Joe O'Brien - Green Party
Creating a sustainable energy community in skerries
18th February, 2021
"Programme will help people work together to develop a sustainable energy system for the benefit of the town"
– Joe O’Brien
The Sustainable Authority of Irelands (SEAI) has a Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) County Mentor for Fingal who has responsibility for developing and growing the SEC network across the county.
Minister O’Brien said: “One aspect of switching to a more sustainable way of living is through getting involved in a local SEC, a community in which everyone works together to develop a sustainable energy system for the benefit of the community. This is achieved by aiming, as far as possible, to be energy efficient, using renewable energy where feasible and adopting smart technology solutions.
“The benefits for SECs will include achieving financial and energy savings, improve public wellbeing and comfort from creating energy efficient buildings, boosting local employment, promoting community building through the collaborative partnership approach within a local SEC, build leverage for funding applications and ultimately contribute to national energy reduction targets.”
“I was particularly delighted to be at the launch of a new SEC in Skerries this week and I am very excited about what this group can achieve locally. I would really encourage all community groups across Fingal to get in touch with the SEAI and at least have that initial chat with the Fingal SEC mentor to see if the programme is for them”
“The new SEC in Skerries will be supported by the SEAI through their three-step journey, known as the Learn-Plan-Do approach. This approach emphasises the importance of a good partnership between the SEC and the SEAI by combining local knowledge, people and time with supports from a technical panel, funding and mentoring and skills development.”
The SEAI has developed the Sustainable Energy Communities programme to help communities reduce their energy use and develop clean and renewable energy sources. You can find out more by contacting the Fingal officer in the SEAI at edennis@ksnenergy.ie
For more information contact Karen.Power@oir.ie