Government funding of euro 21.1 million is being made available to the construction sector to encourage energy conservation in the new home-building and home improvements sector.
Announcing details of the House of Tomorrow Programme 2001-2006 in Dublin today, Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise Mr Joe Jacob said the housing sector has been identified as a key area requiring innovations to improve its energy performance and reduce levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
"This is a serious issue given the pace at which we are adding to the stock of houses and their long life expectancy," Mr Jacob added.
Projects from the social and private housing sectors throughout Ireland will be eligible under the new programme.
Under the UN Kyoto Protocol, Ireland must limit the amount of greenhouse gases, of which carbon dioxide is a significant contributor, to 13 per cent above its 1990 level by the period 2008 to 2012.
"A concerted effort to reduce energy consumption by all sectors of the economy, including the housing sector, is essential if we are to meet our obligations under the Kyoto Protocol", Mr Jacob said.