CI exclusive: Ryan dismisses reports of energy grant cuts

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Government grant schemes for energy upgrade measures such as insulation, heating controls and renewable energy systems are running as normal, energy minister Eamon Ryan TD has told Construct Ireland. The minister said that €99m is set aside for the Greener Homes scheme, Home Energy Saving scheme and Warmer Homes scheme in 2011.

Energy upgrade programmes escape budget cuts

Minister Eamon Ryan
Government subsidies for energy efficiency and renewable energy have come through Budget 2011 unscathed in spite of swinging cuts across the economy.

Energy minister Eamon Ryan TD has announced a budget of €99m for energy upgrading Irish buildings in 2011 as the government ramps up for the launch of the National Energy Retrofit Programme (NERP).

Plan to energy upgrade one million buildings launched

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One million residential, public and commercial buildings in Ireland will get energy upgrades by 2020 under the latest national retrofit strategy. A consultation was launched this morning on the plan, which will aim to deliver 8,000 GWh of energy savings between 2011 and 2020.

Government introduces feed-in-tariffs for biomass power

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Energy Minister Eamon Ryan yesterday announced the government’s new support price structure for bio-energy. The guaranteed support price will range from 15 cent per kilowatt hour to 8.5 cent an hour depending on the technology deployed.

Irish business leaders back green procurement

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A new coalition of Irish business leaders has issued an open letter urging the government to leverage the State’s €17bn annual procurement spend to develop the green economy.

The CEOs and managing directors of companies including Siemens Ireland, Airtricity, Ecocem, Glen Dimplex and Bord Gais have signed up to Green for Growth, a coalition calling for the state to commit to buying greener goods and services to keep Ireland competitive domestically and internationally.

Green business leaders to sign open letter to government

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Green for Growth, a coalition of leading Irish businesses set up to demand strong government leadership on green procurement, will be launched tomorrow, Friday 14 May 2010 in The Annesley Suite, Alexander Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 2 at 12pm. The coalition has been organised by Construct Ireland magazine.

Government to introduce carbon windfall tax

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Energy minister Eamon Ryan has announced that the government plans to recoup some of the profits big electricity generators have made through the EU's emissions trading scheme. 

Pay-as-you-save scheme launched in the UK

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The energy and climate change secretary, Ed Miliband, has announced details of a "green loans" scheme to help people pay for improvements to their homes to make them more energy efficient.

The scheme, which would see loans remain attached to the house where insulation, solar panels or other green technology was installed, aims to overcome the financial barriers and upfront costs people face when trying make their homes greener.

Green tax incentives for Irish businesses extended

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today announced the extension of the Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme. The Scheme, detailed in the Finance Bill, allows companies to buy energy efficient equipment and write off its full cost against corporation tax in the year of purchase.

Construct Ireland policies in programme for government

sign smallConstruct 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.

EPA chief calls for urgent action on green economy

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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.

A2 rated social housing plans announced by minister Gormley

An illustration of Emerald HousingEnvironment minister John Gormley has announced details of the next generation of low carbon homes to be built in Ireland.

Turning the sod on the Emerald Project in Ballymun, which will be one of the most energy efficient housing developments ever built in Ireland, the minister also announced details of seven additional projects to be funded under a €20 million ‘towards zero carbon homes’ scheme.

Over 40,000 Building Energy Ratings issued in six months

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Sustainable Energy Ireland has today announced new figures for the Building Energy Rating scheme which show that over 40,000 BER certificates have been issued by SEI since 1 January  2009 when it became mandatory by law for all homes offered for sale or rent to have a BER.

Annual energy savings reached Eur750 million in 2007

Prof J Owen Lewis, CEO, Sustainable Energy Ireland
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 per cent 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.