The standard of applications for the 2023 SEAI Energy Awards was exceptionally high. View the successful shortlisted projects.

Finalists 2023

See all of the finalists in each category below to read all about their incredible work and achievements.

Energy Team of the Year

AbbVie Evergreen Sustainability team's core objectives revolve around energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability projects. The Energy Community of Practice brings AbbVie energy leads across the globe together monthly to share best practices.

The AbbVie Evergreen team's efforts in 2022 led to impressive outcomes; including a 4% reduction in energy consumption, a 6% reduction in thermal emissions (and overall CO2 emissions), complete adoption of renewable electricity and a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

AbbVie Evergreen is actively engaged in the wider community through initiatives like the Sligo Sustainable Energy Community. They are involved in education, training, and awareness programmes such as the Spark and Eco Challenge programs.

MSD (Ballydine, Carlow, Brinny, Dunboyne, Biotech & Red Oak) are key contributors to their All-Ireland Environmental Sustainability program. The MSD See Green, Be Green (SGBG) target is Net Zero by 2050.

The SGBG programme includes four interwoven strands of culture, biodiversity, carbon and waste. The programme is driven by a countrywide team consisting of the energy leads from each of the participating MSD Ireland locations. It is facilitated by the Global Energy Regional Lead and is sponsored by the Country Leadership team made up of plant managers from each site. Local sponsors at the Director level are responsible for each site's energy program led by each energy lead.

A critical project is their Power Purchase Agreement of a 11,070-panel Solar PV farm covering 15 acres, operating since March 2023, which is expected to contribute 21% of the site's total electrical consumption in 2023.

The sustainability team at Musgrave's consists of eight staff members who focus exclusively on energy reduction and fund implementation. Their primary objective is to drive energy efficiency and carbon reduction initiatives across their SuperValu and Centra stores in Ireland through their €25 million sustainability fund. This fund aims to empower independent retailers to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

The team has introduced a three-pronged approach to achieve their sustainability objectives based on education/behaviours, store-specific plans and capital upgrades. These include education sessions, personalised energy efficiency plans for 600 stores and investment in a variety of upgrades.

Musgrave's sustainability team's comprehensive approach, collaboration, and commitment to energy reduction make them a deserving finalist.

Overseen by the Chief Transformation Officer, the six members of An Post Sustainability Team drive the company's sustainable programme, which spans all their operations. Their core responsibilities involve procuring sustainable products, upgrading the property portfolio, and transitioning the fleet towards sustainable energy sources. The team's efforts also extend beyond energy efficiency, promoting gender balance and diversity within the organisation and engaging in projects aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.

They have completed comprehensive projects like the Concept Properties program, which focuses on retrofitting the property portfolio to at least a BER B3 standard. This initiative involves replacing lighting with energy-efficient alternatives, installing public fast chargers for electric vehicles, and participating in energy-saving programs like "Beat the Peak."

The team has been instrumental in maintaining a substantial electric vehicle fleet, including electric trucks and a private charging network. They monitor fuel consumption, distance travelled, and EV management, leading to significant reductions in fuel usage and emissions.

Inspirational Sustainable Energy Community

Established in Claremorris, Co. Mayo at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, the Connacht GAA Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) joined the Network in 2019. They started out understanding their bills and educating staff on daily energy efficiency behaviours. They then developed their Energy Master Plan which has a 10-year vision for the Centre.

As the world’s largest Airdome, powered by solar energy, this project is a showcase to its over 150,000 annual visitors. The Airdome is now exporting solar energy with the first category B export licence to go live in Ireland. Their centre and its programmes have led them to be an intrinsic part of the newly Launched GAA Green Club programme. Connacht GAA SEC supports the programme with messaging, awareness and education to the 2000+ clubs and members.  The initial roadmap has brought them on a journey of change, from installing successful projects, through to culture change and community leadership beyond Connacht.

Glinsk Sustainable Energy Community (SEC), set up in 2019, has a vision that in 5-10 years all their community buildings will be serviced fully by sustainable energy. They are also implementing active travel plans to move away from fossil fuel vehicles.

Glinsk SEC’s initial achievement was the full retrofit and heating upgrade of the local community centre. They also partnered with Clar ICH (Claremorris Irish Centre for Housing) to renovate a number of their properties.

The goals of Glinsk SEC have now evolved, currently fundraising to expand the community campus with remote working hubs, Solar PV and EV charging points. Glinsk SEC are working on their Energy Master Plan, due for completion this Autumn. This includes energy audits carried out on homes, community buildings,a dairy farm, and three pilot project homes for solar PV.

Mullingar Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) was set up in 2018 as a sub-committee of the Mullingar Chamber. It now has over 20 members from a cross section of expertise across the community. They are all involved in raising awareness of saving energy across the community and businesses.

Mullingar SEC completed their Energy Master Plan and launched it in June 2023. A major action out of this plan has been assisting the Women’s Community Project, a charity organisation, on their SEAI Community Energy Grant application.

Their ambition is to build a 100% community owned solar farm on the former landfill site just outside the town. Mullingar SEC have met some challenges in secure grid connection to date. However, they remain positive and are active in exploring all avenues. They are doing this by working with ESB, local representatives and creating awareness within the community on the project and what it will achieve for the future of Mullingar.

The Yard Hub Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) is located in Abbeyshrule in Co. Longford. Arising from a strong sense of community and with the Tidy Towns committee already completing energy-related projects, the development of the Yard Hub SEC was a natural next step. Yard Hub SEC secured funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development, Just Transition Fund, Longford County Council, and Waterways Ireland for the redevelopment of a derelict 19th Century building to NZEB (Near Zero Energy Building) standards. They named this building the Yard Hub.

Officially opened in April 2023, the Yard Hub is a remote working hub, a space for educational activities and meeting-room facilities. It is a demonstration of a successful retrofit project and sustainable energy best practice in the community. Having successfully developed this project, the Yard Hub SEC is now developing their Energy Master Plan and planning other projects across homes, businesses and the wider community.

Innovative Deployment of Renewable Energy

Ahascragh Distillery decarbonises the traditional whiskey production process. Using a detailed quarter hour energy balance model of live heating and cooling over a standard production schedule, a high-temperature heat pump was installed, that includes  capturing  waste heat and its re-use.

The innovative design achieves temperatures above 100°C, a first in Ireland and the UK. The design process, utilised by the SEAI EXEED programme, achieves a saving of 706 tonnes of CO2 with a 40% reduction in cost and an expected lifetime of 20 years.

The project's ground-breaking achievement, being the first distillery in the world to use a heat pump system for all its heat needs, sets it apart from its peers and showcases the potential of heat pump technology in decarbonisation efforts.

European Industrial Chillers Ltd. (EICL) completed a major update on Croom Hospital.

It is standard practice that hospitals use fossil fuels (oil / gas) as the primary heating fuel, along with stand-by fossil fuel supply. However, on this occasion and considering ever-increasing environmental awareness, they made the bold decision to depart from normal practice and employ environmentally friendly technologies. Croom Hospital is one of the first designs in Ireland for a major acute hospital focusing on sustainability and environmental impact reduction, paving the way for future projects to adopt similar sustainable design concepts.

This innovative project at Croom Hospital achieves zero reliance on fossil fuels, minimising CO2 emissions using renewable energy systems and low-carbon solutions. The hospital project utilised advanced HVAC technologies and renewable energy sources, such as heat pumps, to achieve its goals.

The South East Energy Agency (SEEA) is dedicated to promoting sustainable energy practices and fostering a clean and efficient energy future in the south-eastern region.

SEEA collaborated with Zhyphen as part of the Interreg STEPS project to deploy an innovative Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) tailored for a dairy farm. The BESS enables time shifting of energy usage, providing cost savings through efficient energy management and acting as a single-phase emergency backup power supply during grid outages.

The estimated lifetime renewable energy generated or enabled through this project is a 35-40% electrical energy cost savings over the project's 15-year lifetime.

This project stands out due to its flexibility in energy management, emergency backup power supply, scalability for future expansion, integration of multiple renewable energy sources, and off-grid capability, making it an exceptional battery energy storage system technology in the field.

Woodco operates an Energy Supply Contract Agreement (ESCO) with various public sector organisations such as care homes, schools, and leisure centres. In the ESCO agreement, Woodco installs and maintains biomass boilers free of charge.

The company's projects have showcased their ability to deliver renewable energy effectively and significantly reduce emissions and heating costs. For example, the Watershed Leisure Centre in Kilkenny will be saving 300 tonnes of CO2 annually. The client pays only for the heat they use, measured by a meter, and is guaranteed to get heat cheaper than the previous cost of oil or gas.

Woodco Renewable Energy's innovative deployment of renewable energy through ESCO agreements and biomass boilers showcases its sustainability and carbon reduction commitment.

Large Business

AbbVie Evergreen is the AbbVie All-Ireland Energy & Sustainability Team, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability projects.

The team's achievements in 2022 include a reduction of 4% energy use, a 6% reduction in thermal (and overall CO2), 2030 targets of 42% greenhouse gas reductions and using 100% renewable electricity.

The organisation is also involved in sustainable energy activities in the wider community, including participation in the Sligo Sustainable Energy Community, educational programs, and initiatives promoting STEM education.

"A Better Tomorrow" is Lidl's sustainability program aimed at achieving carbon reduction targets. The main goal is to reduce its Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 46.2% by 2030. Several initiatives and projects were undertaken in 2022 to work towards this target.

The successful delivery of these projects required the involvement of various teams within Lidl, including 20 contractors, significant financial investment, and efficient project management. These projects include a €7million investment in; Solar PV systems in 32 stores, making Lidl the largest owner of rooftop solar PV in Ireland; heat pumps and HVAC systems installed in 13 stores; and all new stores that opened in 2022 having a BER A1 rating.

The impact of these initiatives has been significant, with substantial electricity and natural gas savings and reductions in CO2 emissions. "A Better Tomorrow" has contributed significantly to Lidl's energy and emissions targets for 2030, reflecting the company's commitment to positively impacting the environment.

MSD Ballydine is committed to becoming Net Zero by 2050 and has initiated the "See Green, Be Green" sustainability programme. The program encompasses five interwoven strands: Proprietary, Culture, Biodiversity, Carbon, and Waste.

The "See Green, Be Green" programme empowers employees to be sustainability change agents. The success of their sustainability programme can be seen in projects like their 11,070 panel Solar PV farm which provides 21% of their site’s total electrical consumption, an upgraded wastewater system to a Pharm-Ops Heat Pump along with a 25% carbon reduction target by 2025. MSD Ballydine's sustainability programme has demonstrated leadership, ambition, and commitment to environmental sustainability and has brought significant benefits to the organisation.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is working towards its 2030 energy and emissions targets with a strong focus on collaboration, employee development, and community engagement. The organisation is using its structured Certified Energy Management System and sustainability strategy through the SEAI EXEED process. Their decarbonisation roadmap aligns with sectorial carbon targets and Scope 1 emissions reduction goals. Various projects were deployed in 2022, which resulted in a 22% reduction in imported gas, with further ambitious savings planned for 2023.

Successful project delivery was made possible through engagement with energy efficient design experts and an international consultancy, supported by senior leadership buy-in and proactive engagement. The organisation's long-term commitment to sustainability, evidenced by its wind turbine installation and continuous improvement initiatives, has resulted in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. Its sustainability efforts also include the wider community, contributing to local charities, community clean-up initiatives, and promoting STEM education.

Small and Medium Business

 Ballykilcavan Brewery in Stradbally, Co. Laois uses 100% Irish barley grown on their own farm to create their beer.

The sustainable energy activities of the brewery focus on decarbonising the beer production process with the primary goal of reducing cost and achieving zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of 2024. They have installed solar panel arrays, increasing power generation by 306% and reducing energy imports from the grid by 32.7% per litre of beer produced. Switching to a 100% renewable energy supplier, they have had a 77% reduction in the overall carbon footprint of the brewery compared to the previous year.

The impact on the business has been significant cost savings, with energy expenditure reduced to 40% of previous levels.  The success of this project is motivating them to plan for the next phase with the hydro installation.

Randles Hotel in Killarney is a historic 116-year-old building. The owner's vision and commitment to the sustainability plan drove the transition to renewable energy systems.

The projects include installing heat pumps, solar panels, LED lighting, a pool cover, upgraded air conditioning and an energy monitoring system. Grant aid from SEAI through the Better Energy Communities (BEC) scheme facilitated the successful implementation of the projects.

These measures resulted in significant cost savings of 50%, energy usage savings of 55%, and carbon savings of 55%. The transition to energy-efficient systems made the business leaner and encouraged staff to embrace sustainability. The improvements allowed the hotel to employ additional staff, enhancing overall operations.

The transition to renewable energy systems showcases the hotel's dedication to being eco-friendly and efficient, reducing its carbon footprint and benefiting the environment in the long term.

The Swords Pavilions shopping centre is committed to sustainability and aims to become net zero carbon by 2030 and reduce scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 60% by 2025.  Arup consultancy developed the net zero asset plans for the shopping centre's assets, outlining strategies to achieve sustainability targets.

Projects include natural ventilation, Solar PV, LED lighting, and gas boiler replacement, which have achieved energy and cost savings and reduced carbon emissions. Electricity usage has been reduced by 47% and gas usage by 94% compared to the 2019 baseline.

The initiatives have positively impacted the business by reducing operating costs for tenants and attracting new tenants interested in sustainability. Moreover, the shopping centre has exceeded the targets the Sustainability Linked Bond (SLB) set two years ahead of schedule. The small team demonstrated resourcefulness and innovation to achieve significant energy and cost savings.

 

The Watershed, a Kilkenny sports and leisure centre, has been significantly impacted by the energy crisis, with gas and electricity prices rising over 60% in the past two years.

 

To tackle this issue, the centre implemented several sustainable energy projects, including the installation of solar PV panels and a biomass boiler, and conducted LED retrofits. These initiatives have helped reduce energy costs and the facility's carbon footprint.

 

The  initiatives have led to significant cost savings, reduced reliance on expensive energy sources, and lower carbon emissions. The implemented energy projects have made a significant impact, especially during the energy crisis. The centre stands out for successfully completing such projects and showcasing the availability of grants for businesses.

Transport

Bus Éireann’s project with the National Transport Authority involved introducing Ireland's first all-electric town service in Athlone in January 2023. The project aimed to assess the technical and operational implications of transitioning a service to 100% electric provision.  

The town service covered over 540,000 km annually, serving a town population of approximately 21,000 with more than 10,000 passenger journeys weekly. The project involved detailed planning, a vehicle tender process, upgrading electrical charging infrastructure, and training mechanics and drivers. Since introducing the electric buses, there has been an energy consumption reduction of 55% and emissions reduction of 48% compared to the previous diesel fleet. The quieter and cleaner service resulted in a 40% increase in passenger numbers.

The project has led to learnings being applied to other depots, and Bus Éireann plans to introduce EV buses across its NTA-supported services to more cities and towns in the coming years.

BWG Foods reduced its carbon footprint and dependency on fossil fuels, aiming to provide best-in-class service while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The project involved various innovations and initiatives, including a fleet size reduction since 2018, HVO and Biogas introduction in 2021, high efficiency Eco-Drive refrigeration units, dynamic routing system, and three electric HGVs, which were added to the fleet in 2023.

The success of the campaign was primarily influenced by innovation, patience, and commitment. The multi-pronged approach, including alternative fuels, load consolidation, bespoke route planning, and collaborations, played a crucial role in achieving the desired results.

By adopting new technologies, collaborating with partners, and sharing knowledge, BWG Foods aims to set an example for others to follow and contribute to a greener future.

More innovative travel is an initiative of Trinity College Dublin in partnership with the National Transport Authority. The aim is to increase the number of staff and students sustainably travelling to campus, focusing on promoting active travel such as walking and cycling.

Key milestones include improved cycling infrastructure, inclusive bike parking for disabled cyclists, and embedding sustainable travel in the curriculum of specific undergraduate courses. Surveys show that 94% of the campus community now travels sustainably.

The initiative was undertaken to exhibit leadership in sustainable travel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting health. Smarter Travel showcases how a large organisation can effectively reduce commuting's impact, lower GHG emissions, and improve staff and students' well-being while promoting sustainable behaviour change.

Wheels We Deliver (WWD) are a courier service who have demonstrated their commitment to reducing their ecological footprint by implementing sustainable practices.

Primary strategies included installing telematics in their fleet, increasing the use of cargo/push bikes, transitioning to Electric Vehicles (EVs), and substituting High Vegetable Oil (HVO) for Diesel. The telematics installation provided numerous benefits, such as improved scheduling, emission calculation, fuel management, and quarterly emission reports to customers. To address immediate emissions reduction, they installed their own HVO tank and shifted company-owned Diesel vehicles to HVO.

In 2019, WWD achieved a remarkable 32% of city centre deliveries using an emissions-free cargo and push bike fleet. They drafted a carbon reduction plan in 2022, aiming for a 66% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 from their 2020 baseline. By embracing sustainability principles and setting clear expectations, WWD is well on track to achieve their ambitious 2030 carbon reduction target.

Leadership in the Public Sector Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency

The Fingal Energy Team is a cross-department, multidisciplinary team, including architects, engineers, directors, senior management, admin and technicians. Fingal County Council has completed several projects  with more currently ongoing and have achieved an improved energy efficiency of 41.8%.  

Fingal has consistently aimed to be pioneers with a progressive and ambitious attitude toward their targets and obligations. They have completed a rollout of EV fleet, public lighting upgrades and energy performance Monitoring & Evaluating (M&E) works. Fingal is on track to reach its 2030 obligations well in advance; and is in the advanced stages of project scoping to take them well on the way to their 2050 targets decades earlier.

Fingal has prioritised energy savings and decarbonisation across the whole organisation with training, awareness campaigns, data analysis, and information sharing among staff.

Inland Fisheries' Ireland (IFI) roadmap for delivering energy efficiency and emissions reduction targets by 2030 for the organisation is based on the principles of the Energy Map.

They have invested significantly in energy and sustainability projects, including solar pv systems, EVs and chargers and e-bikes. To date, they have removed 82 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and travelled a total EV distance of 829,857 km.

In 2022 IFI utilised Energy Elephant to identify energy blackspots.  This data has supported several energy upgrade projects and has already contributed to IFI’s 2022 savings. IFI achieved a 44.5% energy reduction with 18 solar pv systems, 50 electric vehicles and we have rolled out an ev charging network of 50 sockets at 32 locations. IFI have 30 e-bikes, these are used for River, Lake and Coastal patrols. Capital expenditure has been committed to these projects annually to 2030. Engaging people will play a cornerstone role in achieving all their 2050 targets.

An Post is currently on track to meet their ambitious goal of net zero carbon emissions from their operations by 2030, with a 50% reduction by 2025. The two main components of An Post’s vision are upgrading their property portfolio to a minimum BER B3 standard and transitioning to a fully sustainable fleet. As part of this commitment, they pledged to have 50% of their fleet run on alternative fuel sources to diesel by 2025. They will do this by expanding their Electric Vehicle and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fleet year-on-year.

The decarbonisation of their fleet and improvements in the energy efficiency of their properties have already led to a 10% reduction in absolute carbon emissions in 2022 compared to 2021 and a 40% improvement in energy efficiency from the 2009 base year.

Excellence in Energy Research and Innovation

Exceedence Ltd. is an Irish company that developed a renewable energy financial modelling solution called Exfin. Exfin is a financial modelling solution combining offshore renewable projects' complex technical and economic aspects. It provides actionable insights, optimizes tasks through Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE), bid prices, and margins, and allows analysis of unlimited project scenarios. It has been successfully used in national and EU projects.

It is a cloud-based software that combines technical and cost data to create robust financial digital twins of various offshore renewable energy projects, including wave, tidal, fixed offshore wind, floating offshore wind, and combined technologies. This software helps project developers and stakeholders in the renewable energy industry assess their projects' financial viability and potential risks, ultimately facilitating their successful implementation and market integration.

If successful the bursary will be used to increase marketing, sales, and customer services efforts, start pilot projects in new sectors and work on integrating Exfin with other software solutions in the offshore renewable energy sector.

Lawler Sustainability is a specialist sustainability company offering a one stop shop for innovation, advice, action and aftercare. This project’s purpose is to drive building energy-related renovations through Energy Performance Contracting (EPC), benefiting both the environment and businesses.

The project aims to transform the commercial real estate sector by introducing a new way of working that promotes carbon and energy reduction through landlord-tenant collaboration by addressing the split incentive through EPC. It involves various stakeholders, including academic and research institutions, industry partners, government bodies, and societal groups.

If awarded the bursary, the project team plans to utilise it to further promote Energy Performance Contracting within the private sector.

The DENiM Platform unlocks energy savings through data analytics. It is the digital integration for collaborative energy management. MTU has developed an energy dataspace for large energy users in the manufacturing sector. It includes a systematic digitalisation strategy, energy prediction models, and process indicators.

DENiM defined a Smart Manufacturing Energy Efficient Pathway. This pathway was shared through the European Factories of the Future Research Association (EFFRA) innovation portal, raising awareness among industries about the potential of digital technologies for energy efficiency. The DENiM project also established various Community of Practice (CoP) groups, engaging different stakeholder communities. These CoPs allowed for knowledge-sharing and insights across sectors.

If the project wins the award, they plan to use the bursary to promote stakeholder engagement, conduct digital maturity assessments and explore commercialisation opportunities.

Residential Energy Upgrades

Dublin City Council collaborated with Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) to use digital twin technology for energy and carbon modelling of three residential blocks built in 1962.

The aim was to assess different retrofit strategies to regenerate these vacant buildings in line with Dublin City Council's climate targets for 2030 and beyond. The project's success lies in its ability to provide empirical evidence and decision support to Dublin City Council for developing green strategies and meeting emissions reduction targets for refurbishing their ageing buildings. The retrofit strategies employed in the project included zoned heating controls, lighting upgrades, insulation, air-source heat pumps, and energy-efficient elevators. Indoor air quality was ensured through the integration of energy/carbon reduction analyses alongside air quality and comfort studies.

The results demonstrated that Deep Retrofit could achieve in the region of an 85% reduction in cumulative emissions over a 60-year period.

Electric Ireland Superhomes provides comprehensive home energy retrofit services. In 2022 they delivered more private home retrofits than any other retrofit organisation in Ireland, with over 95% of their private home retrofits achieving a BER ‘A’ rating. Their strategic plan aims to deliver over 35,000 homes by 2030, and they completed 203 deep retrofits in 2022. The benefits include energy savings, reduced carbon emissions, improved home comfort and air quality, and financial savings.

They are the only retrofit business in Ireland with a stated commitment to not use fossil fuel-based heating systems, thereby future proofing their customers' home and retrofit investment while helping them to play their part in the fight against climate change. The company's approach and results demonstrate its commitment to delivering effective home retrofits, reducing carbon emissions, and providing significant benefits to customers and the environment.

SSE Airtricity Energy Services partnered with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to upgrade the Beaufort Housing complex. This included 58 residential units, a day care centre, and kitchens. The upgrades have resulted in an energy reduction of up to 80% per unit, per year.

The project's highlight was the installation of a centralised heat pump system, one of the first of its kind in Ireland. SSE Airtricity, the primary contractor, implemented the activity, was responsible for surveying, designing, tender evaluation, project management, and commissioning. The upgrades included window and door replacements, external insulation, attic insulation, solar PV installation, mechanical ventilation, heating controls, and LED lighting. The project achieved impressive energy and CO2 savings and used sustainable materials and renewable technologies like solar PV panels and heat pumps to ensure indoor air quality.

The Beaufort Housing complex retrofit has had a significant positive impact on the community, vulnerable residents, and the advancement of energy efficiency technology.

Energy in Buildings

The North King Street housing project is a six-storey building with 30 apartments, incorporating numerous sustainable energy strategies. The project mitigates fuel poverty for residents and provides sustainable accommodation in Dublin's city centre. The building design takes a fabric-first approach, ensuring a low environmental impact from its upfront embodied carbon footprint and its ongoing operational impact.

The building achieved A1 building energy ratings (BER) for 11 apartments and the common area, exceeding design targets. It also surpasses renewable energy targets, providing about 50% renewable energy for each dwelling. Fresh air is supplied through passive vents with heat recovery, and energy-efficient heat pumps provide heating and hot water in each dwelling, eliminating the use of fossil fuels.  The project's success lies in delivering much-needed sustainable housing in a central location, providing a sustainable living environment, and exceeding performance targets for energy efficiency and environmental impact. 

The Dockline project involved refurbishing and retrofitting New Century House in Dublin’s IFSC, an existing office building, to improve energy efficiency while retaining 88% of the existing building fabric. The project achieved LEED Platinum accreditation and upgraded the BER rating from D2 to A3.

Sustainable features included the replacement of the façade with highly insulated cladding, improved U-values within the cladding, insulated suspended ground slabs, and insulated roof levels. The building also adopted heat pump heating and cooling systems, removed natural gas, and utilised LED lighting, energy metering, water reduction, recycled building materials, and variable speed drives on fans and pumps. The project delivered benefits while including the client's vision to retain and retrofit rather than demolish and rebuild, resulting in improved building performance and sustainability.

The Dockline project aims to inspire and influence the construction industry, promoting the idea that existing buildings can be transformed sustainably.

The new UCC Strength and Conditioning Squad gym exemplifies how digital technologies like BIM (Building Information Modelling) and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) can significantly enhance sustainability within the construction sector.  From the outset, much consideration was given to the design of the building fabric, and a life-cycle analysis of the embodied carbon was conducted using modern software to inform the design. The project was delivered onsite in just 6 months, which was aided greatly by the fact that all elements, including services, were modelled in BIM.

It is not a large building, but it punches well above its weight with its sustainability goals. From conception, the project was an ideal candidate for a pilot low embodied carbon building - the first for UCC. They have achieved a building with less than 40% of the embodied carbon of a "traditional" building of this type. It has opened their eyes to the possibilities and opportunities available for future capital projects.

The Áras de Brún Building, constructed in 1960, was a successful retrofit utilising numerous sustainable technologies achieving energy reductions and serving as a live research platform. This "Living Lab" research platform promotes further exploration of decarbonisation strategies and offers the academic community valuable insights and data.

The building underwent a major refurbishment in 2014 to improve sustainability and energy efficiency. Sustainable strategies used in the building include air to water heat pump, heating distribution system, solar photovoltaic system, upgraded LED lighting. These strategies aimed to improve the building's energy rating from D1 to A3, leading to a 77% reduction in gas usage and a 25% decrease in electricity usage. The project also focuses on internal environmental quality, measuring and monitoring temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, and light to ensure comfort and efficiency. 

 The project is an innovative approach to retrofitting existing structures, leading to significant reduction in carbon emissions, and contributions to research and education on decarbonisation.

Sustainability via Digital Technologies in Construction and Buildings

BPC Engineers is a technology-based company which challenges the status quo to ensure the solutions they provide represent the very best in innovation and excellence. They aim to help their clients accelerate their transformation to a sustainable future by improving how building energy, carbon, occupant health and wellness are addressed.

They provide services which revolve around the creation and updating of Digital Twins of a building. These digital twins evolve throughout the sketch design, planning, detailed design, construction and operation phase of the building to ensure the building is not just designed to be energy efficient but ensures it is operated to deliver on the design intent. They complete Building Lifecycle analysis to quantify the embodied carbon emissions and the associated reductions via alternative solutions.

 

Sisk is family-owned construction and engineering company and has been in existence for over 160 years. Their strategic projects team partner with public sector clients to renovate, retrofit and resolve their needs in the education and healthcare sectors.

Embracing innovation & digital technology is one of the five themes described in their 2030 Sustainability Roadmap. Their goal is to turn Sisk into a net zero business, without offsetting, by 2030. Since they launched the roadmap, Sisk has developed an integrated approach to modern methods of construction and digital transformation. By harnessing Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital technology, and life cycle carbon assessments, they are creating beneficial partnerships with their supply chain to deliver low carbon design and material solutions for clients. They continue to have a positive impact by delivering on their purpose, ‘Creating Places for Future Generations’, inspired by their founder, John Sisk.

1 Cumberland Place has achieved remarkable HVAC energy optimisation results for a building already holding LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. The project has led to impressive HVAC electricity savings of 75% and HVAC gas savings of 76%.  This achievement is set apart by the minimal investment in new equipment, resulting in minimal additional embodied carbon. By significantly reducing the heating and cooling load on the building, the existing HVAC plant requires less maintenance, leading to an extended lifespan.

The project began mapping and learning exercises that revealed the environmental signature of the building. The deployment of Symphony Welltech while mapping the building allowed Symphony over several months, to fine-tune the operational settings to always use the least amount of energy while maintaining comfort levels.

Winners

Winners will be announced at our lunchtime Gala Ceremony on Thursday the 16th of November to this VIP invite-only Gala Event.