Irish parliament could do more to reduce electricity used

Results from the energy saving day in the Oireachtas last month show that electricity usage in Leinster House buildings fell.

However, in the office buildings used by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs and senators an increase of nine per cent was registered.

There are ways that all workers in offices could reduce the amount of electricity they are using, which includes turning off computers during lengthy phone calls and switching off printers when they are not in use.

An energy campaign was put in place in the buildings to encourage staff to consider their electricity usage and was entitled ‘think green’.

The Irish Times reports that Fine Gael senator Eugene Regan said of the findings: “People will have an eye to the scoreboard in the future and strive to make improvements.”

Leinster House is the former townhouse of the Dukes of Leinster, but has been used as the seat of both Houses of Irish parliament since 1922.