Community Energy Hub Helping Communities in the South East of Ireland to Save and Sustain
By partnering with Library Services across South East Ireland, the South East Energy Agency set up Community Energy Hubs that provide free and trustworthy resources about energy efficiency, empowering citizens across the region to reduce energy consumption and save on costs.
Illustration : South East Energy Agency
The South East Energy Agency has teamed up with Library Services across Southeast Ireland to launch the Community Energy Hub, a free resource designed to help individuals and organisations improve energy efficiency and save money.
The Community Energy Hub is a trusted, independent source that empowers households, community groups, and businesses to better understand their energy usage, access grants, and discover energy-saving opportunities. “Users will gain practical tips and leave with the knowledge and resources needed to make a positive impact on both the environment and their bank account,” said Michael Deen, Project Coordinator and Communications Officer at the South East Energy Agency.
Four libraries in the southeast region—Loughboy Library, Waterford Central Library, Carlow County Library, and Wexford Town Library—have been selected to pilot the initiative. Following this pilot phase, the partners aim to expand the service to libraries throughout the Southeast and beyond.
The initiative includes free monthly Energy Drop-in Clinics, where everyone is welcome to seek expert advice and begin their energy upgrade journey.
“The partnership with libraries is incredibly important… Libraries are a central part of our communities and play a pivotal role in raising awareness of environmental issues. The Community Energy Hub is an invaluable resource that provides libraries with meaningful ways to help make our homes more energy-efficient, comfortable, and environmentally friendly.”
Michael Deen
The low-carbon website features user-friendly tools, such as the Home Energy Grant Finder, which helps users identify relevant grants for their homes. Additional features include an energy jargon buster, energy-saving tips, and a guide to understanding energy bills, complete with practical examples from Ireland’s energy providers. The Energy Upgrade Journey guide offers step-by-step advice on how to reduce energy consumption and save on energy bills.
“The Community Energy Hub offers independent, trustworthy information to help users make informed decisions about reducing energy bills and environmental impact… It’s not just about costly home retrofits; the resources and tools on the Hub guide users through both small and significant changes that can have a real, positive effect.”
Michael Deen
In addition, the Community Energy Hub is a sustainable platform. The website emits less CO2 than over 93% of other websites, thanks to sustainable web development practices. The site is optimised for energy efficiency, large images and videos are replaced with lightweight graphics, and it is hosted by a ‘green hosting provider’ that prioritises energy efficiency and offsets emissions.
This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!
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