Ireland opts for ‘no cost’ energy saving measures

New research has found that Irish businesses would make large savings by reducing their energy consumption.

At the Energy Forum 2008, Irish Minister Eamon Ryan highlighted a report that demonstrated how various business sectors could reduce their energy use by up to one quarter using only measures that pay for themselves through the savings they give on energy costs.

If these measures were implemented, Ireland would reduce its carbon emissions by more than six million tonnes.

Ryan said that the report showed that Ireland’s energy saving targets are both “challenging” and “achievable”.

“More importantly,” Ryan said, “it establishes the business case for energy efficiency, showing that the economic benefits far outweigh the costs.

“The analysis indicates that meeting the 2020 national energy efficiency target will bring economic benefits that outweigh the costs by on average close to Euro 300 million per annum over the period between now and 2020.”

Sustainable Energy Ireland’s chief executive, David Taylor, has said that energy saving options are a “win-win policy” because they give “public and private benefits at low or no net cost”.