EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Chapter 12: The Environment and Energy n Energy use in transport contributes to poor air quality in cities and urban areas during periods of high population exposure such as rush hour and can be problematic in areas of traffic build-up. n The continued use of fossil energy in transport systems is a significant contributor to climate change, with road transport being the largest energy source of GHGs in Ireland. n There are economic and social costs resulting from delays because of congestion and energy wastage. A transition to clean energy would by itself significantly reduce impacts on health, the environment and climate. The requirements for decarbonisation and the protection of human health provide key catalysts for this transition. However, the comprehensive sustainability approach in the ‘avoid-shift-improve’ framework (discussed in Chapter 11) would accelerate and embed this in an integrated way. The Residential Sector The residential sector/buildings accounted for approximately 19 per cent of energy consumption in 2018 and produced 22 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions and 24 per cent of PM 2.5 emissions. Residential energy use in Ireland peaked in 2010. Fuel type, building standards and the efficiency of appliances fundamentally determine the demand for energy and environmental burden. In the short term, residential energy use can reflect weather events, with high use, and loss, during cold spells. As shown in Figure 12.2, energy sources for heating changed significantly during the 1990s, with a shift from coal and peat to oil and natural gas, particularly in large urban areas. Since 2000, the profile of residential energy use has remained relatively stable. This is displayed in Figure 12.3. Over this period oil has remained the main fuel used in residential heating. In 2018 the residential sector/buildings accounted for approximately 19 per cent of energy consumption in Ireland (SEAI, 2019a). Figure 12.2  Energy (MWh) used for residential heating in Ireland from 1990 to 2018 (Source: SEAI) Year 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 Coal Peat Oil Natural Gas Renewables Electricity 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Figure 12.3  Residential energy use profile in 2018; this mix has remained relatively stable since 2000 (Source: SEAI) Coal Peat Oil Natural Gas Renewables Electricity 38% 22% 6% 25% 2% 7% The shift to natural gas from solid fuels has had considerable benefits for air quality in cities and urban areas that have access to gas networks. However, the rate of change has not continued, with the energy use profile being relatively stable over recent decades. Emissions from solid fuel use are the largest source of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) which can have significant adverse impacts on air quality (Chapter 3). Personal everyday choices can impact air quality (Figure 12.4). 311