Total investment in the solar energy industry in Ireland will be in excess of €700 million by 2010, according to Sustainable Energy Ireland (REIO).
At current energy prices the average Irish family will spend over €40,000 in the next 30 years to heat their home - reducing that bill by 50 per cent can be achieved cost effectively by harnessing energy from the sun.
In Ireland, Mr Paul Kellett of the REIO said, many residential and commercial buildings fail to meet even the basic design principles that could cut energy consumption by over 30 per cent - at no extra capital cost.
Mr Kellett was speaking in Bandon this morning to publsise a two-day seminar to be held in the Brandon Hotel in Tralee on June 20th and 21st, which aims to educate construction industry professionals on the value of using solar energy.
"The solar energy market is expanding rapidly in Ireland, as more and more people and businesses look towards the sun for clean, sustainable and free energy," Mr Kellett said.
"Solar energy in Ireland should not be a myth, and contrary to what many people may think, we have an excellent solar climate particularly for certain ground and water heating systems".
Sustainable Energy Ireland, formerly the Irish Energy Centre, was established on May 1st 2002, as a statutory authority charged with promoting and assisting the development of a sustainable national energy economy