Local Authority
National Energy Efficiency Action Plan
The Plan is designed to chart Ireland’s path towards a more sustainable future. It is Ireland’s first national energy efficiency policy. It was published in 2007 and since that year has formed the basis of the Tipperary Energy Agency’s work in North and South Tipperary County Councils. Download a copy of this National Energy Efficiency Action Plan here.
The Government has committed to achieving by 2020 a 20% reduction in energy demand across the whole of the economy through energy efficiency measures. A national target of 20% equates to a total of 31,925 Gigawatt hours (GWh) saved by 2020. Recognising that Government must lead by example, the public sector must aim to achieve a 33% reduction in energy usage over the same period.
Relating the Targets of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to the Tipperary County Councils
If one is to calculate a direct ratio of final energy consumption at a national level to final energy consumption at a local authority level, it can be established that for North and South Tipperary County Councils, the savings that must be achieved in order to reduce their energy consumption by 33% is approximately 4.4GWh in each council.
Working Towards the 2020 Targets
Each Council has an Energy Committee which creates an Energy Efficiency Work Plan every year. Projects are planned and implemented in the year and results are monitored thereafter to ensure that projected savings are being realised.
In 2009, North Tipperary County Council and South Tipperary County Council saved 576MWh and 598MWh energy respectively. To view the 2009 annual report of North Tipperary Council and South Tipperary Council, please click on the links.
In total, across the two councils over €500,000 was saved in the same year through Energy Efficiency projects and Energy Tendering. Over 450 tonnes of CO2 was also saved as a result of this work.
Similarly, there is a 2010 work plan which is currently being implemented in both councils.
Additional Work
Other work that is carried out for the Local Authority in addition to the Energy Efficiency workplan is:
- Carbon Footprint of the County Councils
- Local Authority Housing Stock Upgrades
- Energy Awareness Campaigns
- Renewable Technology Retrofitting (including biomass district heating initiatives)
- Sustainable Energy Communities
A list of all the projects completed to date can be found in the projects page.
