Rose Spillane, secretary, Kilbeggan Parish Council; Michael Ennis, building contractor; Patrick Weafer, architect; Fr Brendan Corrigan, PP, Kilbeggan; and Gerry Geaney, engineering consultant at the church in Kilbeggan which is being retrofitted with the help of 3CEA.

Free energy-saving info event at Kilbeggan to outline options

Published: Wed 21 Nov 2018, 9:42 AM

An event taking place in Kilbeggan next week is aimed at SMEs and business owners, community groups and housing associations anxious to save energy costs, lower carbon emissions and increase the comfort of their buildings.

The award-winning, 3 Counties Energy Agency (3CEA), in partnership with Midlands Energy Agency, is hosting the free information event at 7pm on Wednesday November 21 at Kilbeggan Parish Hall.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has a number of grant schemes for energy upgrades, with up to 80 per cent of the costs covered.

The session will make it easy for all to understand what’s out there and available to the various sectors, be they domestic or non-domestic.

The not-for-profit energy experts are running a number of information sessions in the midlands and the south east for the domestic and non-domestic markets, the public sector, commercial businesses and SMEs as well as community and not-for-profit groups and associations over the coming weeks.

The energy experts will take delegates through details of the various support schemes on offer, and discuss how to achieve the best results, even on the tightest budget.

They will detail how they can completely project-manage such works from start to finish, if required, to include pre-application audits, submitting the grant application, procuring the works to ensure best value for money and quality of project for both business and community projects, right through to compete sign off.

Details of the generous Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) supports for the various sectors and measures will be unveiled, 3CEA’s Senior Energy Engineer, Alexandra Hamilton, says. Some of the measures apply to domestic homes, others to group housing schemes or community associations, while more are best applied to business and properties that require a complete overhaul.

“The grants available range from 35% - 80% for domestic works, depending on programme and measures being completed, to 30% funding for public sector, commercial and SME works and up to 50% for community or not-for-profit groups,” says Alexandra.

“We will take people through the various SEAI schemes and help them choose the one that best suits their needs,” she said.

The church at Kilbeggan, where the meeting will be hosted, is undergoing major renovations, which include a number of energy efficiency upgrades aimed at making it warmer and more comfortable, and at reducing the energy bills. Upgrades include roof and wall insulation, lighting upgrade and new windows and doors, and it is receiving 50% grant from SEAI.

This is part of a larger renovation and re-design of the church.

The energy works were all completed with support from SEAI’s Better Energy Community grants programme, led by the Midlands Energy Agency, and project managed by 3CEA.

This event is perfect for anyone who is looking to complete any type of energy works in 2019, including insulation works, lighting, heating, windows, heat pumps, PV or any other measure where energy is saved.