COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, January 14, 2013
QUESTION NO. 2
QUESTION: Councillor M. Devine
To ask that the Manager provide details on the projected number of units that are to be refurbished within the Energy Rating programme in 2013 and provide a schedule of these proposed works?
REPLY:
There are currently three strands of energy upgrading programmes:
1. (A) Relets - Energy upgrading of vacant dwellings: This work is carried out by Housing Maintenance on an individual dwelling basis according as each dwelling becomes vacant. The energy upgrading element is part funded by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and is dependent on the amount of kWh/sq. metres saved per year. 43 houses were upgraded under this funding in 2012. It is anticipated that a similar number will be upgraded in 2013.
(B) Energy Upgrading of tenanted SDCC dwellings: External fabric upgrading of 6 SDCC dwellings at 1,2,3,6,7 and 8 Tara Hill Grove, Rathfarnham. The work included external insulation and render finish system and remedial roof work including insulation. Other works included replacement of windows and external doors (where required) and replacement of boilers with high efficiency condensing boilers and upgrading of heating. This was also part funded by the DOECLG based on kWh/sq. metres saved per year. Applications will be made to the Department for similar work in 2013.
2. SEAI Delivering Energy Efficiency improvements to low income housing - Area based Pilot Fund 2012 - This was a response to a Programme launched by the SEAI in the middle of 2012 within a very short timeframe. SDCC partnered Retrofit Energy Ireland Ltd for this pilot programme for works to a cluster of 43 dwellings which included privately owned and SDCC rented dwellings. SEAI approved funding of €159,795 for fuel poor homes, which amounted to 80% of the cost of the works. There were 35 SDCC tenanted dwellings involved and SDCC agreed to provide matching funding of 18% of the cost of the works to SDCC dwellings only, which included fuel poor and non fuel poor homes. These works commenced in September and were completed on 15th November. The work included new cavity wall insulation, additional attic insulation, upgrading of central heating, lagging to hot water cylinder, replacement of windows where identified by REIL and draught proofing. If this programme is repeated in 2013, as is likely to be the case, SDCC will once again make a bid and the scale of the bid will depend on the grant/funding levels available in the SEAI programme, as matching funds are likely to be required from SDCC.
3. Refurbishment Phase 3 Greenfort Shancastle 74 dwellings: This is a Contracted Programme funded by the DOECLG which contains energy upgrading elements. This contract started in May 2012 and is scheduled for completion in October 2013. The energy upgrading works include replacement of windows and external doors, cavity wall insulation where none exists, insulation of attic voids, upgrading existing heating systems and draught sealing works. The aim is to achieve a BER rating of C1 where possible. Other works include: Replacement of electrical installation, kitchen units, miscellaneous internal repairs/replacements; doors, stair banisters, service ducts, floor coverings, fireplaces. Miscellaneous external repairs/replacements; timberwork, gutters, drainage, ridges, fuel shed roofs and doors, frames. External and internal decoration and reinstatement of boundaries where applicable. It is unlikely that DOECLG funding will be available in 2013 for Refurbishment Phase 4 but surveys will be carried out during the year in order to submit a proposal for funding to complete the refurbishment of both Cushlawn and Greenfort Shancastle Estates in 2014.
In addition the Council has a Windows and Doors programme in place for the past 3 years which also improves the energy rating of the units and there is provision in the adopted budget for 2013 for a continuation of this programme.