Construct Ireland campaigns to energy upgrade Ireland

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.  Instead it involves building occupants repaying for energy upgrade work through the inclusion of a PAYS tariff on their energy bill, with the tariff tied to the location rather than the occupant.

"The PAYS system offers an excellent means for people to improve their homes and their lives without borrowing or investing their own money," said Jay Stuart of sustainable design consultancy DW EcoCo in a comment on Construct Ireland's PAYS campaign page. "I think it would show good leadership if the PAYS system was implemented by the energy utilities and was available to everybody."

"From my experience in developing Energy Smart Communities in the Dublin area I would strongly recommend the development of PAYS as a highly innovative financing mechanism to unlock energy efficiency renovation in Ireland," added Gavin Harte of the Energy Smart Community.

To read more about PAYS and register your support for the ground-breaking idea, which could create unprecedented volumes of sustainable green jobs, energy savings and carbon reductions visit www.payscampaign.ie.