A comprehensive cost}bene"t analysis of a programme to retro"t various energy-e$ciency technolo-gies and heating upgrades to the Irish dwelling stock is taken as a case study. This paper endeavours to provide a template for ex ante economic evaluations of domestic energy-e$ciency programmes. At best, reductions in environmental bene"ts are also estimated, but rarely are other bene"ts calculated, such as increases in the levels of household comfort and improvements in human health. Heretofore, most economic evaluations of energy-e$ciency programmes have concen-trated purely on the associated costs of the programmes and the energy savings that result. However, prior to the implementation of large-scale energy-e$ciency programmes, it is important to evaluate whether they make economic sense. In some countries, the domestic sector has been highlighted as an area which has a signi"cant potential for improvement. In recent times, the Kyoto Protocol has been the most prominent in bringing energy efficiency to the fore.
There are a number of driving forces behind energy efficiency. The paper makes suggestions to researchers and industry professionals for future domestic energy monitoring systems. Gas meters which do not have a pulse output and solid fuel use pose the largest challenge to monitor. The paper explains and reviews the monitoring system employed and highlights some of the key lessons learnt during the planning and installation of equipment. The monitoring system is designed to provide an understanding of energy consumption patterns and energy wastage in social housing. Basic cleaning of the data is carried out prior to presentation for analysis on a secure website. Raw data is relayed to a data concentrator within the building and via a network to a secure database. The wireless system installed in nine dwellings regularly logs indoor temperature, humidity, volatile organic compounds, gas and segregated electricity. The bespoke system was designed to monitor whole building energy use for one year pre-and post-retrofitting. This paper describes the methodology involved in the initial stages of an on-going longitudinal energy monitoring programme to determine actual energy savings brought about by a building retrofitting programme for social housing in Kilkenny, South East Ireland.
The Irish official methodology for calculating the energy rating of dwellings only offers an indication of energy performance. There is a scarcity of empirical data to demonstrate the actual benefit of energy efficient retrofitting in the residential sector.
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