The built environment comprises the residential, public and commercial sectors, and accounted for 11.1 % of Ireland’s greenhouse gases (GHG) in 2022, down from 12.3 % in 2021.

The Climate Action Plan 2024 states:

Key Climate Action Plan Messages:

Sectoral Emission Ceilings:

• Residential: 29 MtCO2e for 2021-2025, and 23 MtCO2e for 2026-2030
• Commercial/Public: 7 MtCO2e for 2021-2025, and 5 MtCO2e for 2026-2030

State of Play/Trends in the Sector:

• The built environment sector accounted for 11.1% of Ireland’s greenhouse gases in 2022, down from 12.3% in 2021

Key Climate Action Plan Targets:

• All new dwellings designed and constructed to Nearly Zero Energy Building standard by 2025, and Zero Emission Building standard by 2030
• Equivalent of 120,000 dwellings retrofitted to BER B2 or cost optimal equivalent by 2025, and 500,000 dwellings by 2030
• Up to 0.8 TWh of district heating installed capacity across both the residential and commercial building stock by 2025, and up to 2.7 TWh by 2030
• 170,000 new dwellings using heat pumps by 2025, and 280,000 by 2030
• 45,000 existing dwellings using heat pumps by 2025, and 400,000 by 2030
• Up to 0.6 TWh of heating provided by biomethane by 2025, and up to 1.1 TWh by 2030
• Delivery of savings of 0.735 KtCO 2e. in public and commercial buildings

Useful Links:

Climate Action Plan 2024