SE Systems won the SEAI ‘Residential Upgrades’ Energy award
SE Systems, Winner at the 2025 SEAI Energy Awards, transformed the comfort for residents living at Douglas Lions Club, Co. Cork.
Background
SE Systems is a provider of energy upgrades for homes across Ireland. Since 2010, they’ve upgraded over 12,250 homes, creating warmer and more efficient spaces.
In 2024, they completed 769 residential upgrades through the SEAI Warmer Homes Scheme and Community Energy Grant. Of these, 354 (46%) supported fuel-poor households.
In November 2025, SE Systems won the SEAI ‘Residential Upgrades’ Energy award for its fantastic work at Douglas Lions Club in Douglas, County Cork.
Douglas and District Lions Club was founded in 1986 with the objective of providing support to families and community groups within the Douglas catchment area. In 1990, they established the Douglas Old Folks Housing Association and embarked on an ambitious project to build a block of ten one story, single occupancy apartments which became known as Lion House.
A second social housing project, Lion House Grove, opened in November 1999. Lions Club now provides and manages accommodation for twenty-one independently living residents at any one time in their community.
The project
Douglas Lions Club contacted SE Systems with a view to improve the energy efficiency of the social housing they offer vulnerable people in the community. They wanted to avoid another winter of high heating bills.
The electrical storage heaters were inefficient, and the energy bills were too high for the residents.
SE Systems visited the dwellings to conduct an assessment and provide pre-BERs. The BER and advisory report gave them enough information to create a plan for the necessary energy upgrades.
The Lions Club secured financing through a combination of SEAI Community Grants and the SE Systems Community Fund. Both grants help make it more affordable for not-for- profit groups, like Douglas Lions, to carry out a deep retrofit. The project was 95% funded by SEAI and SE Systems.
The upgrade included replacing outdated heating systems with air to water heat pumps. Solar PV panels were installed on each apartment, and attic and external wall insulation was added to minimise heat loss. New high-performance windows and doors and amechanical ventilation system ensured each home was energy efficient and a healthier place to live. Post works BER assessments were also carried out.
The project team made it a priority to engage with residents throughout the process and and carefully manage the heating systems upgrades so as to avoid cold conditions. Residents were invited to visit other homes that had completed an energy upgrade and experience firsthand the difference it can make. This helped to build confidence and trust.
When all the upgrades were complete, SE Systems hosted an education day for all residents and trained residents on how to confidently operate the new systems. They also provided training manuals and video guides.
Our whole model and values would be around the community and how we can help the community. So when we brought Douglas Lions Club on board, it's also showcasing to people within that area that they can also go on the carbon neutral journey as well with us.
Results
Before the retrofit, the average BER for each home was E1. Now every home has jumped up to an A1 rating on the scale. This is the most energy efficient.
Energy consumption has reduced by 6,183 kWh per square meter annually. Residents experienced a dramatic drop in energy bills, going from an average of €150 per month to approximately €35 per month.
Beyond energy and cost savings, the upgrades significantly enhanced the comfort of each home, improving both health and wellbeing for residents. The new insulation retains heat more effectively, reducing cold spots and blocking out the noise from the adjacent car park. Residents can now control the indoor temperature, reducing waste and improving daily comfort.
The entire project took just 47 working days for SE Systems to complete. This project now stands as a benchmark for Lions Group Housing Associations across Ireland, with many planning to replicate the works completed in Douglas. Its success has sparked a similar retrofit at Westgate Foundation, where 36 homes were upgraded in late 2024, proving the model’s scalability and ‘resident first’ focus.
SEAI Energy Awards 2025
SEAI held its 22nd Energy Awards in November 2025 and it was attended by over 200 guests. Twelve awards were handed out to organisations and individuals who have achieved excellence in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
See our 2025 winners (opens in a new tab) Start your own energy upgrade (opens in a new tab)
