“That the Chief Executive will provide an update, report and analysis of the energy upgrades carried out in Council’s owned properties within Fingal since 2019 and that this report includes details on heat pumps and any issues that have been identified with regard to energy savings or otherwise.”

Councillor J. Newman – Analysis of heat pump and energy updates 

“That the Chief Executive will provide an update, report and analysis of the energy upgrades carried out in Council’s owned properties within Fingal in the last couple of years since 2019 and that this report includes details on heat pumps and any issues that have been identified with regard to energy savings or otherwise.” 

Response: 

Architects 

Our Energy Efficiency programme commenced in 2021.  As part of that first pilot phase, we successfully managed to retrofit the 65 council properties we had been allocated funding for, moving their BER rating to a B2 or higher level making them much warmer and healthier for residents, but also helping to reduce their energy usage and costs.  

The Retrofit Programme is a ten-year programme that will see us upgrade some 25% of our housing stock to a B2 BER standard. As part of that we're carrying out a variety of works to each home in order to achieve that higher rating. These works vary depending on the type, size and age of the property but may include new triple-glazed windows, LED lighting, rewiring, fitting of new external doors, placement of PV panels on roofs, installation of heat pumps, an upgrade of external wall and attic insulation and the upgrade of heating controls. Importantly, this work is all carried out done with residents still living in their homes. 

Whilst our 2022 allocation for funding for retrofitting was 81 homes, we are targeted to complete in the region of 100 properties. Subject to the availability of additional funding to progress the rollout further in 2023, we hope to be in a position to carry out energy upgrade works to some 200 homes across the County. 

We have had a strong positive response to the upgrades to date. 

Building Facilities 

Fingal County Council’s first Energy Performance Contract is finishing the implementation stage. The contract was signed in December 2021. This contract is for the energy efficiency upgrades for Blanchardstown Civic Offices and County Hall, Swords. The primary measures included for both buildings are a complete LED lighting upgrade, solar photovoltaic (PV) system, high efficiency boiler systems and heat pump air handling unit upgrades. Both facilities will operate on a state of the art building management system controls upgrade - The total implementation cost of these measures is €1,053,607 of which FCC will pay a fixed maximum of €500,000. The balance of the investment is provided by the contractor (Lawler Sustainability), who, under the contract conditions, also take the entire risk of any cost increase. 

Under the Energy Performance Contract (EPC) terms, the contractor, Lawler Sustainability, is responsible for the design, installation and maintenance of the energy efficiency measures. The total energy savings from these works is designed to deliver 37% reductions in energy usage per year. The savings will give FCC a guaranteed return with the remainder paid to the contractor Lawler Sustainability; this allows the contractor to recoup some of their upfront investment and allows  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20