Commercial buildings are a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In these last few years, the operations of the commercial sector have also undergone a huge change. There are financial, technical, knowledge and behavioural challenges. Through ENACT initiative, we want to enable the commercial sector to overcome those barriers to achieving targets and positively contributing to climate change.
WHAT IS ENACT?
ENACT is a 3-year initiative, tasked with ‘enabling national action on commercial renovation’. It is SEAI funded. Led by the Irish Green Building Council, we are excited to partner with the University of Galway, Sustainability Works, Dublin Chambers of Commerce and the Society for Chartered Surveyors of Ireland on this.
We have just begun our journey and encourage all relevant stakeholders from the commercial sector to decision makers to get in touch and keep updated on our progress on this page, or by contacting Sinéad Hughes, Programme Manager.
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WHY IS ENACT NEEDED?
The EU 2030 Climate & Energy Framework has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990, under the EU Green Deal. Ireland’s current Programme for Government contributes to with a 51% reduction. The IGBC’s specific research into buildings in Ireland found that “building and construction are responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world, with operational emissions (from energy used to heat, cool and light buildings) accounting for 28%”[1]. The targets set for the commercial sector are to achieve one third to achieve a B+ rating by 2030 in Ireland’s Long-Term Renovation Strategy.
| SME Statistics: | 109,000 Commercial Buildings[2] |
| 248,344 SME’s in Ireland[3] | |
| 968,881 people employed by SME’s | |
| 99% of Businesses in Ireland are SME’s | |
| 7% energy consumption annually | |
| 4% annual retrofit | |
| 0.1% deep retrofit |
WHAT WILL ENACT DO?
- Engage regularly and constructively with the commercial sector, relevant professionals, and decision-makers in creating realistic solutions
- Provide cutting-edge research to inform holistic decision & policy making in achieving national targets in attitudes, behavioural economic, technical & financial areas
- Software tools for individuals in commercial sector to aid decision-making & monitoring
- Professional training to create essential capacity
- Commercial sector awareness events and engagement to build appetite
WEBINARS
Join the webinar series on the benefits of commercial renovation. You can watch the recordings below.
- Greening Commercial Premises-Explained: Benefits of retrofit
- Greening Commercial Premises Explained: EU Taxonomy
- Greening Commercial Premises Explained: Carbon Budget
- Greening Commercial Premises-Explained: Renovation Planning Process (SCSI)
- Greening Commercial Premises-Explained: ESG
- Greening Commercial Premises-Explained: Split Incentive Solutions
- Greening Commercial Premises-Explained: SME’s and Your Finance for Energy Projects
- Greening Commercial Premises-Explained: EPBD Recast
SME Renovation Roundtables
ENACT team is organising a National Roadshow to help SME to take the next step in their commercial renovation journey. The team, will be travelling across the country to bring in-person sessions in Cork, Dublin, and Galway, as well as online sessions to ensure that everyone has access to this unique opportunity. Read more here.
Active Collaborators and Supporters:
World Green Building Council, CSTB (Aldren), Renovate Europe, CBRE, Chambers Ireland, JLL, IBEC, Colliers, Small Firms Association, Heritage Council, BER Assessors Association of Ireland, Banking & Payment Federation of Ireland, IPUT, Energia, Hibernia REIT, Acutrace, Sisk – Sensori.
[1] New report: the building and construction sector can reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – Irish Green Building Council (igbc.ie)
[2]01. Commercial buildings survey P1.indd (seai.ie)
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This project has been funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the SEAI Research, Development & Demonstration Funding Programme 2021, Grant Ref: 21/RDD/615 |
