Dolan calls for solid fuel stove option in new-build homes
Athlone councillor John Dolan has called on Westmeath County Council to allow for the installation of solid fuel stoves in new-build houses in order to help residents cope when there are power outages.
Raising the motion at this month's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Cllr Dolan referenced the chaos caused by Storm Éowyn, when numerous residents within the community were impacted by power outages.
"There were so many within our Municipal District impacted by the recent storm. I have heard of a number of families with newborn babies who had to return to their parents' residences as they were without electricity and, living in new builds, had no option to heat their homes.
"I am aware that new builds now have to conform to an A3 Building Energy Rating (BER) status, but I am of the view that new homes being constructed should be complete with a chimney to allow for heat in such circumstances. With the impact of climate change, we are certainly going to see more and more storms long into the future.
"Yes, the modern house is installed to the nth degree but it would also be great to have an option to heat the house with a fuel stove when there are power outages," Cllr Dolan said.
The Fine Gael representative said any house with a chimney which comes before the local authority seeking planning permission for construction is "likely to be thrown out".
"Common sense is required. It is reasonable to expect that homeowners have an alternative option to heat their homes when they lose their electricity. If we don't learn from the chaos caused by the recent storm we are not doing our job as a council," Cllr Dolan said.
Supporting Cllr Dolan, his party colleague Cllr Tom Farrell said storms will now become the norm, given climate change, and homeowners have to be prepared for all eventualities.
Cllr Aengus O'Rourke noted that lessons must be learned from the storm fallout. He, too, had heard of numerous young couples living in newbuild properties who had to return to their parents' properties for heat and to look after their own children.
Cllr Paul Hogan stated that a "level of flexibility" had to be allowed in the construction of new builds going forward.
"The situation is too stringent at the moment. Post-storm, there were families who were unable to heat their homes, avail of a WiFi signal, or charge their mobile phones and laptops. This situation must be addressed to allow a secondary source of fuel to heat homes," Cllr Hogan said.
Responding, council Director of Services Jackie Finney stated that new builds had to conform with numerous environmental guidelines to ensure an A3 BER rating.
"New builds now must adhere to energy guidelines so they do not negatively impact our environment. This is a factor for all those building new residential properties at this time. All new homes should have an A3 BER rating, which effectively means a discontinuation of the traditional fireplace in the property.
"Only eco-stoves with proven high burning temperatures and complete domestic combustion can be permitted in new builds in accordance with government policy," the council official said.