National government in Ireland traditionally had an exclusive role in defining energy standards for buildings in the framework of the national Building Regulations. In 2005 this position was challenged by a group of Green Party councillors who proposed a motion in Fingal County Council for the introduction of improved building and energy standards in their Local Area Plan which related to a specific development site of 29 hectares. After much debate this plan was approved and stated a requirement that all new buildings must achieve the following energy standards as a prerequisite to receiving planning approval (Dubuisson, X. 2014):
- Annual heating requirement to be lower than 50 kWh/m²/year; and
- At least 30% of the building space and water heating requirements to be supplied by a renewable energy system.
Although the required levels of renewable energy production are not exemplary, Fingal is an example of a municipality leading the way and setting a strong example in the country. Their decision to impose higher on-site generation standards put local government in control and enabled them to go beyond national building regulations. The decision made by Fingal in 2005 has since influenced national panning and encouraged the national energy agency (Sustainable Energy Ireland) to review their existing renewable energy targets.