The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland presented their seventh annual Sustainable Energy Awards in Dublin at the end of November. Companies across all sectors of the economy were recognised for their efforts in energy management and the awards attracted entries from over 100 organisations throughout the country.
Top prize on the night, ‘Energy Manager of the Year’, went to Brian Scannell of the Musgrave Group, which launched a five-year sustainability strategy across its business in 2007 that has since delivered over 3GWh in energy savings, equivalent to 5% year on year savings.
Other winners included:
Crowley Carbon Ltd, which received the new ‘Sustainable Energy Innovation Award’ for the adoption of an iPhone app Danú, a smart analytical tool that helps businesses to carry out a comprehensive energy audit. The tool was demonstrated in Corrib Oil and led to energy savings of 30% equivalent to €120,000.
Tyndall National Institute, winner of the ‘Renewable Energy Systems Award’ for its new research building which is heated entirely by heat generated from its data servers, saving 12% on energy costs.
Citi, winner of the ‘Energy Awareness Award’ for a sustained energy awareness programme which resulted in reducing utility costs by almost €350,000 over the last year alone.
Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, which was awarded the ‘Energy Management Award, Small to Medium User’ for achieving energy savings of almost 30% in the last three years, equivalent to €250,000, by following no-and low- cost energy saving initiatives involving all staff.
Matthews Coach Hire, which won the ‘Energy Efficiency Award, Small to Medium User’, for implementing a fuel efficiency project that has generated a 6% saving in fuel usage throughout its fleet of private coaches, commuter and tour party buses.
Commenting on the Awards announcement, Professor Owen Lewis, CEO, SEAI said: “What is most encouraging from this year’s Awards is the evidence that employees and individuals in business are now really embracing the efficiency agenda and driving change throughout Irish industry. A culture change is taking place across Irish businesses. We too often think that our individual efforts are futile in the bigger picture, but all we have to do is look at the collective efforts of entrants to this year’s Awards who have achieved energy savings of over €17 million.
Individuals have made these savings happen and they should be commended.”
Individual efforts can have similar results in the home and, as we head into the cold winter months, we should use every opportunity to reduce energy demand and to increase efficiency.
Further information on the 2010 Sustainable Energy Awards can be found on SEAI’s
Some subscribers to this website (GreenQuest.ie) have suggested that we outline
the various grants that are available for energy saving in the home lest readers are
unfamiliar with them.
Grants for energy saving are provided by the Government through the Sustainable
Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and full details of the different programmes are
available on their website at www.seai.ie.
Some programmes provide support for specific sectors and these programmes usually
have a finite life and are discontinued after a specified date.
At present the grants available for homeowners fall into three categories namely;
• Greener Home Scheme
• Warmer Home Scheme
• Home Energy Saving Scheme
The first of these, the Greener Home Scheme, provides assistance for homeowners
who intent to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for existing homes
built prior to July 2008. The scheme aims to increase the use of renewable energy and
sustainable energy technologies in Irish homes.
Grants are available for Solar Heating, Heat Pumps, Wood Chip or Pellet Stoves
and Wood Gasification Boiler. The amounts of the grant varies depending on the
technology used but a grant of up to €3,500 is available for the installation of a
vertical heat pump for example and €800 is available for the installation of a biomass
stove.
Information for applicants is available at http://www.seai.ie/Grants/GreenerHomes/
Homeowners/How_to_Apply/Greener_Homes_Application_Guide.pdf
The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort
conditions of homes occupied by low-income households, and to establish the systems
and grow the capacity in Ireland to install such measures through community based
organisations.
The scheme grant aids attic insulation, draught proofing, lagging jackets, energy
efficient lighting, cavity wall insulation and energy advice.
Information for applicants is available at
http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Warmer_Homes_Scheme/SEI_Warmer_Homes_leaflet.pdf
The third scheme, the Home Energy Saving scheme, provides assistance to
homeowners who are interested in improving the energy efficiency of their home in
order to reduce energy use and costs, greenhouse gas emissions and improve the
comfort levels within their home.
Grants are available under this scheme for roof insulation, and wall insulation (cavity
wall, internal dry lining or external insulation), the installation of a high efficiency
Oil/Gas fired Boiler and for the upgrade of heating controls in the home.
A Building Energy Rating (BER) is an integral part of all grant applications under
this scheme and homeowners must undertake a BER on their home after grant aided
works have been completed.
Again the amount available varies but external wall insulation, for example, qualifies
for a grant of €4,000.
See application guide at http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Home_Energy_Saving_Scheme/
Application_Guide_8th_june.pdf
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