SEI calls for 'new building industry' based on energy efficiency

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has called for new, government-funded financial schemes to help householders make their homes more energy-efficient.

SEI said that the majority of homeowners were funding upgrades to their homes through savings.

The group recommended that the Government should develop new schemes to help householders fund the work.

Chairman of the Institute of International and European Affairs Brendan Halligan said investment in energy upgrades must increase if we are to meet the target of insulating one million homes in a decade.

"We probably have to be spending about 10 times the amount we are spending currently, per annum, in order to be doing this job properly," he said, and to create what would be "basically, a new building industry".