Solar Energy - News & Events

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown to introduce sustainable planning requirements

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has become the latest amongst several local authorities to show its commitment to combating climate change by proposing mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reductions and renewable energy for virtually all developments

The southeast Dublin local authority has brought an amendment to its County Development Plan out to consultation which includes an innovative energy policy.

Relating to all new residential developments of 10 dwellings or more and all new non-domestic buildings of over 1000m2, the policy requires “a collective reduction of at least 60% in CO2 emissions deriving from energy use for space heating, cooling, water heating and lighting within [each] development, relative to a baseline of prevailing norms” and an additional requirement that “at least 30% of space and water heating shall be from a renewable energy source”.

Recent local area plans in Fingal and Wicklow County Councils have gone further by including a mandatory 60% reduction in energy demand for space and water heating. There is a strong concern amongst building designers contacted by Construct Ireland that, as Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown’s proposed standard currently includes no such requirement, the resultant buildings will miss the first principle of sustainable use of energy—to reduce the amount of energy used, using the likes of orientation, insulation and airtightness.

Technically it appears that in many cases, buildings would comply with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown’s standard by scraping compliance with Building Regulations, and for instance installing a biomass boiler.

Whilst Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown’s efforts are truly laudable, it’s crucial that their energy standard addresses the issue of energy demand reduction.

A requirement to reduce energy demand would guarantee lower energy consumption over the lifespan of a building, leading to lower heating bills, greater comfort, added value and lower CO2 emissions. It would also enable building designers to specify smaller, less expensive heating systems. An energy efficient building would require less square metres of solar panels, or smaller heat pumps or biomass boilers to provide heat.