#Energy Efficiency

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#Energy Efficiency

Articles and analysis relating to measures that can improve energy efficiency in the home.

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Energy minister Darragh O’Brien has said work is ongoing to agree a memorandum of understanding with Spain. Picture: Collins Photo Agency</p>

politics

Government proposes new electricity interconnector between Ireland and Spain

Energy minister Darragh O’Brien said the Government would have to examine possible locations where the interconnector could land in Ireland

<p>EirGrid said the power generation situation in Ireland has improved for a number of reasons, including new sources of generation on the system. File Picture: Denis Scannell</p>

economy

Risk of electricity shortage lowest in years, EirGrid reports

<p>Mr Martin said Ireland's focus over the next number of years will be ramping up production of offshore wind energy, because emerging technology like AI will be energy-intensive.</p>

politics

'Get offshore wind farms over the line' to meet AI energy demands, says Taoiseach

Typical UK terraced housing street derelict

home and gardens

Power Me Up: Your guide to connecting your new build to ESB Networks

Gas Networks Ireland spent €190m building 'capacity, security, and resilience' last year

news

Gas Networks Ireland spent €190m building 'capacity, security, and resilience' last year

Bloom festival 2025

news

Taoiseach rejects 'housing vs data centres' energy claim by senior civil servant

Kieran McCarthy: Is electric heating the solution for your home?

Kieran McCarthy: Is electric heating the solution for your home?

Builder Advice: There is a wide range of electric powered options when replacing an old oil-fired central heating system

Tue, 20 May, 2025

APTOPIX Spain Power Outage

What caused the blackout in Spain and Portugal and did renewable energy play a part?

The countries boast high levels of wind and solar on their grids, leading to speculation about the robustness of the technology

Tue, 29 Apr, 2025

Energy grid sounded alerts twice last year

Energy grid sounded alerts twice last year

There were also five further warnings that power supply was within margins considered to be 'not optimal', according to EirGrid

Mon, 21 Apr, 2025

The mistake we made in the last economic crisis was not building infrastructure

The mistake we made in the last economic crisis was not building infrastructure

Why we need to double down on infrastructure expenditure and ensure Ireland remains attractive from a competitiveness perspective

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025

Slow development of Irish maritime security strategy raises concerns

Slow development of Irish maritime security strategy raises concerns

Massive expansion in offshore wind energy infrastructure and power cables over coming years

Sun, 02 Mar, 2025

Planning permission for Dublin data centre denied following appeal

Planning permission for Dublin data centre denied following appeal

Almost 18 months after it lodged its appeal, Equinix Ireland Ltd has been refused permission for its data centre plans in Clondalkin

Wed, 26 Feb, 2025

Home tax deduction

Landlords face €8bn bill for rental home energy upgrades, study finds

A new ESRI report estimates retrofitting Ireland’s rental homes could cost up to €8bn, with many landlords unable to afford the investment

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

Red paper cutout car on stacks of gold coins on green background. Illustration of the concept of increasing car prices, surging

Why sustainability in Ireland demands more than goodwill

In the race against climate change, an approach that leaves behind those who can’t afford the starting fee is bound to fail, not only ethically but practically

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

University of Limerick student becomes first person from small village in Pakistan to earn a PhD

University of Limerick student becomes first person from small village in Pakistan to earn a PhD

The 28-year-old's daily family life was disrupted by regular power outages, which led Muhammad to search for solutions to energy-related problems

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025

Upscaling of wind and solar farms has saved Irish customers nearly €840m

Upscaling of wind and solar farms has saved Irish customers nearly €840m

Conference will hear the financial benefit of developing renewable energy has 'significantly outweighed' all possible costs.

Thu, 16 Jan, 2025

Two engineers installing solar panels on roof.

More than two thirds of schools apply for funding to install solar panels

Since launch of the first phase of the programme in 2023, more than 1,100 schools have been approved for roof-mounted solar photovoltaic panels

Fri, 03 Jan, 2025

Celtic Interconnector-funded walking trail opens in Cork

Celtic Interconnector-funded walking trail opens in Cork

The first phase of the Leamlara Woods walking trail was developed thanks to a slice of a special €2.4m community fund

Sun, 22 Dec, 2024

Hand holding a tablet with smart home system applications

Donal Hickey: How to save on energy bills over the Christmas period

Solar lights, being nifty with your cooking, and delaying putting on the heating if you're out and about anyway can all help reduce bills

Thu, 19 Dec, 2024

IT Technician with a Laptop Computer and Black Male Engineer Colleague are Talking in Data Center while Walking Next to Server R

Campaigners urge moratorium on data centres

Data centres used more than one-fifth of Ireland's electricity in 2023

Wed, 20 Nov, 2024

loft insulation

Almost 500 council homes in Cork in line for energy upgrades

In 2025, Cork County Council aims to upgrade 135 local authority homes, followed by 175 properties in 2026, and 169 the following year

Thu, 24 Oct, 2024

UK gala screening of Poor Things - London

Green Party rejects actor Mark Ruffalo's criticism of new planning bill

Hollywood star slams Greens for backing an amendment to the Planning and Development Bill, which would label LNG terminals as strategic infrastructure developments

Wed, 09 Oct, 2024

Google Stock

Google Ireland refused permission for new Dublin data centre

The planning documents stated that the data centre will indirectly contribute 224,250 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum without any mitigation measures.

Tue, 27 Aug, 2024

Meta Data Centres

AI tech giants hide dirty energy with outdated carbon accounting rules

Companies are buying credits — called unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs) — that can make it seem that power consumed from a coal plant came from a solar farm instead.

Wed, 21 Aug, 2024

'Landlords should have to bring rental properties up to minimum BER' – Green Party

'Landlords should have to bring rental properties up to minimum BER' – Green Party

'I don’t think it is fair for people to be paying rent in a D4 energy rated house in this day and age,' said Green Party deputy leader Senator Róisín Garvey

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

New works to begin in East Cork as part of the €1.6bn Celtic Interconnector project

New works to begin in East Cork as part of the €1.6bn Celtic Interconnector project

Siemens Energy and its sub-contractors are preparing to start construction of a converter station at the former Amgen site at Ballyadam, Carrigtwohill

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

Carbon economy stock

'Persistent deficits' in energy may harm Ireland's competitiveness

The Government must address “persistent deficits” in the country’s infrastructure, particularly in areas of energy, water, and waste-water, as it may impact Ireland’s competitiveness as well as its attractiveness for foreign investment, the National ...

Wed, 24 Jul, 2024

Energy efficiency mobile app on screen, eco house

Rising number of energy-efficient homes may fuel 'green mortgage' market

The CSO figures found the highest proportions of A rated dwellings were in Kildare at 26%, Meath at 24%, and Dublin County at 23%, in the quarter ending in June, while the lowest were in Leitrim and Cork City

Wed, 17 Jul, 2024

Wind farms generated 34% of Ireland's total electricity demand in the first half of the year

Wind farms generated 34% of Ireland's total electricity demand in the first half of the year

Wind Energy Ireland report says Kerry regained its top spot as the country’s top source of wind energy after it was dethroned by Cork in May

Mon, 08 Jul, 2024

Electric car plugged in outside house

EU revises tariff rates set to hit EVs from China

Several carmakers and EU members including Germany have been pushing the EU and China to negotiate

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Home tax deduction

State body behind retrofitting of homes slammed over 'inordinate delays'

Report accuses the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) of 'blatantly disregarding' UN sustainable development goals of 'leaving no one behind' when it comes to fuel poverty

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Elementary school children bored in classroom

Irish Examiner view: Schools should not have to deal with the eTender system

The free schoolbooks scheme puts the responsibility on schools to organise their purchase — so they have to abide by onerous EU procurement and tendering rules

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Letters to the Editor: Time for Leaving Cert reform

Letters to the Editor: Time for Leaving Cert reform

One reader writes in to say that with the amount of time students will spend on written assessments over the coming days, it's little wonder that they complain about the volume of information they have to retain

Wed, 05 Jun, 2024

Offshore Wind Farm

Bursts of free power raise red flags for green tech investors

The UK, Italy, and Ireland are the top three markets for storage investment

Sun, 02 Jun, 2024

Cork v Tipperary - Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3

Letters to the Editor: Hurling keeps on giving — but the GAA and GAAGo keep taking

Readers discuss the GAA, academic freedom, Seanad electoral reform, and the energy agenda

Tue, 21 May, 2024

renewable energy: modern solar panels (HDRi)

China heightens tensions amid EU anti-subsidy probe

The EU should boost electric-vehicle subsidies and avoid following the US into a tariff conflict with China, according to a proposal by Hungary earlier this month. German and Swedish leaders have also called for a cautious approach to tariffs.

Sun, 19 May, 2024

Aviation industry support

'Urgent collective action needed to reduce transport emissions'

Warning from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland as fuel use soars to record levels

Wed, 01 May, 2024

Offshore Wind Farm

Wind Energy Ireland reiterates concern about planning backlogs

The development of offshore wind projects has been mired by backlogs in the planning system which is set to come under further pressure as the first new offshore wind farms for a generation will begin the process before the end of June.

Wed, 01 May, 2024

Government may rely on multinationals to develop offshore wind projects amid grid capacity constraints

Government may rely on multinationals to develop offshore wind projects amid grid capacity constraints

'These large energy users may not need to use the grid, they may use private wires,' said Department of Enterprise assistant secretary Gary Tobin

Wed, 17 Apr, 2024

EU investigates China over wind turbine imports into Europe

EU investigates China over wind turbine imports into Europe

Follows the announcement of a full-blown probe into bids by Chinese firms for a Romanian solar park

Tue, 09 Apr, 2024

Bank of Ireland tweaks green mortgage offering

Bank of Ireland tweaks green mortgage offering

The bank announced it would offer a so-called ‘EcoSaver Mortgage’ which will align fixed-rate mortgages with Building Energy Ratings from A to G

Tue, 09 Apr, 2024

Climate change

Surge of new US-led oil and gas activity threatens to wreck Paris climate goals

World’s fossil-fuel producers on track to nearly quadruple output from newly approved projects by decade’s end, report finds

Thu, 28 Mar, 2024

Bosch, Lennox, Samsung vie for heating and ventilation assets from Johnson Controls

Bosch, Lennox, Samsung vie for heating and ventilation assets from Johnson Controls

Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls makes a wide range of appliances and equipment for commercial buildings, as well as home comfort appliances

Sun, 24 Mar, 2024

Silhouetted wind turbine at a rural windfarm.

TRIG sell Kerry wind farm for €62m

London investment firm The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) has sold its 50MW Kerry wind farm to an undisclosed buyer for €62 million.

Tue, 19 Mar, 2024

Voting poll

Letters to the Editor: Wording is flawed — a no vote is the safest option

One reader says that the proposed wording in the 'family' referendum on March 8 would call into question why anyone should get married if they already have a 'durable relationship'

Mon, 26 Feb, 2024

Holding grandmother's hand in the nursing care. Showing all love, empathy, helping and encouragement : healthcare in end of life

Report warns patients receiving palliative care at home are suffering energy hardship

Patients receiving palliative care at home must be designated as “extremely vulnerable customers” to ensure their energy supplier cannot disconnect them for any reason, a new report has urged.

Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Progress made on Cork Harbour offshore wind site

Progress made on Cork Harbour offshore wind site

Cork Dockyard to be redeveloped to provide new berths and a large area for the temporary storage of wind turbine components prior to their installation offshore.

Tue, 06 Feb, 2024

Stormont Assembly

Letters to the Editor: Replace the big parties if they collapse the North's institutions

John Cushnahan says power-sharing must be put on a firmer footing, while other readers consider topics including student accommodation, EV charging infrastructure, and the forthcoming referenda

Tue, 06 Feb, 2024

Demand for gas fell by 7% in 2023 as wind energy continued to rise

Demand for gas fell by 7% in 2023 as wind energy continued to rise

Throughout the entire year, 47% of all electricity produced was generated from gas

Wed, 24 Jan, 2024

Man installing thermal roof insulation layer - using mineral wool panels. Attic renovation and insulation concept

Donal Hickey: Grants to save energy and make our homes warmer

The Government’s highly ambitious goal is to have 500,000 homes retrofitted to B2 energy rating by 2030. A tall order given the level of uptake so far — €170million of the €300million set aside in grants for the scheme was not taken up in 2022

Thu, 11 Jan, 2024