THE Office of Public
Works' decision to heat Buncrana's new decentralised
offices exclusively with oil reached the floor of
the Seanad this week.
Senator Pearse Doherty demanded to know from
Minister for State with responsibility for the OPW,
Noel Ahern how he could continue supporting the
OPW’s Energy Awareness Campaign in light of the
Buncrana decision.
“How can the Minster in one breath promote energy
efficiency whilst in another allow a brand new
Government building to be heated exclusively by
oil?" asked the Sinn Féin senator.
“If the OPW is serious about reducing its carbon
emissions by 15% across 250 State buildings over an
18 month period, surely a biomass burner or other
environmental heating systems rather than oil should
be incorporated into any new developments."
He said it was "indefensible" for the OPW to say
alternative options were examined for the Buncrana
site but for practical reasons an oil fired system
was deemed best.
"If the OPW cannot include such a system in a brand
new building how can we have faith in them
converting 20 large State buildings from oil to
biomass as promised by the Minister today? I suspect
this is yet another Government broken promise to be
realised in the future."
When the row erupted in recent weeks, the OPW told
InishowenNews.com that the Buncrana building was
"sustainable...when all its aspects are taken as a
whole". It said the building was naturally
ventilated so there would be no energy required for
mechanical air conditioning while there was also an
atrium allowing for the best use of natural light. |
