The Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) has allocated over €930,000 to be invested in building energy upgrades.

A total of €2.4m is being used on 99 nationwide building energy upgrades as part of a collaboration between Donate as you save Energy (DaysE), Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency and Camphill Communities of Ireland, with Kilkenny set to benefit from building retrofits in Ballytobin, Callan, Kyle, Jerpoint and Ennisnag.

Kilkenny is one of nine Camphill sites that will benefit from the upgrades, representing the wide reaching benefits and impact of the project. The works, including building insulation upgrades and the installation of renewable energy technologies, were completed in a selection of public buildings, homes and private businesses.

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In Kilkenny, these included the community hall and art centre in Callan and the community hall and the Weavery in Ballytobin, with the area also benefitting from the installation of a biogas combined heat and power plant which will generate electricity for the 80 residents in the Camphill Ballytobin community. In addition, the Newpark and Pembroke Hotels in Kilkenny city and Kilkenny Golf Club have also been upgraded.

One of the elements of the project is the 'fund raising through energy savings' model, as developed by DaysE, a Kilkenny-based social enterprise. In collaboration with Airtricity, the private company grantees and the project contractors, DaysE raised an additional €200,000 in funding from donations, energy savings and energy credits.

John Randles, Head of Delivery with SEAI, said: "What's commendable about this project is the 'Donate as you Save' model being used by the private businesses who are donating the financial value of their energy credits to the communities. This is really helpful in lowering the investment costs for Camphill and other charity organisations."

(CD/JP)