Enviro News Asia, Dublin – Ireland must significantly accelerate investment in building retrofits, heat pumps, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and district heating to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy security, and shield households from volatile fossil fuel prices, according to the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC).
The recommendations are outlined in the Built Environment chapter of the Council’s Annual Review 2026, which assesses Ireland’s progress in reducing emissions from residential, commercial, and public buildings.
The report found that the built environment accounted for 12.5 percent of Ireland’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2025. Residential building emissions declined by 5.0 percent, while emissions from commercial and public buildings fell by 3.5 percent compared to the previous year, largely due to milder winter temperatures.
Despite the reduction, the Council warned that the decline does not reflect long-term structural progress. While emissions from both residential and commercial buildings remained within their first sectoral emissions ceilings for the 2021–2025 period, they are projected to exceed their second emissions ceilings for 2026–2030 by 22 percent and 62 percent, respectively.
The report highlighted slow progress in retrofitting local authority social housing, noting that only 10,370 homes have been upgraded since 2021. To meet the government’s target of retrofitting 36,500 social homes to at least Building Energy Rating (BER) B2 by 2030, approximately 5,000 homes will need to be upgraded annually.
The Council also identified rooftop solar PV as one of the fastest and most cost-effective measures to reduce household energy bills and expand public participation in the clean energy transition. It recommended expanding solar installations across local authority housing and establishing a national framework for plug-in solar systems to benefit apartment residents.
In addition, the report criticized delays in key policy frameworks, including the National Building Renovation Plan, whose postponement prompted the European Commission to initiate infringement proceedings earlier this year. The Council urged the government to publish the plan immediately, including a clear roadmap to phase out fossil fuel boilers by 2040 in line with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
The Council further called for a comprehensive National Heat Strategy to identify the most effective deployment of district heating, geothermal energy, heat pumps, and other low-carbon heating technologies based on regional planning and infrastructure needs.
Climate resilience was also identified as a priority. The Council urged the government to develop a dedicated Sectoral Adaptation Plan for the built environment and planning sector, strengthen flood resilience, and accelerate coastal adaptation planning in vulnerable communities.
CCAC Chairperson Alex White said Ireland’s dependence on fossil fuels continues to expose households, businesses, and public services to global energy price fluctuations.
“The Government has set the right ambition to end Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels. The test now is delivery,” White said, adding that stronger policy support, legislation, and long-term funding are needed to accelerate the transition.
He also stressed that the transition must remain fair, pointing to social housing retrofits as a key measure of progress, with local authorities needing to nearly double the number of homes retrofitted annually to meet the country’s 2030 target. (*)
