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Tenants at Risk of Energy Poverty from Rental Accommodation in Dublin City

19th August, 2015

Energy poverty could increase among renters in Dublin city unless landlords are incentivised to make their properties more energy efficient, according to Codema's new report published today. The Dublin City Spatial Energy Demand Analysis highlighted how escalating rents, combined with a large number of properties in the city with poor energy ratings, has meant that more tenants are at risk of not being able to heat or power their homes to an adequate degree.

Figures obtained by Codema show that of the Building Energy Ratings (BERs) listed as rental properties in Dublin city, almost half of these (48%) have a rating of D or lower.

Commenting today on these figures, author of the report and Strategic Sustainable Energy Planner with Codema, Donna Gartland, said:

The biggest problem with many apartments, bed-sits and flats in the city is that they are rented and the tenants cannot make the big changes required to reduce their energy costs.  There are no incentives for landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of their properties, especially in the current market where there is a lack of rental properties available.

With rents at a premium at the moment, the affordability of energy in these poorly-insulated rented dwellings could increase the number of people experiencing energy poverty.

The report also revealed that even smaller properties (less than 80 square metres) in inner city areas such as Merchants Quay and Arran Quay would cost over €2,000 a year to heat and power to an adequate level.

The Dublin City Spatial Energy Demand Analysis is also the first report to calculate that the city spends over €657 million on energy in buildings, with the majority of this money leaving the Irish economy to pay for fossil fuel imports.
In compiling the report, Ms Gartland has highlighted the need to incorporate energy planning into future city planning, with co-operative district heating systems identified as a possible solution for new housing developments or existing housing close to planned district heating schemes.

Click here to download the Dublin City Spatial Energy Demand Analysis - June 2015.

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