Community-Led Energy Efficiency Retrofit Energy Retrofitting Ireland - one parish at a time bit.ly/tippec Energy Communities Tipperary www.energycommunities.wordpress.com Steering Group of Energy Communities Tipperary (ECT) Reps from 4 participating communities Development of Energy Communities Tipperary - Community Retrofit What Community run How energy conservation Developed out of Drombane Project Co-ordination by scheme village community planning Marcella Maher Keogh process facilitated by Gearóid since 2012 - overseeing Fitzgibbon, (North Tipperary delivery of the project LEADER Partnership), with with volunteer steering Support from LIT and TEA. group. Progress 2011 -2014 What concerts? Concerts To: To: How many? Outcomes: Dreamset upMachine of Energy 2012: 22 homes in From: set up of & Disneyland tripsCommunities Drombane one community. a conversation in Tipperary (ECT) an Upperchurch Drombane umbrella organisation Village Hall Energy Team Awards & A little detail? 2014: 110 homes of 4 community (DUET) Dream Ball across 4 Energy Teams communities. Family holidays More details? Energy Retrofitting Ireland - one parish at a time. Gearóid FitzGibbon, Community Development Worker, North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Project Elements LEVERAGING INVESTMENT INTO CREATING EMPLOYMENT IN SAVING ENERGY RURAL COMMUNITIES RURAL COMMUNITIES 110 homes Initial project application of €1.3 One Co-ordinator/Project - 64 Fuel Allowance million. manager homes, - 46 Can Pay Homes, €902,000 was secured in funding 65 people employed in LOCAL from the Sustainable Energy SME’s 2 community Authority of Ireland (SEAI) buildings Metro Utilities: 26 employed. Bridging finance facility of up to € Ecosy insulation: 15 employed. Total Energy 250,000 secured by each Carr Construction: 24 employed. savings in 2014 is participating Energy Team 941,636 kWh across 4 communities Win/Win for Local & National Partners Benefits for Reduces national Householders carbon emissions Improving the local economy •Householders • 90% of • Ethos of Cooperation & Self Help: gain through householders Projects creates co-operation between communities to develop their local the improved would not have availed of economies – reducing fossil fuel use and comfort and harnessing local fuel sources grants offered energy by SEAI but for • Success of project attracting other Lorem ipsum Lorem efficiency of the community communities to model that creates their homes. investment and employment in rural scheme. communities during a recession. (cf. Retrofitting the Local • Partnership with Ireland’s main utility - Economy – sale of energy credits to Electric Case Study of a Community Ireland has enabled successful finance Retrofit of this years project. Energy savings in 2014 is 941,636 kWh across 4 Lorem ipsum Lorem Scheme) communities. Project Partners Local Energy Teams Local Development Companies – Sustainable Energy -Drombane North Tipperary LEADER Authority of Ireland – Upperchurch Partnership SEAI -Kilcommon Rearcross -Lorrha Rathcabban Assistance with: -€902,000 was secured in funding -Birdhill -Project planning from the Sustainable Energy 4-6 volunteers on -Capacity Building Authority of Ireland (SEAI) each local steering -support with the application -support and advice from the SEAI Better Energy Communities Team group . MEM-BER/Marcella SOCIAL FINANCE Contractors Maher Keogh Metro Utilities Clann Credo Project Manager Ecosy insulation Bridging finance facility of up to € Tipperary Energy Carr Construction 250,000 secured by each participating Energy Team Agency – TEA Advice and Support Future Challenges for ECT • In the process of setting up as a community owned company - Development of a business model that allows project to grow while meeting community & funder requirements • The financial challenge for communities is significant - bridging finance, financial management, community costs. • Continuing marketing campaign to encourage house holders avail of the scheme in their area. • Exploring the potential for Local Energy Generation Finally - Community Engagement • Ownership – for community engagement to be real, it must involve real ownership & decision making by local volunteers - Community Development Values • Clear Benefits - Communities want to see near term gains. At least, in newer projects, nearer term benefits will help them gain traction – Deeper retrofit – need for local buy in • Don’t overhype Community Energy - Agencies shouldn’t expect miracles from local volunteers. Agencies must value volunteer time and be prepared to offer support and financial assistance: e.g. admin Support, Start up Grants, mentoring, secretarial support Partnership & Teamwork Further Information • Website for Energy Communities Tipperary energycommunities.wordpress.com • Drombane/Upperchurch Energy Survey Report (Oct 2011) bit.ly/tippenrg The community survey that began this scheme • “Retrofitting the Local Economy – Case Study of a Community Retrofit Scheme” 2014 bit.ly/duetstudy2014 • Drombane Upperchurch Energy Team facebook.com/DUenergy • Lorrha Rathcabban Energy Team - facebook.com/LREnergyTeam For More information contact Gearóid Fitzgibbon on 085- 7409023 or email [email protected] .