The SEAI Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has said savings of €6 billion can be secured and up to 10,000 jobs supported when its 5 year plan is implemented. SEAI’s strategic plan which was unveiled recently said that sustainable energy practices are already delivering savings to the economy with reduced energy bills for businesses and household’s. It is expected that 60,000 existing homes will be insulated this year alone. It is envisaged that one million homes will be retro-fitted at the cost of €6 billion. The authority says it will focus on the key areas of electricity supply, heat supply, energy in buildings, energy efficiency products and behaviour, energy in transport, research and innovation as well as policy development and analysis. ‘The new economy will bring savings, the €6 billion we can save over the lifetime of this strategy is the equivalent of our annual fossil fuel bill,’ commented Energy Minister Eamon Ryan. ‘It will bring investment and more importantly jobs for our people,’ he stated.