PRESS RELEASE

23rd August 2005

For immediate release

Minister to Open Major Conference on Energy Efficiency and Property

The Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA) are delighted to announce that Minister Noel Dempsey, TD Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources will provide the opening address at the forthcoming Green House Sessions Conference. This major one day conference which will take place on 17th October 2006 in the Hogan Suite, Croke Park, aims at providing Irish Property professionals with key information on energy efficiency and their property.

Over the past year, the Irish Property Owners Association has been continuously highlighting to its property investor members, the importance of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and its impact on residential property in Ireland. The Directive, which contains a range of provisions aimed at improving energy performance in residential and non-residential buildings, will have a significant effect on the buying and renting of property in Ireland over the coming years. Both new and existing buildings will have to establish an energy rating when renting or selling with effect from 2009. An energy certificate will be required by law which will cost approximately €300 per property.

Acknowledging this and endorsing the positive environmental effects of energy efficiency in residential property in general, the event has been designed in conjunction with award-winning architect and energy expert Duncan Stewart and will comprise 4 separate sessions, each focusing on areas of specific interest to property owner-investors. Topics range from the energy crisis to practicalities (including cost and methodology) of creating a more energy-efficient home. The Green House Sessions will also focus on the Directive and will look overseas at case studies of possible ways of creating optimum energy-efficient environments.

Speakers include Kevin O'Rourke and Paula Rice, Sustainable Energy Ireland; Bill Quigley, National Centre for Energy Rating; Alan Cooke, IAVI; Charles Roarty, Energy Action; Mike Haslam, Solearth and Stratos Paradias, President UIPI.

According to IPOA Chairman Stephen Faughnan 'We are delighted that Minister Dempsey will be providing the opening address of the conference. The Green House Sessions is a very important event in the property calendar and will provide a platform for property investors to see first-hand the impact of the Directive on their property and to gain practical knowledge of how best to improve their property in line with a more energy-aware environment. The inclusion of an exhibition/trade show element to the event will give practical advice and information to property owners on everything from methods of heating and insulation to energy auditing'.

CPD approval by Engineers Ireland and the IAVI is guaranteeing essential training hours to members of both Institutes.

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For further information ,contact Sara Corcoran/Gemma Ryan, Ion Communications.
Tel: +353-87-7624258 / 7643788
Email: ion@indigo.ie