Respond hosted an event celebrating the successful completion of Energy Efficient Upgrade Works to 550 Respond Homes including 54 in Ennis. The event took place at Orchard Grove, Ennis, Co Clare. The assembled included local dignitaries, LA officials, Local TD’s, Public Representatives and Respond tenants.
Energy upgrades to 54 homes and four community facilities in Ennis town have received €345,000 in funding from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), as part of a Better Energy Communities project. Mayor of Ennis Pat Daly and residents of Orchard Grove welcomed representatives of SEAI and Respond Housing to see first-hand the energy upgrades completed and hear the experiences of the local community.
Other buildings were located at Bridge View, Stonecourt and Waterpark. Upgrade works included attic and wall insulation, replacement windows, and renewable heat pumps. All of the homeowners will benefit greatly from more comfortable homes, lower energy bills and improved community facilities.The project was coordinated by Kingdom Installation Ltd.
Commenting on the project, John Randles, Head of Delivery, SEAI said
“We are delighted to see more and more communities engage with sustainable energy through SEAI programmes. This community partnership project brings benefits such as improved comfort and lower energy bills to homeowners. We congratulate all involved in this project.”
Ned Brennan, CEO Respond Housing, said
“ Respond is pleased to announce that it is the first Approved Housing Body in Ireland to benefit from funding available through the European Investment Bank and the Housing Finance Agency for the retrofitting of existing social houses. Respond is very grateful for the support we receive from SEAI. Since 2012, Respond has undertaken energy upgrade grant supported works to 1,340 units at an overall project cost of €12.6 million.”
List of estates nationally included under this energy upgrade programme included:
Some of the upgrades were mentioned (Feb 2016) in Passive House Magazine Plus
Respond remains committed not only to upgrading its housing stock in line with the requirements of planned maintenance works, but also to address issues of fuel poverty and the associated adverse impact on health, poverty and social exclusion. In this regard, Respond in partnership with the Economic and Social Research Institute is conducting a research study to measure the real impact of such works not only in terms of the impact on the physical asset or the dwelling but also to gauge changes in perception, behaviour and attitude towards energy efficient heating systems, improvement in quality of life including health and disposable income of our residents. The study will be concluded in early 2016.
Further detail on Better Energy Communities is available on www.seai.ie
Posted : October 2015