Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) this week held a conference entitled Sustainable Architecture Now in association with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland and the Office of Public Works.

The event highlighted the need for a large effort on the part of the building industry in order to meet the new targets that have come into force this month.

Brendan Halligan, chair of SEI, remarked: “Delivering on these targets and the longer term ambition of low- or zero-carbon buildings will require an unprecedented level of mobilisation and response from the entire building industry.”

Ireland’s National Energy Efficiency Plan has committed to reduce the country’s carbon output by 20% by 2020, with two-thirds of this to come from the built environment sector.

According to the SEI, the average household in Ireland emits some 8.1 tonnes of CO2 a year.

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