Chapter 5 I Climate Change and the Environment
Change is therefore needed to ensure that new development and existing development, seeks to optimise energy conservation and efficiency to respond to climate change. 5.26 The requirement to achieve ‘Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings’ (NZEB) standards in new buildings is required through the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) transposed in Ireland through Part L of the Building Regulations. In addition, Cork City Council will consider, where appropriate, further measures to incorporate planning and design-related measures that fall outside the Building Regulations and incorporate energy performance improvements in existing buildings subject to there being no conflict with other policy objectives relating to design, conservation and heritage.
Standalone proposals will also be considered in appropriate locations in accordance with the policy objectives below and the contents of Chapter 9 Environmental Infrastructure and Chapter 11 Placemaking and Managing Development. 5.29 Renewable and low carbon energy generation can take a number of forms including, but not limited to wind; solar; geothermal; hydro; air, water and ground source heat pumps; biomass; and energy from waste. Geothermal energy is addressed in more detail in Chapter 9. 5.30 The Plan promotes the generation and supply of low carbon and renewable energy alternatives, having regard to the opportunities offered by the City’s urban morphology, settlement hierarchy and the hinterland. 5.31 nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) homes and passive non-residential developments will have an important role to play in carbon reduction measures. Roof level solar banks are already a feature in new and retrofitted buildings in the City and will be an important part of the solution to achieving low carbon and carbon neutral developments. It is envisaged that wind power will make the most significant contribution to the achievement of national targets for renewable electricity. Micro- renewable wind energy generation has a part to play in reaching these targets, and potential may exist for on-site and micro wind energy production in industrial areas and business parks subject to the requirement to protect residential amenity in surrounding areas. 5.32 Potential also exists for the production of electricity from large scale offshore wind energy facilities off the coast of Cork City in the Celtic Sea. In this regard, Cork City Council, where applicable, supports the implementation of the ‘Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan’ (OREDP) published in 2014 by the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources (and subsequently reviewed in 2018) and will co-operate with state and semi-state agencies in relation to the implementation of projects in the Irish Sea.
Waste Management and Adaptable Buildings
5.27 In reducing our impact on the climate and
environment, we must seek to also reduce waste in the construction and operation of developments. This extends to designing buildings to be sufficiently flexible to enable them to be adapted to suit revised needs in the future without having to demolish and start again. Waste management, including the circular economy (where materials remain in use at their highest value for the longest period of time and are then recycled or reused, thereby minimising the volume of residual waste) is addressed in greater detail in Chapter 9 Environmental Infrastructure. Renewable and Low Carbon Energy 5.28 In transitioning away from our reliance on fossil fuels and moving towards a carbon neutral society, we must explore the use of renewable and low carbon energy technologies. Within a Cork City context, this will predominantly comprise renewable and/or low carbon energy measures to support development proposals by virtue of the prevailing urban setting.
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Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028 I Volume 1
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