500 Euro-Per-Year Energy Savings Offered To Limerick/Clare Homeowners

The Limerick Clare Energy Agency today said that the Government’s launch of a Home Energy Saving Scheme had presented the people of Clare and Limerick with an ideal opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

The LCEA, along with Clare County Council and Limerick County Council, will administer the multi-million Euro Scheme, which is also being piloted in Dundalk and Tipperary.

With an initial investment of €5 million, the regional pilot is designed to inform the rollout of the full scale €100 million national scheme envisaged in the Programme for Government.

"The aim of the Scheme is to encourage homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their homes in order to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions", explained Mr. Pat Stephens, Director of the LCEA.

Mr. Stephens said, "The scheme will target older housing as these homes are most in need of energy efficiency retrofitting. By participating in the Scheme, householders in counties Clare and Limerick, with the exception of Limerick City, can potentially save up to €500 on their energy bills every year."

He added, "Thousands of tonnes of CO2 will also be saved in its first year alone, which will help both counties to make significant savings on their annual carbon levy. The full €100 million scheme is expected to yield greenhouse gas savings of 175,000 tonnes per year."

Outlining the operation of the Scheme across Clare and Limerick, Mr. Stephens stated, "Householders will avail of a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor to come to their house, give the home a BER rating and advise on the works that need to be carried out to improve energy efficiency. The homeowner will pre-pay €100 towards the cost of this assessment, with Sustainable Energy Ireland subsidising the balance. The Government, therefore, will cover approximately two thirds of the cost of the assessment."

"The assessor may advise that the house requires such work as attic insulation, interior or exterior wall insulation, low emissions double-glazing, heating control or a range of other energy efficient works. The Government will then cover up to 30% of the cost of these works, to a maximum of €2,500. On completion of the works a follow-up energy assessment on the building will be undertaken so that there is a ‘before and after’ test of what has been done", he said.

Mr. Stephens urged householders across Clare and Limerick to immediately consider the Scheme.

"Homeowners interested in receiving financial assistance in improving the energy efficiency of their own home should call the Lo-Call number that will be advertised by Sustainable Energy Ireland the Government over the coming days. Alternatively, they may view our website at www.lcea.ie for further information on the Home Energy Saving Scheme", he concluded.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- Mr. Patrick Stephens, Manager of the Limerick Clare Energy Agency is available for interview or further comment. He may be contacted at 087-0508181
- For further please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- The LCEA, which was established in July 05 by co-investment from Limerick County Council and Clare County Council, is one of 16 other agencies that form an all-island association. However, the Agency is unique in that it was established entirely from local authority funding without any external assistance. The priorities for the LCEA for its first three years of operation include the promotion of an indigenous energy supply, the devising of a climate change strategy for Limerick and Clare, the establishment of a Fuel Poverty Programme for Limerick and Clare, advising local authority housing departments on energy efficiency, and securing an energy and emissions balance for both counties. The LCEA, also receives sponsorship from the University of Limerick, Rural Resource Development Limited in County Clare, West Limerick Resources Limited, and the County Limerick based Ballyhoura Development Ltd. The support of the sponsors enables the LCEA to conduct a number of important projects in both counties, as well as operating from a centre of excellence in the University of Limerick

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (mobile)
00353-656839692 (fax)