Homes getting bigger but we are consuming 30% less energy

Home energy consumption fell by almost one third since 1990, figures show.

Energy consumption per dwelling fell by 32%, despite the average floor area increasing by 50% over the last 23 years.

Awareness of the value of energy efficiency in the home has grown rapidly, according to a report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

It points out that improved building energy regulations, together with the success of Building Energy Rating and the Better Energy Home Scheme, have significantly reduced home energy usage.

Grants are available from the SEAI for people wanting to upgrade their homes.

SEAI chief executive Brian Motherway said a typical upgrade costing between €3,000 or €4,000 reduced home energy bills by several hundred euro every year.

“It would pay for itself in about eight years in terms of energy savings and add instant value to the home,” he said.

He added that data from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) showed people were willing to pay more for an energy efficient home.

“The pay back may be zero when you factor in the asset value of the home itself,” he said.

Mr Motherway said one figure that stood out in the report was the €6.7bn spent on importing energy from elsewhere last year.

“That is money that we could keep in our economy to create jobs and wealth,” he said.

Looking to 2020, Mr Motherway said Ireland was halfway to achieving key renewable targets in all sectors.

Currently, Ireland is getting around 8% of electricity from renewables, mostly wind, and the target for 2020 is 16%.