SEAI Awards

Duncan Stewart, this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy Award.

Energy savings of 41.5 million

SEAI Awards acknowledge sustainability drivers

Top prize of Energy Team of the Year has gone to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in this year’s SEAI Sustainable Energy Awards. The South County Dublin local authority improved its energy performance by 51% in 2020, compared to the baseline year of 2009. It continuously improves energy efficiency and carbon reduction through its ISO 50001 Energy Management System and has set an example for other local authorities who wish to create sustainable, cost-effective and zero-carbon towns and villages.

A total of ten awards were presented to individuals, businesses, communities and public sector organisations to mark their commitment and dedication to sustainable energy and climate action. In all, 26 finalists were shortlisted for the SEAI Energy Awards 2021 with projects delivering combined energy savings of 41.5 million. The winners were announced via an online ceremony that also included a discussion with Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, and Duncan Stewart, this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy Award. Details of all the winners are as follows:

Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy:

Duncan Stewart Duncan Stewart has been a champion for environmental and architectural conservation since his student days. He has been a popular television personality in Ireland for nearly 30 years where he promoted energy conservation, quality Irish craftsmanship and sustainable materials and design to a mass audience.

More recently, his involvement as producer and presenter on Eco Eye is driven by his interest in the protection of the environment, Ireland’s biodiversity, and supporting local communities and the communication of climate issues.

Emerging Sustainable Energy

Champion: Paddy Shanahan At only 12 years of age, Paddy Shanahan is already well known as a dedicated and passionate climate activist. David Attenborough’s Galapagos documentary and a school trip to Dublin Zoo were his inspiration to take a great interest in sustainability and tackling climate change. He joined his Green Schools Committee and went on to win a prize at the INTEL Mini Scientist Schools’ Competition. Energy in Buildings: UCC Tyndall National Institute The Tyndall National Institute upgraded a protected structure constructed in 1903 to a high energy performance building. The goal was to promote core values of wellness and sustainability, and encourage scientific interaction. Smart building technology was a key component of the design and smart sensors were used in the lighting, along

Dermot Byrne, Chair, SEAI with Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.

with demand-control on heat, light, power and ventilation. Energy use is also monitored in real time. The building achieved an A rating without the use of renewables.

Excellence in Energy Research:

GlasPort Bio GlasPort Bio is an SME based in Galway that has developed a solution to allow greater use and reuse from waste agricultural materials. Its GasAbate product is added to stored slurry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase biogas production following anaerobic digestion. The product has the potential to reduce national emissions and enhance the renewable energy output of slurry.

Innovative Deployment Renewable

Energy: Falls Hotel & Spa The Falls Hotel & Spa is a family-run hotel at the gateway to the Burren UNESCO Geopark in County Clare. Installing a hydro-electric turbine on the river adjacent to the hotel has provided the hotel with up to 70% of its annual electricity requirements since 2018. In March 2021 the hotel was declared a carbon neutral property by Green Hospitality and awarded the GreenMark recognition.

Inspirational Energy Community:

Inishowen SEC Established in January 2019, Inishowen Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) is the result of a collaboration between Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP), Inishowen Co-Op, Donegal County Council and a diverse range of stakeholders across the Inishowen community. Their vision is that the Inishowen Peninsula will be carbon neutral by the year 2050 and the Inishowen SEC has ambitions of becoming a renewable energy centre of excellence.

Large Business Exemplary Energy

Performance: Pfizer Grange Castle The Pfizer site at Grange Castle is the company’s first to clearly outline plans to achieve carbon neutrality. Since Pfizer’s energy programme was introduced in 2012, it has evolved from an engineering-led system to an organisational wide programme. The diverse range of projects and initiatives achieved by Pfizer Grange Castleis is an excellent model for any large business looking to tackle its own energy outputs.

Leadership in the Public Sector:

An Post An Post has committed to net zero carbon emissions from its operations by 2030, with a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. By the end of 2021, An Post will have approximately 1,000 electric vans in use with sustainability entrenched as the guiding principle for transformation within the business.

Small and Medium Business:

KORE Insulation Over the past five years, KORE has implemented major reforms in reducing its energy demand and carbon emissions. KORE Insulation participates in many retrofit schemes across the country and has also implemented a range of energy saving measures in its own factory. It has set a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The awards were presented to individuals, businesses, communities and public sector organisations to mark their commitment and dedication to sustainable energy and climate action.