Rhonda Doyle
Country President, Schneider Electric Ireland
Buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. They present one of the biggest challenges to meet the Government’s goal of achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050.
Renovation, not reinvention for Ireland’s building stock
Buildings provide one of the biggest opportunities to decarbonise, particularly through the large-scale retrofit of existing buildings to deliver rapid and measurable emissions reductions.
This requires circularity — not a reinvention of the wheel. Renovation through digitisation can have a transformative effect. Transitioning to energy-efficient, electrified and digitally managed buildings not only cuts emissions, but future-proofs Ireland’s existing building stock.
Data-driven insights for optimal planning
The technology already exists to execute this circularity roadmap. Combining digital technologies with electrification can create buildings that are intelligent, adaptable and capable of supporting a low-carbon energy system.
IoT sensors, for example, enhance adaptability, improve safety and ensure compliance with Ireland’s tightening energy performance standards. AI is also integral, able to dynamically adjust environmental conditions such as lighting, temperature and air quality based on occupancy patterns and external weather conditions.
Meanwhile, digital twins, like those offered by Schneider Electric, can take things a step further, streamlining the design and operation of electrical infrastructure. By creating a virtual replica of a building’s power system, managers can simulate and optimise performance pre-installation – then receive real-time updates to enable ongoing optimisation. This enables building managers to plan confidently for future infrastructure, like EV charging, on-site renewables or battery storage – critical to bolstering energy resilience.
Existing measures, such as the Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) standard and National Retrofit Plan, are helping to embed sustainability across the lifecycle of both new and existing buildings.
But Ireland must go further. We need a stronger emphasis on digitisation within existing frameworks and policies. Embedding incentives for technologies such as BMS, AI and solar PVs would encourage commercial operators and homeowners to adopt energy efficiencies and clean energy solutions. The easiest way to cut costs is to avoid using the energy in the first place. Overall, these practices can enable Ireland to unlock deeper energy savings, improve grid stability and accelerate the decarbonisation of its building stock.
Backbone to a resilient, low-carbon future
Smart buildings are the backbone of a resilient, low-carbon future. By harnessing the right technologies, buildings can move beyond efficiency gains. They can create healthier indoor environments, lower operating costs and enable adaptability to challenges such as volatile energy markets, rising grid demand and extreme weather.
With the right roadmap in place, Ireland can ensure buildings remain safe, efficient and comfortable for generations to come.
