A Pay As You Save (PAYS) scheme designed to energy upgrade virtually every building in Ireland over the next decade was officially recognised at the recent 2010 Green Awards in Dublin.

Green building magazine Construct Ireland editor Jeff Colley, who developed the financing model, received the Green Leader and Green Communications awards for his successful campaigning work on PAYS.

The scheme, which is scheduled to be rolled out by Energy Minister Eamon Ryan before the end of 2010, will enable cash-strapped homeowners and businesses to pay for energy saving measures through fixed repayments on their energy bills over several years.

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"Save as You Pay can become a major driver in Ireland’s economic recovery," commented Mr Colley.

Mr Colley said the upgrading of 100,000 homes per year will create thousands of jobs, reduce Ireland’s 6bn euro energy import bill, dramatically cut carbon emissions, and enable all Irish people to have comfortable, healthy homes.

However, Mr Colley cautioned that an ill-informed approach could see the scheme falling well short of its potential.

"It is critical that the utilities give considered, independent advice, and that they do not contradict each other," he said.

"If one utility says 'you should put in wall insulation' and another says 'don't do that - you should put in solar panels and heating controls,' it will create confusion and lack credibility."

Energy minister Eamon Ryan announced in December that his Department plans to test pay-as-you-save by the summer, before mandatory rollout by the end of the year.

(NS/BMcC)