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Green Tips

Green Week Tips

Conserve energy and save money:

  • Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter to save on heating costs and help the environment.
  • Install energy-efficient lightbulbs when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
  • Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Or, use a “smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off.
  • Wash clothes at a colder temperature whenever possible. Did you know as much as 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water?
  • Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
  • Switch to an energy provider that uses 100% renewable energy — there’s plenty of options.
  • If you have a hot water boiler, lower the temperature of your thermostat.
  • Turn off the lights when you leave the room and use natural daylight for as long as possible.
  • Unplug your phone charger when your battery is full — likewise with your laptop charger.

Save water and money:

  • Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
  • Install a low-flow shower head — they don’t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
  • Install a tap aerator on each tap in your house. They are inexpensive and help conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high and saving you money on heating bills.
  • Plant low water tolerant native plants in your garden to reduce water usage. Collect rainwater and use it to water your plants.
  • Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
  • Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminium rather than plastic, with you when travelling or at work.
  • Visit https://www.water.ie/conserve/ to find out lots of tips on how to conserve water.

Cut down on waste:

  • Pay your bills online and reduce the need for paper billing.
  • Bring a reusable cup for your tea and coffee to help cut down on non-biodegradable cup waste.
  • Bring a reusable bag when going shopping to cut down on plastic bags waste.
    Did you know, since 2002, when the charge for plastic bags came in, there has been a 90% drop in use of plastic bags, with one billion fewer bags used? We’d like to see use of plastic bags reduced further!
  • Bring your own containers and reusable bags when going shopping to put dry foods and loose fruit and veg into.

Small changes with a big impact:

  • Buy locally produced foods — it supports the local economy and cuts down on your food’s carbon footprint.
  • Walk or bike to work. This saves on fuel and parking costs while improving your health. Have you heard of the Bike to Work Scheme?
  • Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and reduces packaging.
  • Keep your electronics as long as possible, and donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem. Then, buy energy efficient ones when you are replacing them.

Making Your Home Energy Efficient

Do you want a more comfortable home and lower energy bills? Then you should consider home energy grants available to all homeowners from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Who are the SEAI?

The SEAI is Ireland’s national sustainable energy authority whose role it is to help homes, businesses, communities, and industry to be more energy efficient. They also support the development of clean energy technologies that cause less harm to the environment.

The SEAI operates a number of schemes for homeowners, including:

Better Energy Homes

The Better Energy Homes scheme provides grant aid to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their home. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER).

Find out more about Better Energy Homes from the SEAI

 

The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme

The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. The measures available typically include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs, cavity wall insulation and roof and wall ventilation.

Find out more about the Warmer Homes Scheme

 

Warmth and Wellbeing Pilot Scheme

The Warmth and Wellbeing Scheme aims to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people living with chronic respiratory conditions.

Find out more from the SEAI

 

Further information on individual grants offered through the Better Energy Homes scheme can be found here:

 

  • Insulation Grant

A home can lose over 30% of its heath through poorly insulated walls. Grants from the SEAI include cavity, internal and external wall insulation, along with attic insulation grants.

The SEAI provide detailed information on the Insulation Grant

  • Solar Thermal Grant

Solar thermal systems are designed to meet 50-60% of your overall hot water requirement over the year, thereby saving you money on your annual hot water heating bills.

Find out more about the Solar Thermal Grant and apply online.

 

  • Building Energy Rating (BER) Grant

As part of the Better Energy Homes programme, homeowners must carry out and publish a BER. This grant goes towards the cost of a BER assessment.

Click here for more information: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-grants/better-energy-homes/ber-grant/

 

  • Heat Pump System Grant

Installing a heat pump system in a well-insulated home will transform the comfort levels in your home and offers an attractive alternative to fossil fuel heating systems, offering lower costs and reduced carbon emissions

Click here for more information: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-grants/better-energy-homes/heat-pump-systems/

 

  • Heating Controls Grant

This grant can help you reduce your energy usage by up to 20% with easy to use heating controls and save money on your home heating bills.

Click here for more information: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-grants/better-energy-homes/heating-upgrade-grants/

Your Guide to Household Recycling Bins

“Clean, Loose & Dry”

What we can and cannot put in our recycling bins has become a big talking point across Ireland. At present up to one third of all household recycling bins contaminated by unrecyclable material.

Why do need a recycling list?

Recycled materials such as paper and cardboard, metals and plastic can be sold on the global market but the prices and demand for these materials constantly change. To get the best value for our materials, they need to be cleaned and sorted. China and India are major buyers of recyclable material from Europe and they use these materials for manufacturing instead of extracting raw materials. Recently, China and India have requested higher standards and are no longer purchasing mixed materials such as plastics, paper or cardboard baled together.

For Ireland to sell its recyclable materials we need to be able to separate these materials quickly and easily. Each household must take care that they only add items from the list to the recycle bin and these items should be clean, dry and loose.

Your household recycling list

The following is a list of the materials you can put in your household recycle bin. Make sure items are clean, dry and placed loosely in the bin. If it’s not on the list, it’s shouldn’t be in the recycle bin.

Rigid Plastics
Tins & Cans
Paper & Cardboard 
Plastic Drink Bottles Soup Cans Letters and Brochures
Plastic Cleaning Bottles Pet Food Cans Cardboard Boxes (Flat)
Butter, Yoghurt & Salad Tubs Drink Cans Egg Boxes
Fruit & Veg Trays Food Cans

 

 Toilet & Kitchen Roll
Plastic Milk Cartons Newspapers
Soap or Shampoo Bottles Tetra Pak Juice or Milk Cartons

 

Click the following link for a printable list for your fridge:

https://recyclinglistireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/the-new-recycling-list.pdf

 

Items not on the list

Coffee Cups

  • A disposable coffee cup is made from paper but has a plastic lining that is difficult to remove, so coffee cups must go in your black bin.

Carrier Bags / Refuse Sack

  • Plastic bags get tangled in the machines and slow down work on the sorting lines as people must empty them.

Soft Plastics

  • We do not have the technology to recycle soft plastics such as wrappers.

Paper Towels / Napkins

  • These items are usually made from recycled paper that can only be recycled a limited number of times. You can put them in your compost bin.

Glass

  • Glass is 100% recyclable; however, glass does not go in the recycle bin. Glass should be placed in glass/bottle banks.

Aluminium Foil & Trays

  • Food can be difficult to clean off used foil and trays so it’s best to put them in your black bin.

Dirty Pizza Boxes

  • Food stained paper should go in the general waste or compost bin as food is a major contaminant in paper recycling.

Why should the items be clean and dry?

If items once contained food or liquid they must be rinsed clean and given a shake to remove the water before going into your recycle bin. Food and liquid can contaminate the materials in the recycling bin. Wet paper cannot be recycled.

Why should items be placed loosely in the bin?

Your mixed recycle bin is sorted into different categories for recycling. If you have placed items inside one another, the machines will not be able to sort them and unwanted items such as food or nappies can enter the system while precious resources are lost.

Using the Brown Bin Correctly

A brown bin is for the collection of all your household food waste.

Why should I use the brown bin?

  • It saves money because you become more aware of the food you waste. The average family wastes €50 per month on discarded food.
  • It’s better for the environment because you are avoiding sending food waste to a landfill where it produces harmful greenhouse gases.
  • It produces a high quality compost

You can put any of the following into your brown bin including:

  • Raw or cooked food
  • Meat, poultry & fish, including bones
  • Leftover food from your plate & dishes
  • Fruit & vegetables
  • Tea bags, coffee grinds & paper filters
  • Breads, cakes & biscuits
  • Rice, pasta & cereals
  • Dairy products (cheese, butter, yoghurt)
  • Soups & sauces
  • Eggs, egg shells & cardboard egg boxes
  • Food soiled paper napkins, paper towels & pizza boxes
  • Newspaper (when used for wrapping food waste)
  • Out of date food with packaging removed (no glass/plastic)
  • Grass clippings and small twigs can also be added to your large brown bin.

Please do not put any of the following materials into your brown bin:

  • Plastic bags/bottles
  • Packaging of any sort
  • Nappies
  • Glass
  • Stones/soil
  • Metal cans/wire
  • Cardboard
  • Ashes, coal or cinders
  • Pet faeces or litter
  • Cooking oils

Considering Switching to an Electric Car?

Benefits of electric cars for customers

  • Government incentive of up to €5,000 grant per vehicle and up to €5,000 Vehicle Registration Tax relief (See www.seai.ie)
  • €120 motor tax band for electric vehicles (See www.seai.ie)
  • Government grant of up to €600 towards home charging point. Please see www.seai.ie for details.
  • Nationwide charge point infrastructure
  • Incredible driving experience
  • Major environmental benefits
  • Reduced running costs

Benefits of electric cars for businesses

  • Up to €7,000 grant available for the purchase of an electric vehicle for use as a Taxi, Hackney or Limousine. (See www.nationaltransport.ie )
  • Government incentive of up to €5,000 grant per vehicle and up to €5,000 Vehicle Registration Relief (See www.seai.ie)
  • Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme permitting write off of capital investment within one year.(See www.seai.ie)
  • 0% BIK for fully electric company vehicles.
  • BIK exemption for employees charging at their workplace.
  • Reduction in company carbon footprint

Benefits for Society

  • Significantly reduced air pollution
  • Lower CO2 emissions

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is offering grants of up to €5,000 for a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) purchased and registered in Ireland.

In addition, these vehicles also qualify for VRT relief of up to €5,000 for a BEV and €2,500 for a PHEV, providing a maximum combined subsidy (grant + VRT relief) of €10,000 for BEVs and €7,500 for PHEVs. Grants are accessed via the dealer.

The SEAI maintains a list of eligible vehicles and the location of dealers.

Fine Gael is continuing to work across Government to tackle climate change and maximise energy efficiency, for example:

  • Ireland’s first statutory National Mitigation Plan was published in July 2017 setting out over 70 mitigation measures and 106 related actions to address the immediate challenge to 2020 and to prepare for the EU targets that Ireland will take on for 2030.

 

  • Ireland’s first statutory National Adaptation Framework was published in January 2018 to address climate resilience. Under the Framework, 12 identified Sectoral Adaptation Plans will be prepared for key sectors including Agriculture, Forestry, Biodiversity, Transport and Flood Risk Management.

 

  • In March Ireland ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on the phasing out of HFC gases used in refrigeration and air-conditioning units which significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

 

  • The first National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy was published in March 2018. It sets out a framework for implementation to deliver on the potential of the bioeconomy in promoting the more efficient use of renewable resources while supporting economic development and employment in rural Ireland. It relates to the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value added products, such as food, and bioenergy.

 

  • In 2017, the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy was launched to ensure that the public sector fully realise its energy efficiency targets. The latest report shows public sector bodies have achieved 20% of the 33% target to improve energy efficiency by 2020.

 

  • €10m in funding was also announced to establish Local Authority Regional Climate Action Offices to support the implementation of national climate policy over a five year period.

 

  • €2.5m was provided in 2017 to support international climate action such as the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Nationally Determined Contributions Partnership.

 

  • Ireland provided further support for multilateral climate action by contributing €1m to the Least Developed Countries Fund in 2017.

 

  • In December 2017 the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat was approved by Government. This scheme is expected to commence operation in 2018 subject to State Aid clearance. It will make a key contribution to Ireland’s 2020 target of 12% of energy consumption in the heat sector coming from renewable sources. Funding of €7m is available for the scheme in 2018.

 

  • Budget 2018 has introduced changes to classify solar panels as agricultural infrastructure for tax purposes. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment is also exploring opportunities to broaden the planning exemptions for solar PV on both domestic and commercial properties.

 

  • A pilot grant aided scheme targeted at domestic solar PV installations and self-consumption was announced in Q1 2018 and is planned to open this summer. Ongoing support for Solar PV is provided through SEAI’s Better Energy Communities and Deep Retrofit Pilot schemes.

 

  • BioEnergy including Anaerobic Digestion was included in the economic appraisal of renewable technologies to inform the design of a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme. 253 MW of biomass energy (including Anaerobic Digestion) has been approved for inclusion under REFIT 3.

 

  • A preferred draft approach was announced in June 2017 to address key aspects on the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. The key aspects are a more stringent noise limit, a setback distance from the nearest residence (min. 500m); a zero tolerance approach to shadow-flicker; early local community engagement. The new guidelines are expected to be finalised and issued in 2018 following conclusion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process.

 

  • The public consultation on the design of a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme to incentivise the introduction of renewable electricity generation launched in September 2017 is now complete with over 1,250 submissions received. A final design proposal for the new scheme will be brought to Government and is expected to open in 2019.

 

  • The NDP provides for the conversion of Moneypoint from coal burning by 2025. The ESB has provided a preliminary report to Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment on work relating to the replacement of Moneypoint. Following engagements with stakeholders a report will be prepared for the Minister.

 

  • Gas Networks Ireland and EirGrid are carrying out a study on Ireland’s resilience to a long term gas disruption, which includes the possible need for gas storage and LNG. This study will inform the formulation of future policy measures to maintain the resilience of Ireland’s gas and electricity supply.

 

  • €8.6m was provided during 2017 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in almost 5,421 local authority homes. During 2017, energy efficiency works were carried out on 1405 homes under the Voids Programme supported by funding of €7.8m.

 

  • Since 1 January 2018, the ‘Warmer Home Scheme’ which offers a broad package of measures free to low income householders in need of energy has been extended to families in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance.

 

  • The new National Development Plan sets out the ambition to have 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 and the required charging infrastructure to support this growth.

 

  • The Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce will report to Government shortly on the conclusion of Phase 1 of its work which focuses solely on electric vehicles. Funding of €10 million has been allocated for the electric vehicle supports in 2018.

 

  • Budget 2018 included a package of measures to support the increased deployment of electric vehicles. These measures include benefit-in-kind relief for battery electric vehicles; continuation of VRT relief of up to €5,000 and a purchase grant of up to €5,000; a new grant of up to €600 to support the installation of home chargers; a grant of up to €7,000 to support the use of electric vehicles as taxis; and a reduction in tolls for users of electric vehicles.

 

  • A new Electric Vehicle Public Engagement Programme was launched by SEAI in April 2018. The programme includes an awareness campaign, a public driver experience roadshow, and public sector and commercial vehicle trials.