Ultan Technologies’ SensorCIS continues to be the reporting tool used to provide public bodies with energy efficiency performance information, facilitating the achievement of 2020 targets. The 2018 report finds that public sector bodies saved 667,000 tonnes of ‘avoided CO2 emissions’ in 2017.

 

 

The fifth annual report on the energy efficiency performance of public bodies in Ireland showed that the energy efficiency performance achieved for 2017 is a good result, at 24% improvement. Continued proactive engagement by all public bodies and their Energy Performance Officers will be needed to ensure the 33% target is met by end 2020.

 

 

Data from SensorCIS was used by the SEAI to achieve efficiency gains through the implementation of thousands of diverse projects. Here are the key findings from the analysis of the data reported by 331 public bodies and 2,279 schools for 2017:

 

• Their combined total primary energy consumption was 10,248 GWh and their total energy spend was €608 million.
• This is estimated to represent 96% of the energy consumption of the sector.
• Annual primary energy savings of 3,223 GWh were achieved, which is equivalent to 667,000 tonnes of CO2 savings.
• These savings amount to a 24% improvement on business as usual, representing €191 million in cost savings for the sector in 2017.
• The cumulative avoided CO2 emissions since the baseline amount to 3,558,000 tonnes, while the cumulative value of energy savings over the same period is €1,024 million.
• 2017 saw additional efficiency gains following the plateau observed for 2016.

 

The consumption of reporting organisations represents 96% of total public sector energy consumption. While the level of reporting by public sector organisations is very strong in terms of compliance, the aim is that all public bodies’ consumption, including that of all schools, will be reported in future years. The compliance rate in 2017 for public bodies was 94%, excluding schools. The compliance rate for schools of 62% is higher than that for last year (58%). It is considered a reasonable response given the technical complexity of the data requirements.

 

 

While many public bodies are becoming much more energy efficient and beginning to deliver significant reductions in carbon emissions, some are only delivering a fraction of what is required, and missing annual targets. More than 90 public bodies and government departments are not on track to meet a 2020 energy efficiency target, including the Department of the Taoiseach.

 

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton said a more challenging target would be introduced post-2020 that is more ambitious than the current 33 per cent by 2020, and a stronger mandate will be created in all public bodies to step up their focus on climate action. 

 

SensorCIS is used by the public bodies to report their energy consumption data. A highly customisable cloud-based solution, SensorCIS allows the public bodies to monitor and manage all their energy consumption data in one place for deep analysis. The capabilities of SensorCIS have been expanding since its creation in 2013, Click Here to get a demonstration.