Energy efficiency should be basis for commercial rates
Issued : Tuesday 10 October, 2006
Statement by Cllr Oisín Quinn
Labour Party City Councillor and Candidate for Dun Laoghaire, Oisin Quinn, has called on Local Authorities and the Environment Minister to implement a proposal tagging commercial rates to the energy efficiency of new business premises, rather than simply the size of the building.
Cllr Quinn commented, “At a recent meeting with the Dublin City Manager I proposed a new form of collecting rates from local businesses that would be dependent on the energy efficiency of the premises. The present system charges rates based purely on square footage, and does not take into account other factors such as how environmentally-friendly the building is.
“I proposed an alternative means whereby rates on new buildings, in the first instance, are levied on the basis of energy efficiency. Such a scheme should be complemented by a grants system for renovations to older buildings to make them more environmentally friendly before they too would be subject to the new rates system after a few years.
“The need for businesses to take seriously their environmental obligations is gaining momentum. A similar proposal to mine was recommended in a 2003 report by the Association for the Conservation of Energy in the UK. This report was subsequently presented to the Carbon Trust.
“Moreover, while the Government must comply with the European Buildings Directive requiring all buildings to have an Energy Performance Certificate by January 2009, the scheme is only being implemented on a phased basis from 01 January 2007. My scheme – which goes further – could be implemented in conjunction with this directive.
“In response the City Manager informed me that while the Council would be willing to consider such a proposal, the final decision rested with the Government and the Minister for the Environment in particular. I will therefore propose a motion to this effect to the City Council to achieve their support. At a time when buildings including business premises account for 60% of consumed electricity, new thinking such as this needs to be adopted to improve the energy efficiency of all commercial enterprises.”
