Energy Scheme Wins Green Gongs

PAYS Financing Scheme 2 Energy Upgrade Every Irish Building in a Decade Strikes Gold

Pay As You Save, a  scheme designed to energy upgrade virtually every building in Ireland over the next decade was a big hit at Ireland's prestigious 2010 Green Awards in Dublin last night.

Jeff Colley, the editor of Green building magazine Construct Ireland, who developed the PAYS financing model, won the Green Leader and Green Communications awards for his successful campaigning work on PAYS, the Energy Upgrade Scheme which is predicted to create thousands of jobs after it comes into effect later this year.

"If ever there is an idea that's of its time, it is pay-as-you-save," said Colley (pictured). "We have just been through a freezing winter, carbon tax is coming in, and hundreds of thousands of Irish people are stuck in badly built, draughty homes with no ability to pay for the upgrade work needed to make their home more comfortable, cheaper to run, and more valuable.

"PAYS is specifically designed to solve that problem. It will mean that people can add the cost of the upgrade to their energy bills over time, with the repayments offset against reduced energy costs."

Colley and Construct Ireland developed the campaign for PAYS last August and September through the payscampaign.ie web site and later successfully lobbied for PAYS  to be included  in the renewed programme for government. In August an Amárach/Construct Ireland survey found that 80% of Irish homeowners would be interested in paying for energy upgrades through their utility bills.

Minister Eamon Ryan announced in December that his Department plans to test Pay-As-You-Save this summer, before rolling it out by the end of this year.

The scheme  will enable cash-strapped homeowners and businesses to pay for energy saving measures through fixed repayments on their energy bills over several years.

"Pay as You Save can become a major driver in Ireland's economic recovery," said Colley.

He said the upgrading of 100,000 homes per year will create thousands of jobs, cut Ireland's 6bn Euro energy import bill, dramatically cut carbon emissions, and enable all Irish people to have comfortable, healthy homes.

However Colley, who has no commercial interest in PAYS, cautioned that an ill-informed approach could see the scheme falling well short of its potential.

He continued: "It is critical that the utilities give considered, independent advice, and that they do not contradict each other. If one utility says 'you should put in wall insulation' and another says 'don't do that - you should put in solar panels and heating controls,' it will create confusion and lack credibility."

Diageo won the overall Green Business Award for its significant achievement in reducing water consumption by half; for decreasing waste sent to landfill by two thirds by putting in place an advanced waste management and waste prevention programme; and  for reducing its overall carbon footprint by nearly three quarters.

Construct Ireland was another of the 20 winners at the 2010 Green Awards, which recognise excellence and outstanding achievement by organisations and individuals in tackling climate change and addressing environmental issues.

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