A Clones councillor has called for alternative options to be explored before installing electrical heat pumps in all new homes. Concerns raised by Sinn Fein's Pat Treanor come after hundreds of homes across Co Monaghan were left without electric for prolonged periods as a results of storms Isha and Jocelyn. Under the Climate Action Plan, 400,000 existing homes are supposed to be retrofitted with electric heat pumps in the next seven years.
However, the onset of Storms Isha and Jocelyn with the space of barely 72 hours this week has led to doubts about the practicalities behind the move. Going forward, Cllr Treanor believes it is vital that we find "other ways" of assisting communities and local families in the future when it comes to adverse weather conditions and storms.
