Greystones and Delgany SEC
Greystones and Delgany Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) are tackling climate change in Co. Wicklow through grassroot initiatives, embracing innovation through technology and nature-based solutions
Background
Beginning over a chat and a few cups of coffee, members from the Greystones Tidy Towns (GTT) teamed up with a group of local climate action and sustainability advocates in the area to see how they could work together to benefit the local community. In 2018 they established the Greystones and Delgany Sustainable Energy Community (GDSEC).
Their vision of a world where local communities can face various climate challenges with eyes wide open is central to everything they do. Over the past six years they have empowered themselves to make big changes to ensure the environmental health and prosperity of future generations. They support local residents, businesses and organisations to reduce their carbon emissions. The impact of this is multifold; from reducing the damaging effects of global climate change, to a more localised reduction in harmful environmental pollutants. The payoff is individual and societal in terms of health, biodiversity, and social justice.
Projects:
After completing their Energy Master Plan in 2022, Greystones and Delgany SEC have completed two cycles of their Solar PV Meitheal Programme, a community-led concept that provides homeowners who want to install Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels with free independent advice. They help homeowners to tailor their solar configuration and use collective bargaining to find them the best financial deal. In two years, this SEC has supported 30 Solar PV installs in their local community.
Results and key achievements:
- Energy Master Plan: Completed their community energy master plan in 2022, fully funded by SEAI. They received €20K in total from SEAI.
- Solar Meitheal Programme:
Year 1: supported the install of 10 Solar PV systems for local homeowners.
Year 2: supported the install of a further 20 Solar PV systems for local homeowners. - Free home energy assessments: Provided free home energy kits to homeowners, so that residents can begin to understand their energy use and emissions from their home, and get linked in with the support offerings provided by the SEC
Next steps
Meitheal spin-off programme: The SEC feel it is important to not only focus on the Solar PV solutions. They also recognise the many benefits to implementing fabric solutions and behavioural change. They will soon launch an Insulation Meitheal project targeting a “fabric first” approach to building upgrades. This will include upgrades such as attic insulation, window and door insulating tape, low flow shower heads, and thermostats.
The aim is to support local residents, businesses and organisations to reduce their carbon emissions to not only tackle global climate change, but to reduce harmful environmental pollutants at local level.
Visit www.greystonesgreenenergy.ie for more information on the GDSEC.