Easy Wins Case Study - Dundalk Golf Club
Founded in 1905, and set above the seaside town of Blackrock, Dundalk Golf Club is a community resource located in north county Louth.
Background
Dundalk Golf Club is wholly owned by its 1,200 members, the club is also a member of Blackrock Sustainable Energy Community. The golf course is a championship course with many significant events held there every year
In 2024, faced with high energy consumption and costly bills, the members decided a full retrofit was needed to transform and modernise their aging, inefficient clubhouse.
Energy saving measures
The project delivered a comprehensive package of energy‑efficiency upgrades across both buildings. All existing windows and doors were replaced with modern energy‑efficient units, while extensive insulation was installed in attic spaces and cavity voids to improve thermal performance. Heating and hot‑water demand in intermittently used areas, such as toilets and locker rooms, was met through three air‑to‑water heat pumps with a COP of 4, fully removing the need for gas.
In the clubhouse restaurant and bar, four internal air‑conditioning units with a COP of 2.7 provided all heating requirements. The office building and pro‑shop were fitted with radiant panels, each equipped with individual thermostatic controls to optimise comfort and efficiency. To support on‑site renewable generation, an 80 kWp solar array was installed on the clubhouse roof, and all internal lighting was upgraded to LED technology to further reduce electricity consumption.
Results
With the support of SEAI, annual savings at Dundalk GC are as follows:
- 152,404 kWh p.a.
- 54,150 kg CO2eq
- €40,970 Annual Cost Savings*
*Cost savings correct at time of grant application and calculated at market energy rates.
The future of Dundalk Golf Club’s main clubhouse and office buildings is secure for the next 40 years. Energy use is under control and comfort levels are at the highest ever experienced. Pre-retrofit it would have been impossible to achieve the present-day comfort levels no matter how much energy you consumed.
Advice to other businesses
The new comfort levels in the clubhouse and office buildings have never been experienced before, and no amount of energy spend on the buildings prior to the upgrade could achieve the comforts levels of today. Dundalk Golf Club members are very content knowing that they have an energy efficient building fit for purpose and safeguarded for the next 40 years. Dundalk Golf Club would recommend any golf club to consider a full retrofit project of their facilities.
