Glinsk SEC: Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future

Background

Established in March 2019, Glinsk SEC aims to create an energy aware community by promoting sustainable energy use across all sectors. The community driven initiative includes input from local groups such as the local GAA club, Community Development Society, National School, and other various other community organisations. The SEC's initial focus was on renovating community buildings to improve their energy efficiency and comfort, coupled with promoting home retrofits in the area. Glinsk SEC was shortlisted as a finalist for the SEAI Energy Awards in 2023.

Projects and Key Achievements:

Community Centre Renovation: The retrofit of the Community Centre included insulation upgrades, new windows, doors, and an air-to-air heat pump. This renovation provides a much-needed space in the community for meetings, events and demonstrations and is used daily by Athru Saoil, an early intervention educational facility.

Energy Master Plan: Glinsk SEC completed their Energy Master Plan (EMP) with the help of their local SEC Mentor and an energy consultant. The EMP included household surveys, energy audits of community buildings and a local dairy farm providing a comprehensive strategy for energy efficiency in the community.

Home Retrofits and Solar PV: Several homes in the area were retrofitted with one dwelling undergoing a full retrofit with external insulation, new windows and doors and a new heat pump. Other retrofits were smaller in scale but included new doors and windows, external insulation, pumped cavity insultation, heating controls and roof insulation.  Three homes installed Solar PV.

Community Development: A comprehensive community development project includes a drop-off area for the childcare facility, EV charging points, an accessible playground, and an indoor sports facility with a meeting room and hot desk space. An initial 24 kW Solar PV system will generate 18,000 kWh annually, offsetting 6 tons of CO2 per year.

Financial Support

Fundraising: The SEC raised over €350,000 through an innovative fundraiser with the first prize being a 6.4 kW Solar PV system with 10 kW battery storage.

Grant funding from SEAI: SEAI provided 100% funding towards the Energy Master Plan and grants were provided for the retrofits and solar PV installations.

Local Credit Union: The credit union provided an interest-free bridging loan to the community to support them in funding the EMP development upfront in advance of the grant recoup.

Other funding: The SEC are looking to other funding streams, like the Climate Action Fund, to progress further projects.

Next Steps for Glinsk SEC

• They will continue to expand solar PV installations and other renewable energy projects locally. A Solar Meitheal project is being explored.
• They will develop further community facilities with integrated sustainable energy solutions.