Author: KSEC

Energy Saving Tips for Christmas

1.Upgrade to LED Christmas lights– They range in price from €3.50 to €50 

2.Decorate the garden with solar lights– A variety of solar lights or LEDS (with a timer) range in price. 

3.Be smart about your cooking– Use pot lids when boiling, cook several items at a time while the oven is hot and cook extra food on Christmas Day to avoid /reduce energy use next day.

4.Clean your oven door and keep it closed-make sure your oven window is clear enough to peep through to see how dinner is coming along.

5. Track your electricity usage- e.g. Electric Ireland’s Smarter Pay As You Go plan.  Borrow and use an energy use meter from your local library.

6.  Avoid the use of standby on TV, laptop etc. (It accounts for 10% of electricity costs in an average household).

7. Use your thermostats to regulate your heat. Have throws available for watching TV

8. Get the most out of your dishwasher and washing machine– Use with a  full load and eco setting.  

9. Use rechargeable batteries

10. Learn more at: https://www.electricireland.ie/residential/news/detail/6-energy-saving-hacks-that-everyone-can-do-this-christmas

Nollaig Shona!

Kerry Sustainable Energy Co-Operative

www.ksec.ie

Astellas Field Trip

KSEC’s Field Trip to Astellas, Killorglin.

Fourteen KSEC members including two Board members and our CE Admin Support enjoyed an amazing Field Trip to the Astellas plant in Killorglin on November.5th.

Following a very informative slide show, we were given a tour by Daniel Walsh, engineer, which focussed on the energy management aspects of the company ie the solar array, wind turbine, wood chip boiler, and more.

As Daniel explained their mission is always to ‘close the loop’ to work toward the business being sustainable at every level.

One very interesting example includes management of canteen food waste which is turned into a ‘digestate’ and used in the ‘garden’ on site. Even the empty gelatine capsules can be composted here. Eamon Foley (yellow jacket) demonstrated this composter. He also showed and told us of the various biodiversity actions undertaken and planned both on site and in the adjacent area of special protection.

It was a very inclusive three hours with KSEC members delighted and very grateful to both Daniel and Eamon for the opportunity. 

KSEC will plan another field trip in the future to a different location.

Thanks to all who came and to those who welcomed us to Astellas.

KSEC welcomes Lisa our new CE worker.

Our new CE worker Lisa Stackpoole joined the KSEC team as our ‘Admin Support’ on 16th September 2024. Lisa is now based in the Pastoral Centre, Rock Road, Killarney (Mon – Wed),  9:00 – 4:00, and will work closely with Sylvia, KSEC Secretary.

KSEC wishes to thank Ballymacelligott Community Employment (CE) Scheme for sending us such a dedicated worker and the Pastoral Centre for an office for Lisa. As Lisa takes up the new role, we say ‘thank you’ again to Agnieszka Maj, our first CE worker.

Killorglin Energy Master Plan Report Launch

Wednesday 22nd February
7.30 – 9.30 p.m.
CYMS Hall

We are delighted to invite the community of the Killorglin area to join them for the launch of the Killorglin Energy Master Plan (EMP) Report. As well as sharing the findings of the EMP project and an overview of responses to a sustainability survey carried out during KFEST, group discussions will also be facilitated to explore the next action steps the community would like to take forward.

Agenda

  • Summary of findings of Energy Master Plan (EMP) including Local case studies of potential options for Home Energy Retrofits
  • Overview of Killorglin Sustainability Survey (carried out during KFEST)
  • Have your say – group discussions on what next

About the Killorglin Energy Master Plan

The EMP project was funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) with energy consultants ORS carrying out the work in collaboration with KSEC. While the report provides an estimate of the baseline energy (electricity, heating, transport) use in the Killorglin area and overview of relevant statistics regarding the built environment, KSEC hopes the case studies relating to local homes will provide valuable comparison information for the Killorglin community for potential home retrofitting projects. A number of homes were surveyed by a local Building Energy Rating (BER) assessor, with ORS then estimating the costs and energy savings associated with suggested upgrade measures. Details of these will be shared on the night including for example, measures, estimated costs and energy savings for upgrading a detached 1980’s bungalow from an E2 to an A3 BER and upgrading a detached 2-storey house, constructed in 1959, from a C3 to an A3 BER

During the project 4 community buildings, KDYS, St Vincent de Paul Shop, CYMS and Killorglin Old Courthouse and local business Quinlan’s Seafood Bar were also surveyed by ORS. Measures to reduce the energy use of these buildings and a number of other opportunities, relating to transport, renewables and training were detailed in a “Register of Opportunities” for the community to progress. 

Anne-Marie Fuller KSEC secretary commented “This report has had a relatively long incubation period, the first EMP project meeting with the Killorglin community was held in CYMS back in February 2020 just before Covid-19 struck, so we are particularly pleased to be able to finally share all the project information with the community now and invite them to explore together how this information can be used to contribute to Killorglin becoming a more sustainable community.” 

Contact Details

KSEC Secretary – info@ksec.ie

Free Information Sessions

Reduce Your Energy Costs

We are delighted to present a series of information sessions on how to reduce your energy usage.  This project, which began in Tralee in September 2021, continues with a session in Listowel on the 23rd of Marchl and a session in Ballybunion on the 31st of March, both from 7.20-9.00pm.  
This event is limited to 40 participants. You can book your ticket on Eventbrite.

Microgeneration Support Scheme Consultation

The Irish government is developing a Micro-generation* Support Scheme to support new micro-generation deployment. This will help deliver a route to market for citizens and communities to generate their own renewable electricity, such as from solar panels on their roofs, and receive a fair price when they sell the excess into the grid.

The aim of this consultation was to gather stakeholder feedback on aspects of the proposed Micro-generation Support Scheme which may help to inform the delivery of the scheme.

Read KSEC’s submission


*Micro-generation includes micro-solar, PV micro-hydro, micro wind and micro renewable CHP

Tralee Information Session Postponed

Unfortunately our Free Information Session has been postponed due to Covid-19 Restrictions.  We’ll update as soon as we have the new date.

As planned, this event will help participants to better understand their energy usage, make savings and understand some of the new technologies available to them to reduce their carbon footprint.

Please contact us at info@ksec.ie for further details.

Funded by LEADER

Rural Development (LEADER) Programme

KSEC is in the process of submitting a funding application to the Rural Development (LEADER) Programme.

Subject to approval KSEC wishes to appoint a trainer/facilitator to deliver a Kerry-wide series of information sessions and workshops on Renewable Energy including energy reduction.

Details of the tender are available on the eTender website, where you can also submit a tender if you are interested.

AGM 2019

KSEC will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 6.30pm, Monday 4th March. You can attend at Tobar Naofa, off Deans Road Moyderwell, Tralee.

All members are welcome. Finger food will be available.

If you wish to be more involved at Board level please get in touch before the meeting to info@ksec.ie.