Context:
In 2015 a number of members of the community of Dunleer in County Louth came together to establish the Dunleer Sustainable Energy Community (DSEC) a member of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) SEC network. The vision of DSEC was to provide leadership to communities on addressing the challenges of climate change through education, retrofit of homes and generation of renewable electricity.
Over the years the requirements for these offerings expanded and in 2020 our group established the Irish Sustainable Communities Together (ISCT) a social enterprise company limited by guarantee, the business name for the work of ISCT is the Energy Team www.energyteam.ie based at the Market House, Main Street, Dunleer, County Louth and serving the north east. We have six people employed that administer all of our services aimed at addressing the challenges of climate change.
Energy Team provides homeowners with a team they can trust to provide an objective assessment of their home, advice on what is needed, quality non-disruptive installations and advice to ensure their ongoing energy efficiency.
Energy Team Achievements:
– Since 2016 the Energy Team has delivered programmes to 5000 people across seven counties on information they can take to reduce energy use & inspired people to take action on their homes, community centres and business.
– Upgraded over 415 homes across the Northeast to make them more efficient through insulation, proper heating controls and moving to renewable technologies for space heating like air source heat pumps thus away from fossil fuels.
– Accessing grants for homeowners available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to undertake energy upgrade works.
– Since 2016 successfully equipped over 415 homes and community facilities across Louth, Meath, Fingal and Monaghan with measures to reduced energy use and save people money, through homeowner contributions, SEAI grant aid and Energy Supplier support, contributing to the saving of almost 20 million kWh of energy and taken over 5000 tonnes of CO2 out of the environment. https://youtu.be/576J1IxbjZo
– Recognised and trusted by homeowners and communities in the North East as a source of information, advice and support in practical actions to address home efficiency and warmth with the ultimate benefit of addressing the challenges of climate change. https://youtu.be/Fkk80YaeEHo
– Community partners on the SPIRE 2 Project with the Centre for Renewables and Energy at Dundalk Institute of Technology with the objective of sharing learnings and bringing academia to the community.
– Collaborating with Local Authorities, Academia, Credit Unions, Tidy Towns groups, private companies and other community groups as well as Sustainable Energy communities to deliver on local and national climate change objectives.
– In November 2020 the Dunleer SEC won the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 2020 most Inspirational Energy Community National Award. https://youtu.be/hrUU_Zr8ONw
Centre of Excellence:
In 2022 the Energy team partnered with Dunleer Community Development Board (DCDB) and Louth County Council to fund and construct the North East Climate Centre based at the Market House, Main Street, Dunleer, Co Louth. The main funders for this project was the Department of Rural and Community development through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Whole of society approach:
The Department of the Environment Climate Action and Communications 2019 climate action plan sets out the importance of a “whole of society approach” to address the challenges of climate change and achieve the EU targets of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. It also highlights the importance of engaging communities across the country through outreach programmes, driving national dialogue and developing flagship projects. The role of Local Authorities, Credit Unions, Banks and Community Groups are recognised as critical to achieving the targets and will fill a role of leading, engaging with and mobilising communities to address climate change.
Track record of Partnership:
The Energy Team has a track record of partnering on projects with Louth Local Authority, Meath Local Authority, Credit Unions, Louth Leader Partnership, Charitable Organisations, Housing Associations, Centre for Renewables and Energy at Dundalk Institute of Technology, SEAI Sustainable Energy
Communities programme and other Community groups.
In 2020 under the EU_ SHAFE Interreg programme and following nomination by the C.E.O. of Louth Local Authority, the Energy Team work was selected as one of six projects from across Europe as good practice and delivering on the programme’s principles.
In 2019 under the SEAI Communities Programme the Energy team partnered with the Birches Alzheimer’s Day centre in Dundalk to retrofit it premises https://youtu.be/576J1IxbjZo
The Energy Team was selected to feature on the Eco Eye RTE programme first broadcast in March 2020
https://youtu.be/Fkk80YaeEHo
For further information on how to become involved or arrange an information evening, please visit
www.energyteam.ie
