St Brigid's Grove is two lessons in community self-help

An initiative by Kilcullen Lions Club more than a quarter of a century ago demonstrated a practical way to provide social housing for older people, writes Brian Byrne. Now they have used that same 4-house development of St Brigid's Grove to show how homes can be retrofitted to a modern energy efficient level.

The original Kilcullen Sheltered Housing project was mooted in 1999 by the Lions, who saw a need to house older people on the council housing list who didn’t require full family homes. The group acquired the needed land from the Eastern Health Board — it was located behind the then Dispensary and backed onto the St Brigid’s Avenue council housing estate. A limited company was formed to manage the building of the four homes, with help from Kildare County Council and a £212,000 grant from the Department of the Environment & Local Government under the Voluntary Housing Scheme. The directors included local builder Colm Murray along with fellow Lions Sheila Peacocke, Frances Clare and Dave Prendergast, and local councillor Paddy Aspell.

The project moved smoothly, and when St Brigid’s Grove was officially opened in 2001 by then Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy, the first group of tenants were already in place — Daisy Lennon, Jack Delaney, Kitty Hartigan, and Kathleen and Tim Gleeson. “There have been a number of other tenants since, as some passed away and others moved on,” says Jim Kiely, who became involved with the project a couple of years after it opened and has been the main point of contact with the residents for almost two decades. “As Lions we remain very closely involved. We maintain the houses, and we select new tenants when vacancies come up.” Candidates must be 65 or over, be on the Housing List, and have a connection to Kilcullen.

Fast forward to 2018 when Kilcullen took the first steps towards a Sustainable Energy Community under the scheme operated by Kildare County Council and the SEAI. The SEC committee were looking for projects to showcase how buildings in the town could be made more energy-efficient. “I suggested that the Brigid’s Grove houses could be suitable," Jim Kiely says, noting that the homes had been built at a time when insulation had not the same priority as it does today.

With the agreement of the Lions Club, the SEC group worked with Kildare County Council's community climate action programme, supported by the Department of the Environment. The project was completed just before last Christmas with grant aid from the council and fundraising by the Lions. Insulation was pumped into the wall cavities and the attics insulated to modern standards. Air vents and electric extractors were installed. "We also upgraded the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. It was all done nicely in time for the recent cold spell, where our residents were really able to appreciate the difference."

The total cost came to around €13,000. Apart from improving the quality of life of current tenants, it represents very good value. "There are really good grants available, and people who are in receipt of Fuel Allowance can probably have their homes upgraded through the grant system totally funded by the council and the Department of the Environment."

The St Brigid's Grove housing idea was very successful, and there's definitely a need for more like it even all these years later. The subject regularly comes up for discussion among Lions members, according to Jim Kiely, though the cost of land and building today means that anything concrete is very much an aspiration. Jim also believes that bringing the homes to modern energy efficient standards should encourage other residents in the town to do similar with their own homes.

There's some thought about a public meeting in the spring to let people know what is possible. "All of this is not theory any more. This is what we can do," Jim Kiely comments. And it is what Kilcullen Lions did.

NOTE: A version of this article was first published in the Kildare Nationalist.

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Kilcullen energy meeting told 'don't be at mercy of someone selling something'

KCA's Noel Clare, centre, with Elizabeth Kearney and Eugene Conlon of Energy Team.

A good turnout this afternoon to the Energy Upgrade workshop in Kilcullen heard details of a pathway to lower energy consumption for communities and individual homes, writes Brian Byrne.

The event in the Library was presented by the Dunleer-based Energy Team, formed from the Dunleer Sustainable Energy Community Network established in 2016 in association with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Energy Team was formed to manage the energy programmes within the network, which to date have retrofitted 310 premises, saved more than 2,000 tonnes of C02 from entering the environment, and reduced electricity consumption by more than 11 million kWh.

At today's workshop, the team's manager Eugene Conlon said the main aim of the event was to give a picture of the supports that are available for measures to improve the energy efficiencies of homes and other premises.

Along with Energy Team's Communities Retrofit Programme lead Elizabeth Kearney, they referenced individual homes, and community and public buildings with which Energy Team has worked, not just in County Louth but also in Fingal, Wicklow, Westmeath and Roscommon. Their current partnership with Kildare County Council is to help the four SECs here — Kilcullen, Monasterevin, Clane and Maynooth.

"The important thing is to know what you should be doing rather than be at the mercy of someone selling you something," Elizabeth Kearney noted, emphasising that the first recommendation is to have a technical assessment of the home or other premises being upgraded. Such an assessment will provide a list of things that need to be done to bring the premises to a required B2 standard.

Energy Team offers a 'one stop shop' service through which the assessment can be done, followed by management of whatever work is decided on by the owner, and organising the relevant grant aid for the project.

The group works with Cork-based SE Systems who carry out all project management in partnership with specialised heating, glazing and insulation companies.

Elizabeth Kearney described the Energy Team's role as three-fold — to educate communities on energy saving, help get retrofitting done, and eventually to have communities generate their own power.

About 25 people attended the Kilcullen meeting, which was one of three in Kildare today being conducted by Energy Team. Following their presentation, the organisers fielded questions on grants, their own charges, and retrofit costs and payback times. Those last would be quite variable, the meeting heard, as every home is different and the level of retrofitting in each project would also vary.

Representatives of KCA also attended — Noel Clare of Kilcullen Community Action said that the town's SEC committee had first met with Energy Team about six months ago, when the Kilcullen SEC was 'struggling' with developing its own programme.

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Energy Upgrade workshop in Kilcullen today

A reminder that an Energy Upgrade workshop will be held in Kilcullen Library today, Thursday 20 October, to give advice to homeowners on ways of saving energy and money and at the same time getting a warmer home.

The workshop will be just one hour long from 12 noon, and will be given by the Dunleer-based Energy Team in association with Kilcullen Community Action and Kildare County Council. 

Advice will be available on technical home energy assessments, renewable heating solutions such as heat pumps and solar panels, and on insulation.

Details of grants available for home energy retrofits will also be provided, and Energy Team — which is a not for profit social enterprise — will be available to help homeowners access these funds.

Kilcullen has an SEAI Sustainable Energy Community programme in development, promoted by KCA.

WATCH: RTE's EcoEye programme about Energy Team.

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Kilcullen SEC hears how to take next energy step

Pic via Cllr O'Dwyer's Facebook.

Members of the Kilcullen Sustainable Energy Community project were among those who attended a presentation yesterday by Dunleer SEC on how to activate their Master Plans, writes Brian Byrne.

Kilcullen, Monasterevin and Clane have completed their plans, by which everybody in a community works together to develop a sustainable energy system.

The meeting was also addressed by Colm Markey MEP, who noted that at European level it has never been more important to support communities who want to be come sustainable in energy use.

The Kilcullen SEC project was launched in 2018 and subsequently signed up with Kildare County Council to enrol with the Partnership Programme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.

Kildare's Council was the first local authority in Ireland to provide bridging financial supports to SECs developing their Energy Master Plans, and last November confirmed its commitment to continuing assistance to these beyond the completion of their Master Plans.

Dunleer SEC has taken further steps, acquiring their own premises with the support of Louth County Council. They have two staff members, part funded by the SEAI.

Earlier this year, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer asked KCC to consider buying the former Bank of Ireland premises in Kilcullen to be used in a similar way as a Climate Action Office.

At yesterday's presentation she congratulated all the volunteer groups in the county who have managed to progress their projects to this stage of the process. She also paid tribute to KCC and the SEAI for their support.  

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Proposal for bank building as climate action centre

Kilcullen's former bank building could become a centre for climate action and sustainable community if an initiative proposed to Kildare County Council pans out, writes Brian Byrne.

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer has asked Kildare County Council to consider buying the former Bank of Ireland premises to be used as a Climate Action Office, which could include an advice and training centre for people who want to take energy saving steps such as retrofitting their homes.

"Kilcullen is an appropriate place for this because it is already a Sustainable Energy Community, with its Master Plan completed," says Cllr O'Dwyer, who has brought the proposal privately to the Council's appropriate officials, with what she says has been a positive response. "I think there is a real opportunity here."

The Diary understands that Bank of Ireland would also be well disposed to having their former premises 'return to the community'. Though, as a business, their building will have to be sold as a commercial transaction. It is on the market for €325,000.

There is a precedent for such a move, as Dunleer SEC in Co Louth have their own premises, acquired with the support of Louth County Council. Cllr O'Dwyer has discussed their initiative with them, and feels that the Kilcullen SEC committee could similarly benefit. "Dunleer also have two staff members, part funded by the SEAI," Cllr O'Dwyer notes. "So what I'm proposing can be done."

As the push to climate action grows, there will be an increasing number of providers promoting their services, and it may be difficult for people to evaluate them. "But having one centre with reliable information and advice will be helpful, and it can also be a focus for a range of educational programmes, for the community generally and for schools." Such a centre would not only serve Kilcullen, but could be a focus for climate action across mid-Kildare.

Cllr O'Dwyer's proposition is based on the fact that there's going to be significant funding available under the Government's plans for climate action. This makes it a viable proposition for the local authority to pursue, 'if the Council goes down this road, and they and the bank engage'. "There is funding coming for climate action. But if we're not ready for it in Kilcullen, we won't get it."

Having a Climate Action Office in Kilcullen would also encourage developers to take sustainability into account when designing their Kilcullen projects, Cllr O'Dwyer says. "If we have an environmental and sustainability office here, they would be inclined to feel that they have to come on board in environmental terms."

The proposal is in play. "It may come to nothing, but if we don't ask for it, we won't get it," Cllr O'Dwyer says, banking on the fact that Kilcullen's tradition of being pro-active will again make things happen.

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KCC commits to continuing support of SECs

Kildare County Council is committed to continuing assistance to Sustainable Energy Communities around ‘appropriate’ supports beyond the development of their Masterplan, writes Brian Byrne.

The recent meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge MD was informed of this in answer to a Question posed by Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer, asking what is the future ‘roadmap’ and next steps for towns like Kilcullen, when they have completed their Masterplan?

Noting that KCC was the first local authority in Ireland to provide bridging financial supports to SECs developing their Energy Master Plans, officials said the next steps include organising support networks and generating greater community to enact the plan.

The report noted that there are now a number of examples of communities which have successfully implemented their plans, including Dunleer SEC which was showcased at the recent Kildare Climate and Energy Weekend. “Key learnings taken from other more established and advanced SECs can be utilised to grow Kildare’s SECs,” KCC’s Energy Efficiency Officer, Peter Mulhern, said.

Kilcullen signed with the Council as partner in March 2019, having inaugurated its SEC in May 2018. A progress report on the SEAI audit of the town is expected to be delivered in the new year. 

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Progress report on Energy Community project 'in new year'

The results of a survey undertaken for the Kilcullen Sustainable Energy Community project have been deferred until early next year, pending the inclusion of private housing in the analysis, writes Brian Byrne.

This was noted at last night's meeting of Kilcullen Community Action, held in the Heritage Centre. Eoin Houlihan said the consultants had audited five premises to date, two businesses and three community buildings. These are the Community Centre, the KCCEC building, Scoil Bhride, The Fountain Takeaway and Nolan's Butchers. "We decided to push for some private homes to be audited," Eoin told the meeting, the first in-person one since 2020, due to pandemic precautions.

The audit is part of the development of an Energy Plan for the town, and when completed the surveyed premises will be given details of how they can make energy savings, Ray Kelly noted. "The cost of making changes will be an issue in the long term," he said.

The Energy Plan will be designed to help homes, farms, community and business properties increase their energy efficiency and independence, as well as reduce the community's overall carbon emissions.

In March 2019 the Kilcullen Sustainable Energy Community group signed up as partner with Kildare County Council to access the SEC Partnership Programme with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The overall thrust for Kilcullen to undertake the project goes back to a KCA discussion in early 2018. "Hopefully we will have a progress report early in the new year," Eoin Houlihan said last night.

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Kilcullen energy survey under way

A survey of local homes and businesses is being undertaken by the Kilcullen Sustainable Energy Community group as part of the development of an Energy Plan for the town, writes Brian Byrne. The survey is being distributed online and can be accessed here.

An action plan which will emerge from the group will be designed to help homes, farms, community and business properties increase their energy efficiency and independence, as well as reduce the community's overall carbon emissions.

Local energy generation opportunities will also be explored, and there will be options for some property owners to apply for SEAI grant funding towards the cost of improving energy efficiency.

There are 23 questions on the survey, which are filled by simply checking preferred answers. They are designed to establish insulation, heating sources, controls, and lighting status across the community.

There's also a section offering options for a community-based energy project.

All answers will be treated in full confidence, and no personal identifiers will be included in the final report.

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Town energy plan moves forward

Pic: At the launch of the Kilcullen SEC in 2018, Ray Kelly, KCA; Paul O'Reilly, energy consultant; Barry Griffiths, Kildare Co Council; John Harrington, energy consultant; and Padraig Maloney, KCA.

An Energy Master Plan for Kilcullen has moved a step closer with the submission of documentation to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) by the Kilcullen Sustainable Energy Community, writes Brian Byrne.

The submission, jointly with Kildare County Council, is to enrol the Kilcullen SEC to the Partnership Programme offered by the SEAI.

The three-year partnership, once approved, will enable Kilcullen to access mentoring and SEAI technical supports. These will begin with the development of a baseline energy master plan for the town.

The Kilcullen SEC signed up as a partner with Kildare County Council last March to make the submission. The group have been told that, once approved, Kilcullen will be next to get their EMP completed once other SECs in the county working with energy consultants have completed the process. These are expected to be finished 'in the next few months'.

Once the EMP is completed, it will be possible to identify energy saving opportunities and develop a programme of activities for the Kilcullen community.

The Kilcullen SEC was launched in May of 2018, with the keynote speaker being Paul O'Reilly, author of Watt Footprint — The Smart Citizen's Guide to Save Energy.

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Kilcullen signs up for Sustainable Energy Community submission

Pic: Kildare County Council.

Kildare County Council and Kilcullen Sustainable Energy Community have signed up as partners to make a joint submission to the SEC Partnership Programme with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

This is a three-year partnership with SEAI enabling Kilcullen to access mentoring and SEAI technical supports.

This will help Kilcullen establish a baseline energy master plan, identify energy saving opportunities and develop a programme of activities for the Kilcullen community.

The project has been spearheaded for Kilcullen by Padraig Moloney and Barry Griffiths, and is part of the current Kilcullen Community Action Plan.

KCC will support Kilcullen SEC as the group works to achieve community energy projects, and is committed to helping to reduce energy use in communities throughout the county through partnering with other SECs in the county in the future.

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Small things make big energy differences — KSEC meeting

Ray Kelly, KCA; Paul O'Reilly, energy consultant; Barry Griffiths, Kildare Co Council; John Harrington, energy consultant; and Padraig Maloney, KCA.

If there was to be just one takeaway from last night's information evening and launch of the Kilcullen Sustainable Energy Community, it would be that a lot of small things make the big differences in saving energy, writes Brian Byrne.

From that, it was then clear that it is best that individuals and communities take control of their environment to achieve these small improvements which will later allow them to take on bigger ones.

But first, we have to know where we are, so that we can see where we get to on the road to a smaller energy footprint.

"What you can't measure, you can't manage," energy consultant Paul O'Reilly told the clearly engaged audience who turned up for the event in the Town Hall. For homeowners and businesses alike, a simple investment of as little as €45 in a real-time energy monitor is a good first step, he said.

Paul O'Reilly, energy matters author; with Saoirse Behan of Woodbine Books.

The author of Watt Footprint — The Smart Citizen's Guide to Save Energy also brought the process down to a simple component of every home, business, and community — the light bulb. "Every light bulb counts," he said. "Understand that simplicity and then you can move on."

He spoke of the savings that can be made by simply replacing older bulbs with more efficient types, even if they are significantly more expensive. "Remember, that it isn't just a case of the wattage, there is the time element also, that a bulb is in use." Noting that there are 8,700 hours in a year, changing a bulb from a 90W incandescent to a 12W LED can make a significant difference in running costs while it is on.

Lights were also one of the examples of power saving on a corporate level as detailed by Barry Griffiths (above), Facilities Manager with Kildare County Council. Speaking on the current programme to improve energy efficiency at the Council's headquarters in Naas, he said that replacing with more efficient bulbs in areas which are most in use realised substantial savings very quickly. "We also replaced 150 lighting controls that had broken down, and in all our outdoor areas we put in passive switches which turn off lights five minutes after people have gone through."

An 'Energy Day', to advise staff in the building on simple ways of saving energy also helped. "Turning off computers at night, turning off radiators instead of opening windows when it gets too hot, putting timers on the Burco boilers in the coffee bays so that they're not on all night ..."

Such measures have already made enough difference that in 2017 the Facilities section was able to hand back €80,000 of its previously estimated budge for running a building with up to 500 staff. In the next phase of the programme, solar panels are being installed, which will provide about 15pc of the total energy use in the building. "The total cost of that will be recovered in five years."

For the ordinary homeowner, he said similar savings could be achieved. "It's just walking around your house with your eyes open. Turn your lights off when you don't need them. Turn your TV off. It is pointless doing the big things unless you do the little things first."

Padraig Maloney, KCA; Paul Harrington, Future Fit; and Derry McKeown, Kilsaran.

The role of savings in the residential sector was also highlighted by John Harrington, co-founder of Future Fit — a company aimed at helping organisations and communities to be 'fit for the future' in energy terms. "They need to be smart, to be prepared for what's coming our way," he said. "Energy costs are only going to go one way, up."

Noting that 'a huge amount' of energy is wasted in the residential sector, which means the wastage is highly dispersed, he said the country needs to figure out 'how to save small amounts of energy in everybody's home'. "It's the smart thing to do as well as the nice thing to do."

He provided information on some of the grant aids available to homes, business, farms, public buildings and schools for energy conservation. He also said that a community which took on the responsibility of producing an 'energy master plan' in partnership with the SEAI could get a 'VIP Pass' to funding.

"I see the process as a continuum, from the simple things all the way to the big projects like deep retrofits. And it can also earn extra points in the Tidy Towns competition."

The final section of the meeting dealt with a variety of individual questions on matters ranging from electric vehicles to insulation and upgrading energy systems. Padraig Maloney and Ray Kelly of Kilcullen Community Action outlined how the Kilcullen SEC group is 'still at the very early stage' and 'learning as we go along'.

"We needs the clubs and organisations to come to us with their needs for saving energy, and we'll sit with you and help you out," Ray said, while Padraig expects that a draft energy master plan will be developed over the next three months.

In addition to individuals and community and business representatives from Kilcullen, last night's meeting also attracted interest from people in other parts of Kildare and from as far as Kilkenny.

Barry Griffiths, KCC; Robert Moran, Facilities Manager, Kerry Group; Padraig Maloney, KCA; and Eoin Houlihan, KCA.

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