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Lightbulbs, old and new Fiona Hanson/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Energy efficiency can create jobs

A European Commission ban on 60 watt light bulbs came into effect today, as we’re told we must make ourselves 20 per cent more energy efficient by 2020.

IRELAND IMPORTS OVER 80 per cent of what we consume in energy – if we can reduce that, we will grow the economy and create jobs.

That’s the message from a panel of experts attending a conference on energy efficiency and job creation, hosted by the European Commission in Ireland.

It comes on the day 60 watt light bulbs are phased out across the EU, to be replaced by more efficient alternatives.

The EC says European families can cut CO2 emissions by 15 million tonnes a year if they change all the light bulbs in their homes – that’s the equivalent of taking seven million cars off the road.

The conference is being held to discuss plans to realise an EU agreement making member states 20 per cent more energy efficient than they were in 2005, by 2020.

Speaking at the Conference in Dundalk today, Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Pat Rabbitte, said energy efficiency was an area that can contribute to economic growth through new jobs and investment.

The Minister said “Energy efficiency is an area of increasing investment and innovation in Ireland.”

Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said any plan to tackle the amount of energy we import will have to include renovating homes and buildings and harnessing smart technologies.

MEP Mairead McGuinness and TV’s Duncan Stewart were among those in attendance at the conference.

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    Mute Chaos Ape
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:05 PM

    Just don’t eat it…

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    Mute Ciarán FitzGerald
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:09 PM

    But the wild Sika in Wicklow is lovely!!!

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    Mute kjholt
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:18 PM

    @Ciarán FitzGerald: wild? He’s furious, freezin up there..

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:39 PM

    @Chaos Ape: Don’t eat the yellow snow, that’s where the sika go…. to quote Frank Zappa.

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    Mute Martin St John
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    Feb 12th 2020, 3:10 PM

    @Chaos Ape: weather permitting

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    Mute Eoin Jordan
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    Feb 13th 2020, 9:33 AM

    @Chaos Ape: Is that your tip for the author? :D

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:19 PM

    I presume there’ll be snow in Meath then

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    Mute Olivia Dunne
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:22 PM

    @The only INFP in Ireland: Is that what you got from that article?

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:51 PM

    @The only INFP in Ireland: slipped and bust my knee this morning icy outside watchout

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Feb 12th 2020, 4:56 PM

    @Olivia Dunne: Yep.

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    Mute Trevor Sheahan
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:46 PM

    Don’t eat the Yellow snow-ice.

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:52 PM

    @Trevor Sheahan: ff fg wetthemselves when they saw the result at the poll

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    Mute Peter Duff
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    Feb 12th 2020, 4:09 PM

    Thanks for the warning folks

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    Mute Jacqui Curtis-owens
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    Feb 12th 2020, 5:21 PM

    Seen a man and a school kid come of their bikes thismorning …dangerous

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    Mute Gerry Gleeson
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    Feb 12th 2020, 4:05 PM

    Yellow snow is always a danger

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    Mute minorproblem
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    Feb 12th 2020, 6:37 PM

    Cocaine country

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