Figure 37 Import Dependency of Ireland and EU - Page 44 of Report

The average Irish household is responsible for emitting approximately 8.1 tonnes of CO₂ annually based on the latest year for which data is available, according to a new report published today by State agency Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

4.8 tonnes of the CO₂ emissions are from direct fuel use with the remainder relating to upstream emissions from electricity usage. Overall, during the period 1990 to 2006, the residential sectors share of energy related CO₂ emissions decreased from 35% to 25% due to faster growth in other sectors, transport in particular.

The report also provides international comparisons which show that energy usage per dwelling in Ireland in 2006 was 27% above the average for the UK and in 2005, 31% above the EU-15 average and 36% above the EU-27 average. Ireland is also well above the UK and EU average for electricity and CO₂ emissions for the sector. Reasons for this include larger average dwelling size in Ireland, differences in the fuel mix with a higher proportion of solid fuel use in Ireland and a higher proportion of district heating systems in EU countries where emissions are accounted for in the transformation sector rather than the residential sector.

These were amongst the key findings of a report produced by SEI’s Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit (EPSSU) titled, ‘Energy in the Residential Sector’ which analyses the level of energy used for heating, cooking, cleaning, washing, drying, lighting, cooling and entertainment in the sector.

The key additional findings of the report include:

• In 2006, the average annual spend on energy by households was €1,767, an increase of 4% on 2005 and 70% on 1990, while total spend on energy by the sector was €2.5 billion;
• Average household electricity use per person increased by 62% from 1990 to 2006 while household fuel use decreased by 0.3% during the same period;
• The sector accounted for just under a quarter of all the energy used in Ireland in 2006 and after transport was the second largest energy using sector;
• There was a 15% improvement in energy efficiency in the sector during the period 1995 to 2006.

Brian Motherway, Head of Industry, SEI said; “Overall, this report has shown that a significant improvement has been made in energy efficiency over the past decade. This is largely the result of improving insulation standards brought about by various iterations of the Building Regulations. Indicators used to measure energy efficiency also demonstrate that further significant improvements can be made through simple no cost behavioural changes in the household, leading to more efficient use of energy.

Challenging targets have been set for the residential sector. New measures such as the introduction of Building Energy Ratings as well as revised Building Regulations to improve energy performance will contribute to reducing Ireland’s future energy usage and will improve energy efficiency in this sector”.

According to the report considerable expansion has occurred in the residential sector with the number of permanently occupied dwellings increasing by 43% to reach 1.46 million over the period 1990 to 2006. Of these dwellings the report estimates that approximately 144,171 homes were experiencing fuel poverty in 2005, with the lowest earners spending on average 13% of their disposal income on energy while the highest earners spent 1.7% of their disposable income on energy.

The report points to sharp increases in electricity and fuel prices from June 2000 to January 2008. Household electricity prices doubled during the period while the price of kerosene rose by 78% and natural gas prices increased by 87%.