Decoupling Emissions from Economic Activity 2020

Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Households as Consumers

Figure 4.1 shows a breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions by households from 2010-2020 by source of emissions. In 2020, 46% of emissions from the household sector were from household heating, while 32% were from transport and 20% were from electricity. Emissions from fossil fuels used to generate electricity were assigned to the final user of the electricity in this release. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen in the 2020 figures as heating emissions accounted for a higher percentage of total emissions and transport emissions made up a lower percentage than in the previous ten years.

Household emissions were 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, compared with 31% of the total in 2010.

Household Heating and Energy Efficiency

Building energy ratings data show that new dwellings are increasingly using electricity as the main space heating fuel with a transformation occurring in a short time period as electricity went from being the main space heating fuel in 49% of new dwellings constructed between 2015 and 2019, to 86% of new dwellings in the period from 2020 to the first quarter of 2023 (see Figure 4.2 and Table 4.2). This trend shows the importance of reducing the proportion of fossil fuels used in the generation of electricity.

Heating oil was the main heating fuel used in 36% of new dwellings built between 2000 and 2004. In contrast, less than 1% of new dwellings constructed between 2020 and the first quarter of 2023 used heating oil as the main heating fuel.

The CSO Survey of Income and Living Standards provides data on the type and prevalence of deprivation experienced by households in Ireland. In 2022, 9% of households were without heating at some stage in the previous year and 7% were unable to afford to keep the home adequately warm (see Table 4.3). These indicators show that emissions from heating from some households may be lower than what they would be if the household had more income.

Gas and electricity meter data can be combined with building energy ratings to measure the difference in consumption for more energy efficient dwellings. Table 4.4 shows that homes with the best energy efficiency ratings (A/B) used less electricity per square metre. The lowest rated homes (F/G) used less than C-, D- and E-rated homes, a possible indicator of energy poverty.

Table 4.5 shows data from the CSO Environmental Subsidies and Similar Transfers release on the amount of grants and tax reliefs for households for retrofits, electric vehicles and solar panels. These policy measures are aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, €106 million was paid out in energy efficiency grants to households, €65 million was provided in grants and tax reliefs on electric vehicles and renewable energy grants to households were €7 million. 

Household Transport

Figure 4.3 and Table 4.6 show vehicle licensing data by fuel type. Electric vehicles made up 0.6% of taxed private cars in 2020. There was an increase of 18% in the number of licensed private cars between 2010 and 2020.

Household Electricity Consumption

Figure 4.4 and Table 4.7 show household metered electricity consumption from 2015 to 2021. Apart from a decrease in 2019, metered electricity consumption by households increased each year from 2016 to 2021. In 2021, household consumption was around 33% of total electricity consumption. The renewable share in electricity generation increased each year from 2016 to 2020 but decreased from 39% in 2020 to 36% in 2021.