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Energy Efficient Home Requirements
The introduction at the end of 2007 of regulations to significantly strengthen the energy efficiency requirements for new homes, delivering energy and emissions savings of 40% on the previous standard. The Minister for the Environment announced in his Carbon budget of October 2008 that it is intended to bring the improvement on the 2005 standard to 60% in 2010.
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Funding for Local Authorities
An amount of €10 million will be made available in 2009 and 2010 to Local Authorities and Voluntary/ Co-operative Housing Associations for projects aimed at delivering sustainable energy efficient housing developments in which homes will reach a minimum A2 Building Energy Rating.
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Retrofit Programme
A full audit of the public housing stock will be delivered in 2009 to lay the foundation for a programme of retrofitting, where required, to deliver modern standards of energy efficiency. In addition to this, €5 million is being provided in 2009 to undertake a number of pilot retrofitting projects.
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Home Energy Saving Scheme
An allocation of €20 million has been provided to support the Home Energy Saving Scheme, which provides grants to householders to improve energy performance of their homes. www.sei.ie/hes
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Warmer Homes Scheme
An allocation of €10 million has been given to the Warmer Homes Scheme. This scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of homes occupied by low-income households. This scheme engages regional community based organisations to carry out the work – which includes attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, energy efficient lighting, cavity wall insulation and energy advice. The focus is on privately owned and rented homes, which are more diverse and difficult to access than local authority homes, and the latter are catered for elsewhere. www.sei.ie/warmerhomes
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The Low Carbon Homes Programme
The Low Carbon Homes programme is the successor to the successful House of Tomorrow Programme. It aims to significantly reduce the energy usage and associated CO2 emissions. The programme will explore the technical solutions that have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions from energy use in a typical new home by at least 70% relative to a “reference dwelling” built to baseline Building Regulations 2005 standards. www.sei.ie/Grants/Low_Carbon_Homes_Programme/
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The Greener Homes Scheme
The Greener Homes Scheme provides assistance to homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system (solar, biomass or heat pump based) for existing homes. The scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland and aims to increase the use of renewable energy and sustainable energy technologies in Irish homes. www.sei.ie/greenerhomes.
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The Building Energy Rating System (BER)
The Building Energy Rating System, or BER, provides clear information on the energy performance of a building. The BER system together with the renewable technology proposals will help to encourage individuals and companies to improve energy efficiency in their homes and buildings, and by doing so, secure significant savings in energy costs over time. www.sei.ie/ber
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