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SEC Network Newsletter     Issue No.5

Hello again!

 
Welcome to the third SEC Newsletter of 2017, which is coming to you as we say goodbye to the summer and embrace the seasonal change into Autumn, bringing with it as it does a greater focus on keeping warm and conserving energy.
 
We are delighted to announce that the network has now officially welcomed its 100th member! Live Green, Tullamore - see the news feature below.
 
 As mentioned in the previous newsletter, a series of regional meetings and one-to-one conversations have taken place over the past months and Gillian has now met face-to-face with a total of 26 communities. Feedback from these discussions has been very constructive in informing the development of the programme. You should all have received a recent email which addressed the six main themes which arose and the steps that SEAI are taking to address them. If you didn’t receive this email or have any comments or queries please contact Gillian at Gillian.gannon@seai.ie
 

News

  • 100th SEC Network member! We are proud to announce that that Live Green Tullamore have joined the SEC network, pushing the network into triple figures. Live Green Tullamore are based in Offaly and their SEC ambition is “to create a brand for Tullamore as being at the heart of sustainable energy awareness and cost effective procedures for the businesses and people of Tullamore”. 
  • Public Consultation on the Design of a Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS):  The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment have published details here of a Public Consultation process on the design of a new RESS in Ireland. The new scheme is being developed to incentivise the introduction of sufficient renewable electricity generation to meet national and EU-wide renewable energy and decarbonisation targets out to 2030.

    Reflecting a broader movement towards greater public and citizen engagement in relation to energy policy, the Department and SEAI commissioned research into both the economic assessment of renewable energy technologies and the various support models for community ownership of these technologies. On the basis of these studies, a range of policy measures have been identified and the Department is now seeking public feedback on these. As the consultation paper presents the emerging approach to the design principles of the new RESS, Minister Denis Naughten strongly encourages all stakeholders to submit their views before the deadline of November 3rd 2017.

    Further information regarding the Public Consultation and supplementary documentation can be accessed here. The accompanying press release is found here.
  • Small Lighting Pilot Scheme claim date extended! Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 250 employees in a range of sectors are eligible to apply for up to 40% grant funding to upgrade their lighting to energy efficient light products and controls. The date for payment claims has now been extended to 27th October 2017 and works must also be completed by then. Full details of the scheme and application forms can be found on SEAI’s website here.
  • PhD Research at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology into Community Energy. Anitha Sampath, a PhD student at GMIT is currently conducting a survey of all SECs in Ireland. This survey seeks to deepen understanding of the motivations, barriers and interactions experienced by communities that are pursuing Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) status. Her research project hopes to inform an appropriate framework to enable growth of sustainable energy communities in Ireland as well as make suggestions to policy makers. Communities can use the outcomes from this survey to enhance their interactions with mentors and SEAI and other stakeholders.

  • If you would like to be part of this research and can spare 10 minutes, please click on the link here. The final report will be made available to all the SEC members, SEC mentors and SEAI and parts of the study will be published in national and international conferences and academic journals.
 
Important Dates
 
  • Gillian Gannon will be at the National Ploughing Championship with SEAI on 20th and 21st September - come and see us!
  • The Better Energy Communities Programme is launching again in November - stay tuned for further information and application dates.
 

Spotlights

Mohill SEC & North Leitrim SEC: Energy Awareness Day, 23rd June 2017.
 
The Energy Awareness Day in the Mohill Family Support Centre (MFSC) was organised by Leitrim LEO and supported by both Leitrim SEC teams. The day provided a number of valuable opportunities; to promote the work of the SEC teams and encourage wider community participation and to showcase the ongoing BEC project works in Mohill.
 
The event was followed up with an energy clinic at the Mohill Enterprise Centre on 1st September, at which local businesses and residents were invited to meet with the SEC Mentor to review their energy bills and explore project options.


Joe Lowe (Leitrim LEO), Joe Hendron (Derry City and Strabane DC), Nollaig Whyte (Leitrim CoCo), Nicola McManus (Leitrim LEO) and Ruth Buggie (SEAI) at the Energy Awareness day 
 
Cork & Kerry Network Meeting: Study Tour in Clonakilty, 27th June 2017.
 
A very successful study tour in and around the Clonakilty area was recently organised by XD Consulting, network Mentors for the South-West region. The purpose of the study tour was to showcase best practice in local sustainable energy initiatives and to encourage networking and exchange of ideas and knowledge between SECs and other local community initiatives.
 
A group of 36 met at the Fernhill Hotel in Clonakilty, including representatives from 10 SECs from the South-West region as well as from a number of other local groups who are considering joining the SEC Network. Michael O’Neill, a director of Sustainable Clonakilty (the local SEC) and third generation owner of the hotel, outlined the sustainability measures which have been underway for a number of years. These include solar panels to provide hot water, planting thousands of trees on site for biodiversity, food and renewable energy, their own water supply from an onsite well which also is used to irrigate the garden and a strict recycling & composting strategy in place to reduce waste.

 
Michael O’Neill (centre-left) in the permaculture gardens of Fernhill Hotel. Source: XD Consulting
 
The group were then introduced to the Clonakilty Bike Scheme by Tom O’Donovan, owner of Donovan’s hotel and founder of the bike scheme. This is Ireland’s first rural community bike rental scheme and has amassed regional and national awards, including one of SEAI’s Energy Awards. Tom also gave an inspiring account of other sustainable practices taken place at the hotel, including composting of all organic wastes, production of biodiesel from the hotel’s kitchen waste oil and low-energy lighting.

Finally the group visited Xavier Dubuisson’s home outside of Clonakilty. Xavier gave a short presentation in his home office, a timber frame structure highly insulated with locally produced cellulose insulation, outlining his ambition to gradually achieve zero-energy status, by combining efficient equipment with solar power and electricity storage. The group were also given a tour of the family home, a typical stonewalled farm cottage which has undergone a deep retrofit process over 15 years, by gradually insulating attics, changing light bulbs to low-energy/LEDs, installing wood stoves, a solar water heating system, replacing and adding windows with best specs possible, efficient mechanical ventilation, etc. Most recently they completed the process by availing of the Superhomes scheme run by Tipperary Energy Agency. This project included installing an air source heat pump for central heating, cavity wall insulation, window and door replacement to triple-glazing, airtightness measures, and intelligent cloud-based heating controls. In addition, a 1.5 kW PV system was installed under a pay-as-you-save model financed by Electric Ireland. As a result the house has now achieved an A3 rating from a C1 before the project.
 

Ground-mounted PV array, solar water heating panels and vegetable garden. Source: XD Consulting

Feedback from the participants was very positive and many remarked on how stimulating and informative the visit was. It’s hoped to hold a similar tour at a suitable location in Kerry later in the autumn. For more details on SEC Network initiatives in the South-West region, please contact Xavier Dubuisson, tel: 086/0476124, email: xavier@xdconsulting.eu
 
Shankill Action for a Green Earth (SAGE): Energy Clinic, 13th July 2017.
 
The SAGE Energy Clinic was organised for local householders and businesses, by the SEC team, with support from mentors and SEAI.  The event was well attended and provided a valuable opportunity to provide an overview of domestic energy use in Shankill and energy saving tips and guidance to supports, promoting the work of the SEC teams.
 
The Energy Clinic comprised of breakout sessions to discuss specific local and individual challenges and ambitions.  SAGE also agreed to arrange up to 50 Home Energy Kit user surveys for the IEA project.

 
Presentations and group discussion from the SAGE Energy Clinic, July 2017
 

Dunleer SEC, Co. Louth: Energy Ambassadors Programme, 2017.
 
The Dunleer SEC is an element of the work of the Dunleer Community Development Board.  Agreement on the three year partnership with SEAI for the SEC and implementation of a second Better Energy Communities (BEC) programme were important steps in 2017.  The BEC programme has expanded to incorporate the retrofitting of 90 homes, community facilities and small business in Mid Louth.
 
In March, Dunleer SEC held an Energy Week titled “The Energy Ambassadors”, endorsed by the Centre for Renewable Energy Dundalk Institute of Technology (CREDIT) and sponsored by SEAI.  Over 300 people attended workshops that focused on educating individuals and communities on energy reduction and increasing renewable energy usage.  The programme title delivered a message that encouraged attendees to become ambassadors in their homes, places of work and communities. In April, Dunleer SEC also delivered “The Energy Ambassadors” programme in Waterfall/Ballinore, Co. Cork.


Delivery of the Energy Ambassadors programme during Energy Week in Mid Louth


The Energy Ambassadors programme in Waterfall/Ballinore, Co. Cork
 
The Energy Ambassadors programme covers the following areas:

  • Conservation and greater efficiency in energy use
  • Understanding renewable energy
  • Sources of renewable energy
  • Technologies and products for managing energy needs in the home and workplace
  • Knowledge sharing and advice for communities on working together to achieve energy savings and access grant funding for home retrofits

The Steering Group has highlighted the importance of collaboration and the need to draw on the support that is available, from mentors and the SEAI.  Building relationships of trust with individuals and communities in Mid Louth has been critical for success. Together with the support of the Social and Community office of Louth Co Council, a key element of our success has been the dedicated and passionate work of Elizabeth Kearney,  BEC Lead Dunleer SEC.
 
“We in the Dunleer Community Development Board would like to thank Joan Martin, CEO of Louth County Council, for her support and nominating the community of Dunleer for the Pride of Place award operated by Cooperation Ireland."
 
If you are interested learning more about the Energy Ambassadors programme, why not try it out at the next SEC National Event? 

Whats next?


We are currently planning the 2017 National event, which will be held in November - further details will be announced in the next newsletter. Any suggestions on what you would like included as part of the national event are welcome. For example, if you would be interested in test driving an electric car on the day, please let us know at Gillian.gannon@seai.ie.

In the meantime, help us create the next SEAI SEC Network Newsletter – due out in November 2017.


We would love your input in creating these newsletters - as you know the aim is to provide an opportunity for everyone to share ideas, updates, news and tips with each other, as well as for SEAI to provide you with updates and supports along your journey.

So do send us your article ideas, questions, relevant upcoming events, links, or news about your SEC, to sec@seai.ie so that we can include them and share them with the network.
 
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
 
Copyright © 2017 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, All rights reserved.


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