The Donate as you save Energy Project
Through Donate as you save Energy (DaysE), organisations carrying out energy efficiency measures can donate their energy credits or a portion of their energy savings to social enterprises and charities to help them take action to reduce their energy costs.
Energy credit fundraising
Private companies or homeowners carrying out energy upgrades agree to donate the energy credits they save to DaysE. These credits are then purchased by the participating energy supplier (in this case SSE Airtricity). Funds are then added to the SEAI grant, allowing them to redirect the extra money saved to fund their vital services.
Anaerobic Digestion
The project included developing a biogas fuelled combined heat and power plant to meet the energy requirements of 80 residents in the Ballytobin Camphill Community. It is now one of the few places in Ireland being both heated and electrified by gas generated locally through anaerobic digestion.
Non-profit beneficiaries
Seven non-profit beneficiaries were recruited, including eight separate Camphill Communities; Kare, Speedpak, ReCreate, Kingsriver Community, Kilkenny Golf Club and the Curragh Golf Club.
High-energy use companies
High-energy use companies donated part of their profits to the project; raising an additional €200,000 in funding for DaysE beneficiaries
The project
DaysE (Project Coordinators) worked with Camphill Communities Mountshannon, who acted as Lead Applicant, for the BEC grant.
The project had to:
- Reduce wasted energy
- Address the challenges of high energy costs for non-profit organisations
- Maximise economic and social benefits
Across the participating organisations, initial energy audits led to over 90 facilities being targeted for energy upgrades and priority measures were identified for each. Detailed energy audits were then conducted for each commercial and community property prior to submission of the BEC Application in order to get an accurate picture of each building's unique energy profile and investment needs. Retrofit measures installed included insulation upgrades (roof, walls and windows), boiler upgrades, new heating and cooling technologies and solar power.