While the government is setting its retrofitting plans in motion, there are still other options to consider. For the 46% of buildings (98) that are rented by government bodies in Dublin , lease breaks present the best opportunity to vacate older, poorly rated buildings which are dependent on fossil fuels, and occupy newer buildings with better energy ratings, with more potential to decarbonise using renewable sources. The buildings will be delivered by third parties in a competitive market, without the need for the State to divert resources be that financial, staff and management time, to the upgrade of their property portfolio. If ever there was a readily outsourceable and price competitive solution, this is it.
Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service data suggests that 446,000 sq ft of office space leased by the OPW is due to expire between 2023 and 2025, representing 20% of its total leased portfolio in Dublin. These lease expiries provide the State with an opportunity to enhance a fifth of its rented office stock over the three-year period, which is a substantial amount of space and a positive step towards decarbonisation of the built stock.
The private sector has demonstrated how innovative technologies and sustainable design principles can dramatically improve the overall sustainable performance. Commercial properties with renewable sources and intelligent heating and cooling systems no longer the exception, but increasingly the norm, driven by the requirements of international companies who are voluntarily ahead of the State in actioning the very standards being imposed by the State, often going well beyond the minimum standards of the government regulations and directives. As the government embarks on its lengthy retrofitting journey, it should also actively seek to lease NZEB buildings that meet the highest standards of energy efficiency and carbon emissions.