SEAI

George Daly

DT117/4

The aim of the presentation:The aim of the presentation:

‘To provide a brief overview of SEAI’‘To provide a brief overview of SEAI’

Background InformationBackground Information

• Set up in 2002 by the government to promote , encourage and inform the public of sustainability

• Head office lie in Wilton park house, Dublin 2. Regional offices in Sligo, Cork, Galway.

• The objectives of the agency are set out in the national development plan (2007-12) and national climate change strategy (2007-13)

• Examples: reducing carbon emissions , advising government of necessary meseaures, improving efficiency, creating more awareness on sustainable technologies.

The website www.seai.ie

Value of industry is about 30 billion euro in Ireland

Roughly 250,000 employed in construction

Main categories of construction: civil and building work

Extent of activities due to various economic factors

Recession, unemployment, low confidence levels in construction sector

Why choose sustainability?

•Sustainable products are advisable to reduce energy consumption

•Save money long term

•Grants available, All about the money???

•Energy consumption comes in many forms e.g. electrical and chemical. New technologies produce lower co2 emissions

•Particular emphasis on the environment in recent years has lead to sustainability promotion

•Promote low carbon economy with new legislation

Some sustainable technologies available through SEAI

Solar panels

Wind turbines (Over 20 farms in Ireland, enough energy to provide 80,000 homes per year!)

Boiler technologies

TargetsTargets Presently less than 2% of energy produced in Ireland is accounted for by means of sustainability.

30% of carbon dioxide produced is from domestic use at 4 million tonnes per year

Aim is for 13% of the countries electricity production to come from renewable technologies by end of 2010.

Recent findings suggests targets are not being met. (RTE 12th March 2010). The Irish government warned to reduce carbon emissions.

Building energy rating (BER)

• There is a scale of A-G rating as you may have seen on your fridge, cooker etc.

• ‘A’ rated homes are the most energy efficient

• One can become a assessor through the SEAI exam (up to 2,000 euro just to assess houses)

As of the 1st January 2009, all homes being sold or rented require a BER cert

A list of registered assessors is available through the website.

Creating awareness early onCreating awareness early on

SEAI are working with the department of education to place more emphasis on sustainability at both primary and secondary level

The aim is to ‘bring the topic of energy into the class room’.

The website provides additional information for students on topics such as global warming, energy management and renewable technologies

Subjects that will soon incorporate further energy awareness will be C.S.P.E, science and geography

Projects for students to participate in on sustainability

Conclusion: Make a simple changeConclusion: Make a simple change

‘‘If every house in America replaced a single light bulb with an If every house in America replaced a single light bulb with an energy efficient one, there would be enough energy saved to energy efficient one, there would be enough energy saved to provide lighting for three million homes for an entire year’ –provide lighting for three million homes for an entire year’ –

Washington post February 15 Washington post February 15thth, 2009 , 2009

What have we covered?

Background information on SEAI

The aims and objectives

Why choose sustainability

Renewable technologies

Website contents

Awareness of SEAI in schools

SEAI targets

Building energy rating

A concluding recommendation

Questions???Questions???