Energy & Buildings Actions
Below are significant actions that are being progressed across SDCC to help us achieve our goals set out my the Climate Action Plan 2024-2029.
Managing Energy in SDCC
In 2024 an Energy Management Team was established to support the Energy Performance Officer and the Energy Officer in advancing SDCC towards achieving ISO 500001 Energy Management certification.
As part of ISO Certification process six Significant Energy Users (SEUs) in SDCC were identified. These SEUs, defined as the top consumers of energy (both thermal and electrical) within SDCC, account for 85% of the total energy consumption. Their identification has provided valuable opportunities for energy savings and improvement, playing a crucial role in the council's ongoing efforts to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability.
SEU Group | % Total Final Energy Consumption | |
SEU 1 | Public Lighting | 38% |
SEU 2 | Transportation / Fleet | 17% |
SEU 3 | Leisure Centres | 16% |
SEU 4 | Corporate Office Buildings | 11% |
SEU 5 | Libraries | 1.5% |
SEU 6 | Tallaght Stadium | 1.5% |
TOTAL for ISO 50001 Implementation | 85% |
Table 1: SDCC Significant Energy Users
Organisational Energy Management and Innovation
- E1: Embed an organisational energy/building management system in SDCC, ensuring compliance with relevant standards, obligations, and reporting requirements, with the aim to achieve ISO50,001.
- E2: As part of SDCCs Energy Management, work with the Significant Energy Users and each Department, to make SDCC as energy efficient as possible.
In 2024, an Energy Management Team was established, consisting of representatives from each of the Significant Energy Users (SEUs).
Six (SEUs) account for 85% of total energy used in South Dublin County Council.
Public Lighting: 38%
Transportation / Fleet: 17%
Leisure Centres: 16%
Corporate Office Buildings: 11%
Libraries: 1.5%
Stadium: 1.5%
The Energy Management Team has met throughout the year to support the Energy Performance Officer and the Energy Officer in delivering a focused approach on energy management and in progressing ISO 500001 Energy Management certification.
- E3: Complete the Public Lighting SOX Upgrade Programme, for the replacement of all SOX (low pressure sodium lamps) with energy efficient LEDs.
- E4: Complete the Public Lighting SON Upgrade Programme.
SDCC is currently in phase 2 of its Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project. By the end of 2024 70% of SDCCs public lighting network were upgraded to energy efficient LEDs.
- E7: Decarbonise, where feasible plant and handheld tools.
SDCC utilises a wide range of plant and handheld tools across multiple departments to help with everyday operations. These tools range from heavy-duty machinery such as generators, pile drivers, and ride-on mowers to specialized tools like chainsaws, hedge trimmers, stump grinders, and much more. The Fleet Section in SDCC is currently collaborating with each department to ensure comprehensive equipment records are maintained as part of the ongoing decarbonisation efforts.
Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Carbon Emissions in SDCC Buildings
- E8: Progress Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) to deliver energy efficiency targets for SDCC owned buildings with significant energy usage, including the Leisure Centres, County Hall and Library, and Clondalkin Civic Offices.
- E9: Progress energy efficiency works, including retrofits, in council owned and operated buildings, such as Libraries and Community Centres, that fall outside of a potential EPC contract.
- E12: Develop the sensitive retrofit of historic / protected structures across South Dublin with the aim of improving energy efficiency and building climate resilience.
- E13: Identify and progressopportunities to improve energy efficiencies in Tallaght Stadium and SDCC sports grounds with external floodlights.
In 2024, several energy management projects were developed to promote energy efficiency and greenhouse gas targets. Energy Performance Contracts (EPC)were developed to support decarbonisation of Council-owned buildings, including Leisure Centres, County Hall, County Library, and Clondalkin Civic Offices. A competitive dialogue process was used to identify project needs, and a tender is expected in early 2025. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding between SDCC and the other Dublin Local Authorities to access the Pathfinder Scheme for building retrofits.
Additionally, a pipeline of projects have been identified through the Building Decarbonisation Plan which will see SDCC deliver renewable and energy efficiency upgrades in buildings through DeliveREE/Pathfinder.
- E10: Retrofits ofthe Council's housing stock, prioritising energy efficiency upgrades in areas that have been identified in the Dublin Region Energy Masterplan as being energy poor.
- E11: Develop tenant energy awareness tool kit to provide climate / energy awareness and training for the operation of the new energy systems installed.
Under the National Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme, the remaining SDCC ownde properties with low energy efficiency rating will be increased to a building Enery Rating (BER) of B2. This programme to date has retrofitted a total of 323 homes representing 3.23% of overall stock.
- E14: Maximise opportunitiesto avail of funding sources,to support a range of climate action projects across the County, including European Union (EU) funding streams.
SDCC collaborates with various partners such as Codema and CARO to identify funding sources for climate adaptation and mitigation projects, with a key focus on EU funding. This projects will then reduce SDCCs carbon footprints and enhance our energy efficiency.
Alternative Energy Sources; Increase SDCC's Renewable Energy Generation Capacity
- E15: Install Solar PV on suitable SDCC owned buildings, focusing on Community Centres and Libraries, and examine the potential for installation on other assets.
- E16: Investigate opportunities to install solar panels at Depots (roofs / solar car port etc.), with the aim of supplying renewable energy to offset the expected increase in consumption due to the planned fleet decarbonisation and associated EV charging.
- E21: Identify sites or opportunities for trialling renewable energy projects including but not limited to solar, wind, hydro and pumped storage.
SDCC has identified a list of potential buildings, including libraries and community centres, suitable for Solar PV installation. Several of these options are under consideration by the Council. Procurement for the installation of Solar PV on 50 council owned and leased buildings advanced in 2024.
- E17: Maintain the operation and monitoring of the Tallaght District Heating Scheme, and progress the further expansion of the Tallaght District Heating Scheme.
- E18: Identify sites or opportunities for trialling renewable energy projects including but not limited to solar, wind, hydro and pumped storage.
The Tallaght District Heating Scheme uses waste heat from the neary Amazon data centre to provide low-carbon heating to public buildings in the Tallaght area. The scheme currently supplies low-carbon heat to South Dublin's County Hall building & library complex, TU Dublin Tallaght Campus, Work IQ and 133 affordable appartments at Innovation Square in Tallaght.
- E19: Deliver Arthurstown Landfill Solar PV Project to generate renewable energy for consumption on site.
- E20: Investigate the feasibility of developing a commercial scale Solar PV plant at Arthurstown Landfill site and look to progress any feasible recommendations.
SDCC is working in conjuction with Kildare County to Council to progress a small-scale Solar PV project at Arthurstown Landfill site. The installation will generate 200kw of power, providing enough energy to support the sutes current operation. SDCC is currently in the procurement process of this project. SDCC has also initiated a feasibility study to examine if a commerical scale Solar PV plan can be delivered at Arthurstown.
