Energy in the Residential Sector

Sustainable Energy Ireland was established as Ireland’s national energy agency under the Sustainable Energy Act 2002. SEI’s mission is to promote and assist the development of sustainable energy. This encompasses environmentally and economically sustainable production, supply and use of energy, in support of Government policy, across all sectors of the economy including public bodies, the business sector, local communities and individual consumers. Its remit relates mainly to improving energy efficiency, advancing the development and competitive deployment of renewable sources of energy and combined heat and power, and reducing the environmental impact of energy production and use, particularly in respect of greenhouse gas emissions. The residential sector accounted for just under a quarter of all the energy used in Ireland in 2006 and after transport it was the second largest energy using sector. The purpose of this report, an update of the December 2005 edition, is to provide context and background to discussions regarding future policy options.