Southern Regional Assembly Regional Action Plan

Regional Action Plan to Reduce Carbon by Monitoring Energy Efficiency in Social Housing

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Table of Contents

G lossary of Terms……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...................... 2

Part 1: General Information…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Part 2: Policy Context of Action Plan ................................................................................................................... 7

Part 3: Stakeholder Involvement…………………………………………………...……………………….............................. 10

Part 4: Regional Actions and Timeframe…………….………………………………………………..........................…… 12

Part 5: Interregional learning that influenced policy instrument………………….......................…………… 17

Part 6: EMPOWER Project Impact…………....………………………………………………….........................…………… 21

Part 7: Regional Action Plan Endorsements…………………………………………........................…………………… 23

Appendix 1: Pre-Retrofitting Home Survey ………………………………………..................…………………… 24

Appendix 2: Post-Retrofitting Home Survey………………………………………………......…….................……….. 27

Appendix 3: Independent Feasibility Report on Financial Instrument…………................……………. 30

Appendix 4: Energy Efficiency Financial Model………………………………………...................………………… 32

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Glossary of Terms

Acronym

Meaning

3CEA

Three Counties Energy Agency

AGENEAL

Local Energy Management Agency of Almada

ALOEN

The Local Energy Agency of Lorient

BER

Building Energy Rating

CCC

Cork City Council

CSO

Central Statistics Office

EPC

Energy Performance Contracting

ERDF

European Regional Development Fund

European Union

HERB

Holistic Energy-Efficient Retrofitting of Residential Buildings

HVAC

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

ICT

Information & Communication Technologies

JASPERS

Joint Assistance Support to Projects in European Regions

kWh

Kilowatt-hour

NEEAP

National Energy Efficiency Action Plan

S&E

Southern & Eastern

SEAI

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

SEROP

Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme

SHRS

Social Housing Retrofit Scheme

SRA

Southern Regional Assembly

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency Part 1: General Information 1.1 General information 1

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

EMPOWER – Reduce Carbon Output by Monitoring Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Project

Partner organisation(s) involved

Southern Regional Assembly (SRA)

Description

SRA is the designated Managing Authority for the Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme (SEROP). It has responsibility for managing and implementing the SEROP in accordance with EU Regulation. The SEROP is partnered by national, regional and local bodies.

Country

Ireland

NUTS2 region Contact person Email address Phone number

Southern Region

David Kelly

dkelly@southernassembly.ie

+35351860707

Table 1.1: General information

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

1.2 Primary Policy Stakeholder

Cork City Council (CCC), Housing Maintenance, Housing & Community Directorate Local Authority – Thomas Rogers & Brian Cassidy, Senior Executive Engineers CCC is the local authority responsible for CorkCity, which is located on the south coast of Ireland on Europe’s largest natural harbour and is Ireland’s second largest citywith a population of 210,000. Cork City is a university city with a student population of 35,000 and is a World Health Organisation Healthy City 1 . Cork City is ranked 3 rd for small European Cities of the Future and Economic Potential 2 and 1 st for Business Friendliness 2018/19 by fDi Intelligence (a service from The Financial Times Ltd) in its 2014-2015 European Cities and Regions Futures Report 3 . Cork City Council provides and maintains the city’s parks, roads and housing and is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. CCC have responsibility for the deep retrofit of social housing in Cork City with an objective to improve the quality of the social housing stock, reduce heating costs and our carbon footprint. • CCC have obtained grant funding to undertake deep energy retrofits on 129 social housing apartments in Cork City. • As part of this process, CCC will also install wireless energy monitoring equipment in 8 units to provide before and after data on the energy savings following the deep retrofit and identify where energy is being used or wasted. Yes. The elected members are providing political support at a local level to CCC to improve our policy instrument by agreeing to install energy monitoring equipment in a pilot programme in Cork as part of their deep retrofit of social housing.

Name of stakeholder

Type of stakeholder

Description

Responsibilities/role within the development and implementation of the policy improvement

Does this organisation provide political backing to the implementation of the policy improvement? If yes, how?

Table 1.2: Details of Primary Policy Stakeholder participating in policy improvement design and implementation

1. http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/urban-health/who-european-healthy-cities- network/membership/list-of-phase-vi-healthy-cities 2. https://www.google.com/search?q=fDi%2520European%2520Cities%2520and%2520Regions%2520of%2520the%- 2520Future%25202018_19%2520(1).pdf&rlz=1C1GCEA_enIE852IE852&oq=fDi%2520European%2520Ci- ties%2520and%2520Regions%2520of%2520the%2520Future%25202018_19%2520(1).pdf&aqs=chrome..69i57.3158j0j4&- sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

3. https://www.berlin-partner.de/fileadmin/user_upload/01_chefredaktion/02_pdf/studien-rankings/2014/European-Cit- ies-of-the-Future_2014-15.pdf

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

1.3 Stakeholders involved in development & implementation of policy improvement

Name of stakeholder

Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government

Type of stakeholder

Irish Government Department and National policy-making organisation and Intermediary Body. • Will be involved as key national stakeholders driving the funding of the deep retrofit programme for social housing in Ireland. • They will participate as national public policy representatives and contribute to the interregional exchanges as part of the stakeholder group and will contribute to the Regional Action Plan • They will use the final report of the EMPOWER project to disseminate the findings to relevant bodies to influence future policy changes.

Description

Table 1.3: Details of organisation 2 participating in policy improvement design and implementation

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

Name of stakeholder

Type of stakeholder

National Funding Beneficiary Body - Alan Ryan Programme Manager & Josephine Maguire Retrofit Programme Manager

Responsibilities / role within the development and implementation of the policy improvement

• They will participate as national public policy representatives and contribute to the interregional exchanges as part of the stakeholder group and will contribute to the Regional Action Plan. • They will use the final report of the EMPOWER project to disseminate the findings to relevant bodies to influence future policy changes.

Table 1.4: Details of organisation 3 participating in policy improvement design and implementation

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Name of stakeholder

Three Counties Energy Agency (3CEA)

Type of stakeholder

Three Counties Energy Agency (3CEA)

Responsibilities / role within the development and implementation of the policy improvement

• 3CEA will undertake a feasibility report on the proposed Energy Efficiency Financial Instrument Model for the Social Housing sector in Ireland.

Table1.5: Details of organisation 4 participating in policy improvement design and implementation

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency Part 2: Policy Context of Action Plan 1.1 General information 2 The Action Plan aims to impact:

Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme

European Territorial Cooperation Programme

Other regional development policy instrument

Name of the policy instrument(s) addressed: The Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020 – Priority 4 (c): “Supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including in public buildings and in the housing sector.

Description of the Regional Policy Context

Ireland’s 4th National Energy efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) 4 to 2020 emphasises that improving Ireland’s energy efficiency is an essential part of Ireland’s energy policy. It set outs the actions required to achieve Ireland’s 2020energyefficiency target, which is to reduce energy demand by 20% across the whole economy and includes a specific 33% energy reduction target for the public sector. Significant progress has been made and following the implementation of the 3rd NEEAP Ireland had reduced energy demand by 12% to the end of 2016. Data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in 2019 5 on domestic Building Energy Ratings (BER) shows that 78% of pre-1977 dwellings have a BER of D or lower in Ireland, while for houses-built post 2010, the comparable figure is just 1%. This clearly demonstrates that the age of dwellings is the most important determinant of the energy performance of domestic dwellings. There are currently 130,000 national social housing units in Irelandmainly located in the cities and towns in Ireland. It is estimated that some 25,000 of these units are older properties with low levels of energy performance, due mainly through heat loss through the fabric of the building. Of these 25,000 units, difficulties arise in the case of

2,000 apartments located in apartment complexes (1,500 based in Dublin city and the remainder in Cork & Limerick cities) that do not meet building standards of energy efficiency and require a substantial energy retrofit. Based on the above analysis Ireland decided to concentrate resources within the Southern and Eastern Regional Operational Programme (SEROP) 2014-2020 6 under Priority 4 (c) to support energy efficiency in the housing sector which will assist in meeting the minimum 20% of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) resources required to be invested nationally in the low carbon economy and will promote an increase in green jobs in Ireland in line with the Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme. In particular, Ireland will focus on the low carbon retrofitting of social housing to improve their energy efficiency. For further information on how the policy instrument will be improved by our actions please refer to Part 4 of the Regional Action Plan.

4 https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/NEEAP%204.pdf 5 https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/dber/domesticbuildingenergyratingsquarter12019/ 6https://www.southernassembly.ie/eu-programmes/southern-and-eastern-regional-operational-programme-2014-2020

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Description of the Policy Instrument Selected For Improvement

The SEROP 2014-2020 is a funding package of €500 million, co-funded through the ERDF and the Irish exchequer, to be invested in the region over the programme period. €133 million of this funding package will be invested in Priority 4 supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors in the Southern & Eastern (S&E) region. We have selected SEROP 2014-2020 – Priority 4 (c): “Supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including in public buildings and in the housing sector” for improvement under the EMPOWER project. One of the funding schemes under Priority 4 is the Social Housing Retrofit Scheme (SHRS) 7 seek to retrofit 2,000 older social housing units/ apartments (approximately 1,500 units based in Dublin city and the remainder in Cork & Limerick cities) that do not meet building standards of energy efficiency and require a substantial energy retrofit. The principal objective of the SHRS is to meet Ireland’s commitments in relation to carbon emissions reductions and energy reduction targets for 2020. Implementation of energy efficiency measures in buildings will make a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy reduction targets for 2020. The frameworks within which these

measures are being implemented, are provided by the Recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 8 and Energy Efficiency Directive 9 . Energy savings in buildings will contribute 45% of Ireland’s total energy savings targets for 2020. The energy retrofitting of buildings in the private and public sector hold the greatest potential for energy savings. It is intended that the SHRSwill fullymeet the stringent requirements and ambitious targets of the Energy Efficiency Directive. The SHRS has two elements – Void Retrofits and Tenanted Retrofits. For the purpose of EMPOWER we will be concentrating on tenanted retrofit.

Secondary objectives of the SHRS include:

• Stimulating employment generation within the construction/energy retrofitting sector. This measure will support some 4,167 jobs, taking account of both direct and indirect jobs, over the implementation period; • Demonstrating the importanceof public sector bodies leading by example as required by the Recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive.

7https://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/other/improvements-existing-wellings#Energy%20Efficiency%20-%20Retrofit- ting%20Measure 8 https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/energy/legislation/Pages/Energy-Performance-of-Buildings-Directive-(EPBD).aspx 9 https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-directive

€133 million of this funding package will be invested in Priority 4 supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Description of the need(s) to be addressed through the policy improvement

The current SEROP is concerned with the physical work of retrofitting thermally deficient and older social housing units. The current Irish methodology for calculating the energy efficiency of social housing units after deep retrofitting is by calculating the energy rating of the units using BER classification. This however only provides an indication of energy performance. Through EMPOWER we are seeking to improve the policy instrument by implementing a pilot to calculate the actual energy usage using energy monitoring equipment of some of these social housing units. By introducing energy monitoring of the units retrofitted we will create a mechanism to quantify the exact energy savings before and after the deep retrofit. On foot of the pilot of energy monitoring equipment as part of the retrofitting of social

housing units in Cork an opportunity now exists, in agreement with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Intermediary Body for the Social Housing Retrofit Scheme under Priority 4 of the SEROP, to fund energymonitoring equipment costs under the scheme. By funding energy monitoring equipment under the SEROP, this will allow Local Authorities to test the actual energy savings before and after the deep retrofit to ensure real energy efficiency behaviour change of social housing residents has been achieved. We will also seek to quantify the wider benefits to the residents through a survey that will assess their comfort levels. Finally, the energy savings data will be examined with a view to testing the feasibility of a financial instrument for the future funding of deep retrofitting of social housing in Ireland.

"Improving the quality of our lives should be the ultimate target of public policies. But public policies can only deliver best fruit if they are based on reliable tools to measure the improvement they seek to produce in our lives."

ANGEL G URRÍA, SECRETARY GENERAL OECD

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Part 3: Stakeholders Involvement

3.1 SRA Stakeholder Engagement for EMPOWER Project The original Europe 2020 Strategy Communication of the European Commission underlined the importance of a partnership approach: “This partnership approach should extend to EU committees, to national parliaments and national, local and regional authorities, to social partners and to stakeholders and civil society so that everyone is involved in delivering on the vision.”

Figure 3.1: SRA Stakeholder Engagement for EMPOWER project

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

The SRA in keeping with the Europe 2020 Strategy Communication has over the past number of year’s utilised extensive and broad ranging consultation and created key stakeholder groups for regional development and European projects. These stakeholders were invited to join the EMPOWER stakeholder groups and included government departments, state agencies, higher education institutes, local authorities, enterprise support organisations, research institutions and public authorities, public participation networks, environmental groups, specialist interest groups and civil society.

“We can only find the right answers to the challenges we face by involving as many stakeholders as possible…….in the process”

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (SCIENCE IN DIALOGUE)

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency Part 4: Regional Actions & Timeframe 4.1 Regional Actions 4 Regional Action 1 – Implementation of energy monitoring equipment to calculate exact energy savings of deep retrofitting of social housing units in Cork and investigate the possibility of creating a Financial Instrument, which could assist in funding the cost of deep retrofitting in social housing in Ireland. Relevance to the Project Our current policy instrument the SEROP is only concerned with the physical work of retrofitting social housing units, which has been funded by grants to date. Our action is to install energy monitoring equipment in a pilot project to measure the energy savings before and after retrofitting of social housing units in Cork City. This will for the first time, create amechanismto quantify the exact energy savings before and after the retrofitting of these units and thereby improve our policy instrument by including the costs of energymonitoring equipment for upcoming calls. This will also allow Local Authorities to test the actual energy saving before and after the deep retrofit to ensure real behaviour change of social housing residents has been achieved.

This action was originally inspired by AGENEAL Good Practice 2.1: Pilot Experience in Social Housing: Intelligence Monitoring of Energy Consumption. Good Practices 5.1 “Saint-Sulpice Smart City” and 5.2 “Raspberry Pi Electricity Monitoring and Free Software Data Collection” provided us with knowledge on wireless technology and measures to ensure we protect our data when commissioning the new energy monitoring software and equipment. We then attended two Interregional learning events in Lorient, France and Almada, Portugal to enhance our understanding of these good practices.

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Relevance to the Project

At the Technical Workshop “Energy Monitoring, Regulation & Management” in Almada, Portugal, we looked at the social dimension of energy monitoring and behavioural changes. This inspired us to take the opportunity to enrich our data by undertaking a before and after survey of these tenants to identify any wider benefits of our retrofitting programme. Once we have established the exact energy savings we will investigate if our proposed Financial Instrument could be used to change the model of funding from grant aid to a revolving fund and therefore create a viable financial instrument that would assist with the funding of the retrofitting of social housing in Ireland under our policy instrument. Our proposed financial instrument model was formulated and inspired in the main by interregional learning from the EMPOWER Technical Workshop for Energy Efficiency Financial Instruments held in Magdeburg, Germany in December 2018. Presentations were provided on financing models including green impact bonds, European Regional Development Fund, European Structural and Investment Funds, Crowdfunding and Energy Performance Contracting. We then had an open exchange between the expert speakers for a half day to probe more these models. The second day of the technical workshop was dedicated to the joint development with these experts of funding models for financing energy efficiency investment which assisted in formulating and inspiring our financial instrument model which is specific to Ireland’s social housing sector. In particular, an understanding of Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) in the energy efficiency sector was obtained from a presentation from Francisco Puente – Escan Energy Consulting who works with Santander City Council on EPC. Our involvement with the EMPOWER project led us to commission in November 2017 a Jaspers Technical Assistance Report which provided the basis of understanding the difficulties with monetising energy savings in social housing in Ireland. Further details on our Interregional learning process are available in Part 5. CCC will install the energy monitoring equipment as part of a pilot project to measure the energy savings before and after retrofitting of social housing units in Cork City. This equipment will provide the data to calculate the energy savings of these units. SRA will then review and monitor the energy monitoring data from the retrofitted units. In addition, SRA will undertake a before and after survey with these tenants to identify any wider benefits of our retrofitting programme. We will also test the viability of our proposed financial instrument to establish if it is viable and could be used to assist in funding our social housing retrofitting programme. Finally, SRA will then prepare a short report of the results from this pilot project, which will be disseminated, to local authorities in the region and nationally through the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government, SEAI and The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

Nature of the Action

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Main Steps

Deadline 12/2019 01/2019

Result

Draft the design of the energy monitoring ICT solution

Completed Completed

b) Test the energy monitoring ICT solution meets the brief which will include environmental in addition to energy measures

Tender for energy monitoring solution to be published

03/2019 03/2019

Completed Completed

d) Design a proposed energy monitoring financial instrument for the social housing sector in Ireland e) Test tender submissions to ensure energy monitoring ICT solution can be eas- ily integrated into the retrofitting project

06/2019

Completed

f) Tender for feasibility report on proposed financial instrument to be published 06/2019

Completed Completed

g) Evaluate tenders for feasibility report on proposed financial instrument and contract with preferred bidder h) Evaluate tender submissions and contract with preferred bidder for energy monitoring equipment i) Installation of ICT energy monitoring solution in 8 social housing units in Cork City

07/2019

09/2019

Completed

11/2019

Feasibility report to be completed and forwarded to SRA

11/2019 12/2019

k) Survey the social housing tenants of these units where the energy monitor- ing equipment will be installed before the retrofitting to assess their comfort levels

l) SRA and CCC to review and monitor the energy monitoring data

01/2020 to 06/2021

m) Survey the social housing tenants of these units where the energy monitor- ing equipment has been installed after the retrofitting to assess their comfort levels n) Report to be completed on the data before and after the deep retrofitting proj- ect by SRA – actual energy savings and results of surveys and findings of fi- nancial instrument feasibility report. o) On foot of the pilot of energymonitoring equipment as part of the retrofitting of social housing units in Cork an opportunity now exists, in agreement with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Interme- diary Body for the Social Housing Retrofit Scheme under Priority 4 of the S&EROP, to fund energy monitoring equipment costs under the scheme. This will allow Local Authorities to test the actual energy savings before and after the deep retrofit to ensure real energy efficiency behaviour change of social housing residents has been achieved. p) SRA to complete a short report to share the outputs of the EMPOWER project including technology specifications, results from energy monitoring, results from surveys, results of feasibility report on financial instrument with actual energy savings recorded and disseminate to all local authorities in the region and to national bodies

06/2021

08/2021

08/2021 – Date of

actual policy improvement implemented

11/2021

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Stakeholders Involved Timeframe

Cork City Council (CCC), Three Counties Energy Agency and SRA

Installation Deadline: 11/2019 Energy Monitoring Data Collection: 09/2019 to 02/2021 Collation of energy data & survey results: 03/2021 Policy Improvement achieved: 06/2021 Report to be disseminated: 11/2021

Costs

€90,534 & SRA/CCC staff time

Funding Sources

€90,534 Cork City Council and each institution will cover their own staff costs

Performance Indicators

1. Number of properties where energymonitoring was installed. Target: 8 2. Establish the reduction in KW/h achieved and % energy savings for the units in the EMPOWER project. Target 10% energy savings 3. % Number of surveys completed. Target: 75% completion rate 4. Number of entities report disseminated to. T arget: 10 local authorities and 2 national bodies

Table 4.1: Action to develop and implement the policy improvement

4.2 Enablers and barriers of Action Plan development and implementation

Enablers

Enabler title

Description of enabler

Importance of enabler and potential impact on development and implementation of policy improvement

Cork City Council

The continued support of CCC is pivotal to the successful data gathering and analysis, which is critical to the development and implementation of our policy improvement. The continued financial support to CCC in the delivery of the retrofit scheme and policy oversight for Local Government.

Department of Housing Planning & Local Government

Barriers

Enabler title

Description of enabler

Importance of enabler and potential impact on development and implementation of policy improvement

Cork City Council

The Regional Action Plan and subsequent policy instrument improvement may be compromised if there is a change in CCC priorities or strategic direction. The Regional Action Plan and subsequent policy instrument improvement may be compromised if there is a change financial support provided to CCC for the delivery of their retrofit scheme.

Department of Housing Planning & Local Government

Table 4.2: Enablers and barriers affecting the development and implementation of the policy improvement

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

4.3 Transferability conditions and factors

Transferability factor Factor title Description of factor Importance of factor and potential impact on regional transferability of policy improvement 1 There are no barriers envisaged

As we believe that there are no barriers then the impact is minimal as the policy improvement is easily transferable to other regions.

to the transfer of the improvement in the Policy Instrument to other regions. Once developed it is easily transferred.

Table 4.3: Factors affecting the regional transferability of the policy improvement

4.4 Risks and mitigating actions

Risks and Mitigating Actions

Level of probability

Description of risk

Title of risk

Description of mitigating action(s)

(High, Medium, Low)

ICT Equipment fails to collect data Social Housing Tenant Survey not completed Unable to obtain minimum criteria from third parties to model to assess viability of same

CCC and SRA will ensure appointment of qualified and experience contractor for ICT equipment. CCC will keep open lines of communications with tenants to ensure smooth retrofit for tenants, which should ensure their support for survey. Independent company experienced in feasibility studies to be contracted to assist with mitigating this risk.

Data Risk

Medium

Data Risk

Low

Financial Model

High

Table 4.4: Potential risks and mitigating actions

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Part 5: Interregional learning that Influenced Policy Improvement 5

The good practices, study visits, import workshop and other learning inspired by our participation in the EMPOWER have assisted us in developing this Regional Action Plan. The EMPOWER project facilitated learning at individual, organisational, stakeholder and interregional level. Good Practice 2-1 Title of Good Practice Pilot Experience in Social Housing: Intelligence Monitoring of Energy Consumption GP owner (region) Local Energy Agency of Almada (AGENEAL) Can this GP address

Yes. This good practice provided us with insights, which has informed our choice of energy monitoring technology and the parameters to measure. It also informed our decision to choose social housing as our area of concentration.

the policy need(s) identified in Table 1.3? If yes, how?

Table 5.1: Description of Good Practice 1 used in policy improvement process

Good Practice 5-1

Title of Good Practice Saint-Sulpice Smart City GP owner (region)

Municipality of Lorient – Municipality of Saint Sulpice La Foret

Can this GP address the policy need(s) identified in Table 1.3? If yes, how?

Yes. This good practice provides ideas on the wireless technology that should be adopted to obtain quality data that can easily be analysed.

Table 5.2: Description of Good Practice 2 used in policy improvement process

Good Practice 5-2 Title of Good Practice Raspberry Pi Electricity Monitoring and Free Software Data Collection GP owner (region) Municipality of Lorient Can this GP address

Yes. This good practice provided direction to ensure we protect ourselves when commissioning new energy monitoring software and equipment.

the policy need(s) identified in Table 1.3? If yes, how?

Table 5.3: Description of Good Practice 3 used in policy improvement process

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Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Interregional Learning Event

Type of Event

Study Visit

Location

Lorient, France November 2017

When

What Learning took Place

This study visit provided more in-depth information and specifications for the Municipality of Lorient’s Raspberry Pi Electricity Monitoring and wireless technology. This informed the tendering process when we were commissioning our energy monitoring software and equipment.

Table 5.4: Description of Interregional Learning Event 1 used in policy improvement process

Interregional Learning Event

Type of Event

Study Visit

Location

Almada, Portugal

When

April 2018

What Learning took Place

This study visit provided us with an understanding of AGENEAL’s HERB (Holistic Energy- Efficient Retrofitting of Residential Buildings). This project involved newly retrofitted, multi-apartment buildings used for social housing and involving energy monitoring. This study visit provided further information, which provided us with insights that has informed our choice of energy monitoring technology and the parameters to measure. Because of this study visit, we invited Joao Cleto from AGENEAL to participate in our Import Workshop in March 2019 to further expand on his experience of this project and to share this knowledge with the wider audience who will be assisting with the implementation of the energy monitoring equipment in Cork City and the policy improvements of our SEROP.

Table 5.5: Description of Interregional Learning Event 2 used in policy improvement process

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Interregional Learning Event

Type of Event

Technical Workshop – Energy Monitoring, Regulation & Management

Location

Almada, Portugal

When

October 2018

What Learning took Place

At this technical workshop, there was a presentation on the social dimension of the monitoring and regulation, user involvement, behavioural changes, decisionmakers and including other policies in relation to green procurement. This presentation assisted us in engagement with our citizens to create buy in for the EMPOWER project and in communicating the overall goals of the project. Following the technical workshop, we invitedRubyGanchou fromThe Local Energy Agency of Lorient (ALOEN) to participate in our Import Workshop in Ireland in March 2019 to further expand on her experience in the social dimension of energy monitoring and to share this knowledge with the wider audience involved with the policy improvements for our SEROP. As a direct result of this participation, we have decided to incorporate a pre and post survey of our residents’ comfort levels to enhance our understanding of the benefits of retrofitting social housing units.

Table 5.6: Description of Interregional Learning Event 3 used in policy improvement process

Interregional Learning Event

Type of Event

Technical Workshop for Energy Efficiency Financial Instruments

Location

Magdeburg, Germany

When

December 2018

What Learning took Place

Our financial instrument model was formulated and inspired in the main by interregional learning from the EMPOWER Technical Workshop for Energy Efficiency Financial Instruments held in Magdeburg, Germany in December 2018. Presentations were provided on financing models including green impact bonds, European Regional Development Fund, European Structural and Investment Funds, Crowdfunding and Energy Performance Contracting. We then had an open exchange between the expert speakers for a half day to probe more these models. The second day of the technical workshop was dedicated to the joint development with these experts of funding models for financing energy efficiency investment which assisted in formulating and inspiring our financial instrument model which is specific to Ireland’s social housing sector. At this technical workshop, there was a presentation from Francisco Puente – Escan Energy Consulting who works with Santander City Council on Energy Performance Contracting (EPC). As a result, we now have a better understanding on how risk can be reduced by employing EPC within our financial model.

Table 5.7: Description of Interregional Learning Event 4 used in policy improvement process

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Other Learning

Type of Event

Joint Assistance Support to Projects in European Regions (JASPERS) Technical Assistance Report

When

November 2017

What Learning took Place

Our involvement with the EMPOWER project led us to commission in November 2017 a JASPERS Technical Assistance Report which provided the basis of understanding and insights into the difficulties of monetising energy savings in social housing in Ireland.

Table 5.8: Description of Other Learning 1 used in policy improvement process

Other Learning

Type of Event

The Investment Plan for Europe Financing Energy Efficiency Conference

When

November 2018 – Dublin, Ireland

What Learning took Place

As a direct result of our involvement in the EMPOWER project we have sought opportunities to learn from other sources. This conference was hosted by Hosted by the European Investment Bank, The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and provided an overview of energy efficiency financial instruments available in Ireland, which assisted in informing our choices for our proposed Financial Instrument Model.

Table 5.9: Description of Other Learning 2 used in policy improvement process

Other Learning

Type of Event

European Commission Webinar – Financing Energy Efficiency in the Industry Sector

When

December 2018

What Learning took Place

Provided information on insurance of energy savings achievements by supplier of retrofit, which we have incorporated into our proposed financial model.

Table 5.10: Description of Other Learning 3 used in policy improvement process

“Power comes not from knowledge kept but from knowledge shared”

BILL GATES, MICROSOFT

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency Part 6: EMPOWER Project Impact 6

Cork City Council have been active in the deep retrofitting of social housing units in Cork City for the past number of years. The works undertaken include the insulation of buildings envelop, replacement windows and doors, as well as improvements to HVAC and lighting systems. The cost per unit range from €35,000 to €50,000 per unit retrofitted. The energy efficiency target following the retrofitting is 50% reduction in energy usage (150 kWh/m2a) and an uplift BER from their current level of F-B3 to B2-A3. The JASPERS report dated 27th April 2018 advised the possibility that due to poor energy efficiency of the social housing stock that many tenants of social housing in Ireland live in fuel poverty and that a significant part of the stock remains under-heated. The JASPERS report suggests that Ireland carry out a monitoring exercise that would aim to assess the real energy and financial savings then energy retrofitting is bringing to the

tenants. In addition, the JASPERS report concluded that a financial instrument alone would not be sufficient to mobilise local authorities to undertake energy efficiency investments in social housing. As part of the EMPOWER project we will now pilot new energy monitoring equipment that will calculate the actual energy savings per kWh before and after the retrofitting of eight pilot units. In addition, we will assess the improvement of comfort levels of the residents of these eight pilot units. Finally, we will test the viability of a potential financial instrument model that may be used to fund future retrofitting of social housing in Ireland. By undertaking the energymonitoring on this pilot project as part of the EMPOWER project we will have improved our policy instrument by for the first time implementing an accurate calculation of the energy savings of the deep retrofit programme in Ireland.

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

On foot of the pilot of energy monitoring equipment as part of the retrofitting of social housing units in Cork an opportunity exists, in agreement with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Intermediary Body for the Social Housing RetrofitSchemeunderPriority4oftheS&EROP, to fund energy monitoring equipment costs under the scheme for upcoming calls under the SEROP. This will allow Local Authorities to test the actual energy savings before and after the deep retrofit to ensure real energy efficiency behaviour change of social housing residents has been achieved.

In addition, the findings from the energy monitoring, comfort assessment and financial instrument model feasibility report will be collated into a dissemination report to be forwarded to all local authorities in the Southern Region and to intermediary & beneficiary bodies including SEAI and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The report will assist in developing the parameters for future funding of deep retrofit programmes in Ireland and will influence future policy instruments.

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Part 7: Regional Action Plan Endorsements 7

The Southern Regional Assembly and Cork City Council acknowledge the added value of the EMPOWER project and its contribution to the SEROP and/or other regional mainstream programmes, provided through the identification of Good Practice(s) and Interregional learning and the development of this Regional Action Plan. The Southern Regional Assembly and Cork City Council consider the potential import of the Good Practice(s) and Interregional learning mentioned in this Regional Action Plan, with necessary adaption according to regional context, to represent a valuable input for further development of energy efficiency measures and reduction of CO2 emissions in the Southern Region.

We hereby confirm our support for the import and implementation of the Good Practice(s) as described in this Regional Action Plan as well as for the implementation of the action reported in

Part 4 of this document. Name & Organisation:

Councillor Joe Carroll, Cathaoirleach of the Southern Regional Assembly

Date:

Signature:

Name & Function:

Mr David Kelly,

Director, Southern Regional Assembly

Date:

Signature:

Name & Function:

Thomas Rogers, Senior Engineer, Housing & Community Directorate, Cork City Council

Date:

Signature:

Name & Function:

Brian Cassidy, Senior Executive Engineer, Housing & Community Directorate, Cork City Council

Date:

Signature:

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Appendix

Appendix 1 – Pre – Retrofitting Home Survey

Pre-Retrofitting Home Survey

We would be obliged if you could answer the following survey in advance of the retrofitting of your home. By answering this survey, you will be assisting Cork City Council in ensuring the best outcome from the retrofit of your home. We wish to confirm that all your answers will be kept confidential and can be returned to us in the stamped addressed envelope enclosed. We wish to thank you in advance for your participation in this survey.

Please circle your responses and ratings as follows (use any colour pen): YES/NO

5 (good quality)

1 (poor quality)

1. At present, is the quality of the indoor environment in this home acceptable to you? YES/NO 2. At present, how would you rate the quality of Indoor Environment in this home? 1 (poor quality) 2 3 (neutral) 4 5 (good quality) 3. At present, how would you rate the temperature and warmth of your home? 1 (very cold) 2 (slightly cold) 3 (neutral) 4 (slightly warm) 5 (very hot) 4. At present, how would you rate the air quality in your home? 1 (unpleasant) 2 3 (neutral) 4 5 (pleasant) 5. At present, how would you rate the level of condensation on the windows in your home? 1 (low) 2 3 (moderate) 4 5 (high)

6. At present, how would you rate the level of dampness in your home? 1 (low) 2 3 (moderate) 4

5 (high)

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

7. Currently, how would you perceive the external noise inside your home? 1 (very noisy) 2 3 4

5 (very quiet)

9. Currently how cosy and comfortable is your home? 1 (very uncomfortable) 2 3 (neutral)

5 (very comfortable)

10. Generally howmany hours per day do you have the heating on in your home during colder months of the year? 0 (You do not use heating) Up to 2 Hours Up to 4 hours Up to 6 hours Over 6 hours 11. Comments on your home's comfort level are welcomed below:

12. How many people live in your household? 1 2 3

5 or above

13. What ages are the people who live in your household? (please put the number in each of the boxes below) How many under 10 years old How many between 10 and 20 years old How many between 21 and 40 years old How many between 41 and 60 years old How many above 60 years

14. Are any members of your household currently students studying for exams? YES/NO

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

15. Do any members of your household have underlying medical conditions that would be improved if the comfort levels in your home were improved? YES/NO 15. If you answered yes above can you please list the type of medical conditions i.e. respiratory, neurological, allergies etc?

16. Are you supportive of the initiative to Deep Retrofit your House? YES/NO

Thank you very much for your participation in this survey. Please put your completed survey into the stamped addressed envelope attached and return to the address on same.

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

Appendix 2: Post- Retrofitting Home Survey

Post-Retrofitting Home Survey

We would be obliged if you could answer the following survey in following the retrofitting of your home. By answering this survey, you will be assisting Cork City Council in ensuring the best outcome from the retrofit of your home. We wish to confirm that all your answers will be kept confidential and can be returned to us in the stamped addressed envelope enclosed. We wish to thank you in advance for your participation in this survey.

Please circle your responses and ratings as follows (use any colour pen): YES/NO

5 (good quality)

1 (poor quality)

1. Following the retrofit, is the quality of the indoor environment in this home acceptable to you? YES/NO 2. Following the retrofit, how would you rate the quality of Indoor Environment in this home? 1 (poor quality) 2 3 (neutral) 4 5 (good quality) 3. Following the retrofit, how would you rate the temperature and warmth of your home? 1 (very cold) 2 (slightly cold) 3 (neutral) 4 (slightly warm) 5 (very hot) 4. Following the retrofit, how would you rate the air quality in your home? 1 (unpleasant) 2 3 (neutral) 4 5 (pleasant) 5. Following the retrofit, how would you rate the level of condensation on the windows in your home? 1 (low) 2 3 (moderate) 4 5 (high)

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

Empower – More Carbon Reduction by Dynamically Monitoring Energy Efficiency

6. Following the retrofit, how would you rate the level of dampness in your home? 1 (low) 2 3 (moderate) 4 5 (high) 7. How would you perceive the external noise inside your home following the retrofit? 1 (very noisy) 2 3 4 5 (very quiet)

9. How cosy and comfortable is your home following the retrofit? 1 (very uncomfortable) 2 3 (neutral) 4

5 (very comfortable)

10. Generally howmany hours per day do you have the heating on in your home during colder months of the year following the retrofit? 0 (You do not use heating) Up to 2 Hours Up to 4 hours Up to 6 hours Over 6 hours 11. Comments on your home's comfort level following the retrofit are welcomed below:

12. How many people live in your household? 1 2 3

5 or above

Southern Regional Assembly | Regional Action Plan

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