COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 12, 2009

MOTION NO.8

MOTION: Councillor E.Coburn

Carbon Footprint Study: The Manager provide an update on the Carbon Footprint study and to outline how this information has been used in the preparation of the new Draft Development plan.

REPORT:

The Carbon Footprint Study was carried out in the context of our overall response to Climate Change Strategy in the County.  This response has a number of strands and implications for both policy and implementation as follows   

1.   Context

The Climate Change Strategy for South Dublin County Council has been prepared by the Environment SPC in accordance with the National Climate Change Strategy, required under the protocols of the Kyoto Agreement.  Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas that has had the greatest effect on global warming and climate change strategy focuses primarily on the reduction of CO_2.  Climate has already begun to change and will continue to do so leading to higher global average temperatures, highersea levels and changes in weather patterns leading to extreme events and extensive flooding. 

 South Dublin County Council has prepared its Climate Change Strategy in close co-operation with the other Dublin Local Authorities under the aegis of CODEMA, environmental consultants appointed jointly for the project.  Five focus sections have been chosen for the strategy – energy, planning, transport, waste management and biodiversity actions.  Key performance indicators for each area are set out in the strategy but the overall indicator is agreed as reduction of tonnes of CO₂ / capita / year.  The structure of the Climate Change Strategy allows the development of complementary sustainability programmes to improve not just the energy profile of the county but its social, economic and community networks.  The Strategy allows the Local Authority to offer social and political leadership by mobilizing and co-ordinating both Public and Private sectors in the county.  The potential benefits are not limited to the reduction of carbon footprint only but can add to quality of life, environmental diversity and the growth of green, knowledge-economy employment.

2.   Strategic actions

It is important that the overall plans and strategies developed in this area are brought to life as an agreed range of implementable actions.  These will have implications in short, medium and long term as well as   in both public and private spheres.  To begin with however, these actions can be described in overall terms as – 

(a)               the inclusion in the new Draft County Development Plan of planning policies which reduce existing carbon footprint, promote sustainable energy usage and sustainable lifestyle and support the development of renewable energy sources.  

(b)               a large element of this strand is the Clonburris SDZ.  Already designated an ‘Eco-village’ by the Department of Environment, the SDZ Plan includes higher than statutory indicators of insulation, district heating, ESCO (energy service companies), local energy generation and transport modal shifts away from vehicular traffic (medium to long-term). 

(c)               parallel to the Draft Development Plan, the preparation and implementation of a County Energy Plan (short term),           

(d)               the identification of areas within the Councils control which are open to early intervention to deliver the aims of the County Climate Change Strategy and identification of local and national funding options (e.g. Smarter Travel Initiative) (short to medium term)

(e)               the development of awareness programmes to improve understanding of issues involved and actions open to Council staff, Elected Members and the general public. This will also involve the promotion of enterprise and employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector. An Environmental Awareness Officer is now in position in the Council to drive these programmes forward (short term).

3. Implementation

Planning Policies:

The Draft Development Plan commits itself to –

• The promotion of more compact settlement patterns based around public transport corridors and the reduction of unsustainable     low-density rezoning.  The lessons learned in Adamstown in place-     making  and urban design are captured in the Adamstown Street Design Guide.  The Departments of Environment and of Transport have requested South Dublin County Council to extend these lessons into a national standard for local roads.  This project will allow the development of safe, viable settlements at medium density, adjoining public transport (short term).
• The promotion of innovative building design that demonstrates a higher level of energy conservation (short to medium term).
• The development of a range of passive design and renewable technologies in everyday use – solar panels, photo-voltaic panels, ground heating, wood-pellet burners, water-recycling, wind-power generation (short to medium term) 

County Energy Plan

In order to target the policies already outlined it is essential that an energy masterplan for the entire county be put in place.  This will provide a basis for the considered deployment of alternative energy sources in the county as well as the possibility of synergies in energy transfer (waste heat for instance).  Areas identified as high-need will guide energy provision and generation.

The preparation of an Energy Intensity Map of the county will form the foundation of the Energy Plan.  This map will show areas of high and low energy consumption and will be prepared in partnership with the ESB and Sustainable Energy Ireland.  The map will be added to the developing G.I.S. mapping project of South Dublin County Council.  The map will also show locations where alternative energy sources are / or will be utilized and estimate the value of these sources – the amount of energy generated or extent of the benefit.  Possible locations and patterns of potential energy sources will also be analysed and mapped. In this theme, two areas of particular interest are already clear.

1.      The waste heat and hot water generated by Wyeths and Microsoft at Grange Castle may be useful in driving energy exchange /   recycling or local power generation on the site.  The Council’s                         strong links with both firms will be used to open discussions and  launch proposals.

2.      The number of large energy users in Tallaght Town – ITT, Hospital, Square, Tallaght Leisure Centre, Stadium and Council Headquarters might make possible the development of an Energy Zone akin to the successful experience in Dundalk.  It may be possible to link this to the development of a sustainable geothermal model. 

3.      The Energy Map and Plan will enable a rational evaluation of the value and location of alternative, renewable technologies for the generation of both power and heat.  Among the system to be evaluated will be –

a.   Combined Heat and Power

• An assessment of potential sites for CHP installations in SDCC.  The study can consider domestic, public and commercial buildings.  These could include either proposed new development, refurbishment of existing buildings, or a combination of the above.
• An assessment of the optimum size of the installation and of the distribution network and fuel or fuel mix (including biomass, energy from waste, gas).
• An assessment of issues for grid connection.

b          District Heating

·        An assessment of potential sites for district heating in SDCC. The study can consider domestic, public and commercial buildings.  These could include either proposed new development, refurbishment of existing buildings, or a combination of the above.  The study should include either proposed new installations, or the extraction of heat from other existing facilities.

• An assessment of the optimum size of the installation and of the distribution network and fuel or fuel mix (including heat from waste, biomass and heat pumps).

c          Microgeneration

•  An assessment of the potential sites for microgeneration technology installations (photovoltaics, solar thermal, micro wind) for community energy generation and / or in combination with potentially  larger schemes as listed above.
•  These could include either proposed new development, refurbishment of existing public buildings, or a combination of the two.
•  An investigation of the planning process to identify issues that would support / prevent development

d          Wind Generation

•  An assessment of the wind resource (on and off shore) and best possible sites across SDCC.
• An assessment of optimal size of wind farm, with respect to number and size of turbines.
• An assessment of issues for grid connection.

e          Geothermal

• Identify potential sites across the County.
• Propose a programme of testing
• An investigation of the planning process and legislative background to identify support / prevent development.

From these findings a technology and / or resource map will be produced.  The map will clearly indicate the various technology and resource potentials throughout the South Dublin area.  It is intended that individual sites on the map should be scored with respect to the opportunity for decentralized energy, as well as a demand score with respect to the energy and heat demand at the site.  Ideally we should be on a position to score the potential technologies taking into account the key aim to reduce carbon emissions.                   

Areas of Council Control

(a)    A report on reducing carbon-footprint for Council facilities was produced earlier in 2009 under the direction of Corporate Services Department.  Among the areas identified for early action were the possibility of ‘greener’ and lower cost supply of both electricity and gas to Council facilities. This will require a new public tender for the supply of both.  Interviews have already been held with the energy supply companies approved by the CER (Energy Regulator) and a tender will issue in October.  The tender will issue jointly for South Dublin and Fingal County Council as it is felt a large quantum might generate larger savings in tenders submitted.  The tender will be evaluated on a balanced mix of cost, carbon-reduction in energy generation and a web-based monitoring facility to fine-tune energy usage and need.

(b)  The Council has already deployed a number of innovative technologies on its own projects as follows –

Solar:  Clondalkin Sports and Leisure Centre has the larges array of solar panels in the country and the county Arts Project solar panel scheme has recently been completed.

CHP: Tallaght Leisure Centre produces its electricity and heat through Combined Heat and Power system driven by natural gas.

Biomass: St. Marks Youth and Family Facility ahs a wood pellet boiler on site for its space and water heating.

Biogas:  The Council’s landfill at Arthurstown contains an energy recovery plant generated from the landfill gas and produces electricity equivalent to the electrical demand of 5,000 houses per annum.

Building Management System (BMS):  A BMS is used to control energy consuming plant in the Civic Offices, Rua Red Arts Centre as well as County Library and Tallaght and Clondalkin Swimming Pools.  Software logic is used to control various switching functions of lights, heating zones and ventilation.  This has resulted in a 10% saving in energy and its associated CO₂ emissions.

Public Lighting:  There are 27,000 street lights under the control of the Council which account for 58% of the total CO₂ emissions for Council activities.  The Council has identified this area as a priority in reducing energy consumption and emissions_.  Several pilot dimming schemes have been initiated and a study is being conducted to assess the potential for retro fits, new energy efficient lamps and a tele monitoring software system to monitor and reduce energy usage.

(c)   The Council has been awarded a scheme under the new Department of Environment Housing Energy Innovation Programme.  10 lifetime accommodation units for disabled clients in partnership with Clanmill Housing Association will feature a number of renewable approaches in an integrated, holistic development.  The scheme will be on-site in early 2010.

(d)    The new swimming pools / leisure centre at Tallaght and Clondalkin are large users of energy. Cost-in-use studies of both are underway to ensure optimum use of energy-waving technologies included in the building design.

4.       ACTIONS OVERALL

Set an overall average target of 3% per year reduction in total energy end-use for the Council’s own operations, giving total reduction of 33% by 2020, in line with the national targets and exceeding the requirements of the EU energy end-use and energy services directive. To advance the general themes of this document South Dublin County Council commits to –

1.  Create awareness in both Council staff and general public and new focus on the need to advance the County Climate Change Strategy and reduce the carbon-footprint of the County

•  Establish multi-departmental working team in Council with set project list
•  Environmental Awareness Officer to promote personal and corporate awareness of climate change and carbon reduction
•  Set up annual evaluation indicator of progress in carbon reduction and move to renewable technologies and sustainable development patterns.
•  Promote added employment and diversification in renewable technology / green sector in South Dublin through use of Intellectual Enterprise Zones.

2.  The delivery of the new Draft Development Plan containing policies intended to reduce the existing carbon footprint of the County.

3.  Advance the development of Clonburris SDZ and achieve the higher environmental targets set out in the SDZ Plan.

•  Deliver Adamstown Street Guide to clarify standards required in medium density compact residential settlements.

4.   Construct Energy Map for the County and produce County Energy Plan.

• Examine possibility of energy transfer / syngergy between largest energy users identified in map.
• Examine possibility of creating Energy Zone including use of geothermal resource.
• Examine possibility of pilot district heating system (public / private) and produce study on economic, technical and management guidelines for district heating in South Dublin.
• Identify areas and projects suitable for larger renewable energy installations such as wind-farm feasibility study.

5.  Promote best practice in renewable energy through the council’s own projects and operations

• Use sustainable and renewable heating and power generating sources in new Council projects including the possibility of retro-fitting systems onto older projects.
• Switch to renewable / green appliances for the Council’s own electricity and gas supply.
• Evaluate largest energy-using Council facilities for cost-in-use and effective reduction and savings through use-protocols.
• Construct energy-pilot housing at Valhalla, Clondalkin.