Garden cabins, rural sprawl and tiny apartments: housing has become a numbers game |
Ireland has a mission statement called the National Planning Framework, a 20-year roadmap for population growth and sustainable development, with a vision for where and how we will live. It has a strong agenda for climate and energy, promoting compact settlements, sustainable transport, management of environmental resources, and Ireland’s transition to a carbon-neutral and climate-resilient society.
The stakes are high, with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council warning of €13 billion in penalties if binding commitments are not met. One quarter of all energy is used in residential buildings, but where homes are built dictates the transport, infrastructure and services that follow. Missteps in one place wipe out hard-won gains elsewhere.
In the housing sector, climate action is focused on upgrading existing stock and new construction standards. This year alone 73,000 homes will be improved using State grants, and more than 200,000 A-rated homes have been built since 2015. These are significant wins for both the State and occupants, with lower energy use, more comfort and better health for decades to come.
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