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.

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’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.

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. 

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.

Environment 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.

A new Sustainable Energy Ireland grant scheme will offer financial support to public and private sector organisations for energy upgrades and retrofits.

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.

Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has said he expects new climate change legislation later this year to closely follow similar legislation introduced in Britain.

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.

The Green Party is to demand the introduction of climate change legislation as its price for continuing in government with Fianna Fáil.

ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs will be part of social partnership from now on, Minister for the Environment John Gormley has announced.

Energy minister Eamon Ryan TD has announced his department’s supplementary budget estimates for 2009.

NEW PROJECTIONS for Ireland’s Kyoto targets published barely a fortnight ago may already be out of date, Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe has said.

The €50m Home Energy Saving scheme is open for applications as of today.

There has been a significant and sustained increase in the number of Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments being completed and published since January 1,  when it became mandatory by law for all dwellings offered for sale or lease, both new and existing, to have a BER certificate.

Call for contractors to register urgently
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan and Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley have launched a national energy saving programme designed to stimulate economic recovery.

The Government has published a €4.5bn plan for sustainable transport to 2020. The Smarter Travel plan sets out Irelands travel policy for Ireland from now until 2020.

Energy minister Eamon Ryan is preparing to go to Brussels for an energy ministerial meeting next Monday should the Ukraine/Russian gas dispute continue. “While this is a serious situation, Ireland remains unaffected by the dispute at this time” he said. The minister said that his department, the energy regulator and Bord Gáis are closely monitoring developments as they unfold.

 

THE GOVERNMENT is being urged to take a much more pro-active approach to architecture by appointing a State architect to advise on policy and permitting local authorities to hire their own architects.