Against the backdrop of the for Ireland and other EU Member States to transpose the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) into national legislation, Rhonda Doyle, Country President, Ireland, Schneider Electric, commented on the opportunity this presents to advance a more coordinated, technology-enabled approach to decarbonising Ireland’s built environment:
“Ireland must urgently align how we design, upgrade, and operate our buildings with the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which is now being brought into Irish law. This directive sets out clear expectations to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon across our homes and workplaces. While this presents a significant challenge, it is also a real opportunity to accelerate emissions reduction through practical, efficiency-led upgrades.
“The directive also includes requirements for greater transparency and control over building performance, including the implementation of Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS), which are foundational to enabling more intelligent buildings and enabling real-time monitoring and energy optimisation. Our recent study found that more than two-thirds of Irish local authorities are already using smart building technologies to support decarbonisation – demonstrating that progress is already underway. BACS will play a critical role in supporting renovations and ensuring buildings can meet evolving energy performance standards over time.
“As Ireland brings this directive into law, it should be supported by the urgent publication of the Government’s National Building Renovation Plan – not simply as a procedural step, but as the mechanism that sets out how Ireland will improve its least energy‑efficient buildings and mobilise investment at scale. A clear and credible plan is critical to give confidence to building owners, investors and technology providers that the renovation market can deliver.
“The 29 May deadline should not be seen as an end point, but as a starting point for a more coordinated and ambitious approach to modernising Ireland’s built environment – embedding energy efficiency, digital intelligence and long-term resilience into how our buildings are designed, upgraded and operated.”
– Rhonda Doyle, Country President, Ireland, Schneider Electric
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