Dunleer Community Development Board-CBO Umbrella organisation for 24 community groups focused on building community competence and capacity Established the County Louth Sustainable Energy Community Delivered the retrofitting of 150 premises over the last two years Developed and delivering a programme of Energy education aimed at communities

Messages today Realise the power of communities Importance of Better Energy Community (BEC) programmes Need for end to end solution in energy challenges Practical examples of end to end approach

Community resources available across Ireland Eleven thousand groups across Ireland are members of the Public Participation Network (PPN) Focus is the building of competence and capacity The greatest learning and impact is from communities talking with and sharing experiences with other communities Influencers and leaders need to inspire homeowners to change their behaviour

Examples of B.E.C.s Retrofit solutions implemented through Better Energy Communities and Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Supporting communities with funding and implementing solutions End to end education and support for homeowners and communities

SEAI Better Energy Community Scheme 2017 Energy Action BEC Domestic Energy Efficiency upgrade to 50 homes 33 Fuel Poor – customer receives grant support of up to 85% of capital costs. 17 Can-pay Cluster/street approach to retrofitting Local Authority homes in partnership with Dublin City Council A range of EE measures: Roof insulation Cavity Wall insulation External Wall insulation Windows/doors upgrade Ventilation Gas boiler upgrades Stoves Renewable technologies Air Source Heat Pumps Solar PV Pre and Post BERs in all homes providing measurable savings evidence BEC Programme supports deeper measures than traditional SEAI Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme  Community & Business Sion Hill Convent 3 Community halls in Inner-City Dublin Insulation Heating upgrades EE lighting  Solar PV installations LED lighting upgrades

External Wall Insulation to 8 Senior Citizens homes for Dublin City Council Pre Works Post Works

Sion Hill Convent Energy Efficiency Retrofit Built in the 1960s, provides residential accommodation for now elderly sisters of the Dominican convent, in Blackrock, Dublin. A combination of poor insulation throughout the building along with drafty aluminum windows made for very cold living conditions. Measures The walls were insulated with 80mm of bonded bead to the cavity and 100mm of graphite polystyrene external insulation to the outside using the Fast Eco Build system, improving the wall U-value to 0.18 W/m2K. The existing aluminum windows in hardwood sub frame were all removed and replaced with uPVC double-glazed windows, with low-e glass, and warm edge spacer bars, giving a U-value of 1.1 W/m2K. Q-Lon gaskets were used on all rebates to give zero air penetration, giving the windows an A- rating. In addition to trickle vents in windows, mechanical extract ventilation was fitted in all wet rooms. The primary energy savings achieved total an estimated 121,139 kWh per year.

Sion Hill Convent Energy Efficiency Retrofit Feedback: Sion Hill Prioress Sister Kathleen Crowley said, “We have been, for some years, looking for ways to improve the energy efficiency of our convent building. The answer came when we learned that grants were available from the SEAI Better Energy Communities 2017 programme. We can feel the good effects of the upgrading to the convent already. As well as being draught-proof, the building is aesthetically beautiful and greatly admired. We celebrate the transformation of our convent building and we thank every person who played a part in this.” John Flynn, Programme Manager at SEAI: “We believe this is a best in class example of how to address old buildings and provide a new lease of life to this type of building”

Sion Hill – pre EE works Sion Hill – post EE works

Examples of Better Energy Community schemes Louth Local Authority Louth SEC Cork City Council Cork County Council Energy Action Dublin Midland Warmer Homes Clar ICH-Claremorris Tait House- Limerick Letterkenny Donegal Local Authority Mohill County Leitrim Sligo I.T. The warm project Wexford IRD Duhallow

150 communities are members of the Sustainable Energy Community network Mentors in each SEC

BECs 2017/18

Feedback from homeowners about climate change and energy use Climate change is associated with ice caps and polar bears Language used is confusing---climate change, fuel poverty, retrofitting Limited knowledge of renewable energy solutions Confusion on “what steps can I take to address these issues”? Little awareness of supports/advice/funding available Information overload-Need help to navigate solutions

Communities talking with communities End to end solution. Communities talking with communities

Preplanning meeting with leaders of interested community group End to end solution. Preplanning meeting with leaders of interested community group Communities talking with communities

Preplanning meeting with leaders of interested community group End to end solution. Preplanning meeting with leaders of interested community group Inspire members of the community through delivery of Energy Education Collect signatures for next steps Communities talking with communities

End to end solution. Communities talking with communities Preplanning meeting with leaders of a community group Preplanning meeting with leaders of interested community group Inspire members of the community through delivery of Energy Education programme Collect signatures for next steps Inspire members of the community through delivery of Education programme and collect signatures for next steps Help them build an application and funding model for a retrofit programme. Deliver high quality retrofit. Communities talking with communities

Preplanning meeting with leaders of interested community group End to end solution. Preplanning meeting with leaders of interested community group Inspire members of the community through delivery of Energy Education Collect signatures for next steps Help them build an application and funding model for a retrofit programme. Deliver high quality retrofit. Community group can now mentor and inspire other groups to get on board Communities talking with communities

The programme delivers a message of taking personal responsibility for energy usage and begins to challenge current habits and usage. It also it encourages the attendees to become ambassadors in their homes, places of work and communities. Conservation in their energy use Control over their energy usage Greater efficiency in their energy use Understanding what is renewable energy The technologies and products people need to use in managing the energy needs in their homes and places of work Sharing knowledge and providing advice to communities on how to work together to access funding and other supports

Personal energy use feedback from education sessions 97% of attendees say they are aware of what they are paying for energy 59% have said they think about their use and try and use their energy efficiently 51% of respondents have no heating controls in their home 82% of respondents are aware their homes are inefficient

Actions Change of behaviour 70% of attendees signed up to become involved in a community retrofit application

Key factors for success Communities speaking with communities Build relationships and Trust with homeowners Partnership-Academia, Local Authority, Community & Business Partner with specialist contractors

From All of Us here today? Need From All of Us here today?

Required from all of us Leadership-hold ourselves accountable Mindset shift- move to solutions mindset Transformational shift not incremental Realise the power of communities