Irish householders use almost 30 per cent more electricity than their counterparts in the rest of the EU and 20 per cent more than in the UK, according to a new report, and CO2 emissions are twice the EU average.
The average household spent €1,767 a year on energy in 2006, up 70 per cent on 1990, according to the report from Sustainable Energy Ireland.
Energy efficiency in Irish homes has improved by 15 per cent but most of this is due to improved insulation in the houses rather than better behaviour by their occupants.
The SEI report, which focuses on key energy trends in the residential sector since 1990, found that while energy used by the sector grew by one-third, the residential sector’s share of overall energy usage dropped. This is because energy use in other sectors such as transport is rising even faster.
Irish households spend €2.5 billion a year on energy, and this figure is likely to rise sharply as fuel prices continue to increase. The report notes that electricity prices have doubled since 2000, and natural gas prices have risen by 87 per cent.
Over 145,000 Irish households are now experiencing fuel poverty, in which more than 10 per cent of their disposable income is spent on energy.
Average household electricity use increased by 62 per cent from 1990 to 2006 even though fuel use fell marginally over the same period. The sharp rise in electricity use is being blamed on power-guzzling electronic goods, such as big-screen televisions, dishwashers and recessed lighting. The proportion of homes with central heating has grown from 52 per cent in 1987 to 91 per cent in 2005.
One reason for the growth in energy use is the increasing number of houses in the State. Houses are also getting larger - up one-quarter in size over the period in consideration - which also pushes up energy consumption. The number of people per household is dropping, and currently stands at 2.81, but this is still high by international standards.
Labour Party Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Liz McManus, said the increase in usage would have implications for carbon emissions, and that the number of people experiencing fuel poverty was likely to increase.
"Approximately 145,000 homes, one in ten of us, are experiencing fuel poverty. Given that the price of gas and electricity is set to rise by up to 20% this autumn, the numbers of people experiencing fuel poverty is likely to soar," she said. "It is time the government took an innovative approach which is strategic and fair."
