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of Justice and Law Reform, the Department of Education and Skills, Health Service Executive, Irish Defence Forces, Irish Prison Service, Kerry County Council, Louth County Council, North Tipperary County Council, Office of Public Works and Railway Procurement Agency. In achieving the 33% energy efficiency target by 2020, when annual energy savings of all fourteen organisations are added year on year, combined savings of €330 million will be realised.
Launching the initiative, Minister Eamon Ryan said: “The public sector must lead the way on energy saving. We simply cannot afford the wasted costs, energy or CO2 emissions that come with inefficient practices. Today’s agreements show us that smart state companies and Departments are making smart decisions. Every single Government Department and public body should sign similar agreements with SEAI.
The public sector energy bill is approximately €500 million per year. If all our public bodies took early energy efficiency actions to achieve the 33% target by 2020, then cumulative savings of over €800 million would be collectively realised.”
Professor Owen Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of SEAI, commended organisations on the good work already achieved but noted that there was still a long way to go. “Organisations signing up to this agreement are highlighting tangible examples of the gains to be made by taking efficiency measures across the public sector. The good thing is that most of this work is replicable and significant opportunities exist for further savings in the public sector. All that is now required is for more public sector organisations to join the exemplary efforts of those who have already taken the first vital steps on the road to success.”
Significant commitments undertaken by organisations to date have seen on average 20% reductions in energy consumption:
- Bus Éireann is committed to effective energy management and has developed an ECOdriving training programme for its drivers, which could achieve potential savings of over €1.5 million per annum. Energy efficient lighting installed at their garages in Waterford and Broadstone is delivering a reduction in lighting consumption of up to 60%.
- Kerry County Council implemented an efficiency project at its Dingle wastewater treatment plant which will yield an estimated €22,000 per year in savings.
- Sensor-lighting systems, heating controls and upgraded insulation installed at a selection of Garda stations across the country are delivering significant energy savings.
Further information on the programme is available at www.seai.ie/publicsector .
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About SEAI:
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has a mission to play a leading role in transforming Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices. The Authority is financed by Ireland’s EU Structural Funds Programme co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union.
