GAA Energy Communities Webinar

On Tuesday April 21st Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative held a webinar in association with Community Power and Tipperary GAA to inform participants of supports available for communities to become more energy efficient and sustainable, and to raise awareness of opportunities for Tipperary Clubs and County Board.

Ireland spends nearly 6 billion each year on fossil fuel between Transport, Homes and Industry. Apart from the impact on climate, that is money leaving the country and our communities. Since 2015, Ireland has a new energy policy which sets our country on a path away from the use of fossil fuels. It is now the mainstream policy of our country to move towards a low carbon economy. Engaging and empowering communities in this ‘energy transition’ is part of Ireland’s national energy policy.

You can watch the a video recording of the webinar below. More info about the event and details about presenters below the video where you can also download pdfs of the presentations.

• About the GAA Sustainable Communities Initiative – 

The GAA and the local authority sector, represented by the County and City Management Association (CCMA) have partnered up to promote sustainable local development, environmental awareness and climate action.

The partnership builds on the GAA’s status as a Sustainable Development Goal Champion and aligns with local government commitments under the National Climate Action Plan and Local Authorities’ Climate Action Charters.

The partnership will result in the roll-out of a National Green Club Toolkit in 2021.

The Green Club toolkit, which will be piloted across a small number of clubs throughout the country, will be focused on the key action areas of Energy & Water Efficiency, Biodiversity, Waste Management & Plastic Use and Transport.

Tipperary County Board are delighted to work with Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative to highlight opportunities. For clubs to upgrade facilities to increase energy efficiency as part of the development of this National Toolkit.

• What is the energy opportunity for clubs and community organisations

With energy we don’t normally think of it as being relevant to community groups –  communities have a significant role  whether through civic and citizens groups, local energy cooperatives, or through local small-scale utilities, and the local authorities, and there are a range of supports available. Already Tipperary is a leader in this field with social enterprises like Tipperary Energy Agency and Energy Communities Tipperary together securing over 20 million in investment in Energy into Tipperary over the last 8 years. This is only the beginning. 

The benefits of energy action on a community and local level include: saving money, saving energy; improving health and comfort through more comfortable buildings, creating local employment opportunities, leveraging funding into your community group, helping the national energy transition.

Click here to complete an application form for your GAA Club to join the Better Energy Communities scheme with ECTC

Agenda – An Clár             (Click on Agenda items to view pdf of presentations)

About the speakers – Eolas faoi na gCainteoirí

Jimmy D’Arcy – GAA National Technical Development & Support Manager.

Jimmy has worked in the National Games Development & Coaching Department of the GAA since 2001. He has managed and contributed to a range of projects during that time, including the Fun Do Coaching  Resource and the GAA Learning Online Platform. He is a member of the GAA Green Clubs Steering Group and has been a leader in the establishment of the GAA as a Sustainable Development Goal Champion, and in the partnership with the Local Authority Sector for more Sustainable Clubs & Communities.

Míde Ní Shúilleabháin is Croke Park Sustainability Officer and a member of the GAA’s Green Club Work Group

Contact: Jimmy D’Arcy and Míde Ní Shúilleabháin, email: greenclubs@gaa.ie

Download copy of Jimmy and Míde’s presentation here: CCMA_GAA_Partnership_Tipp Webinar

Marcella Maher Keogh is Project Coordinator with Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative and Drombane Upperchurch Energy Team. Marcella is an Architectural Technician, BER Assessor and has project managed ECTC’s award winning schemes since 2012. Developing the first Sustainable Energy Community in Ireland, assisting SEAI in rolling out the Deep Retrofit scheme and collaborating with the Department of the Communitications, Climate Action and the Environment on future Retrofit schemes.

Contact: Marcella Maher Keogh, Project Coordinator, ECTC: email – mmaherkeogh@energycommunitiestipp.ie or phone: 086 1080356

Download a pdf of Marcella’s presentation here: 2020 ECTC Presentation – Grants – GAA -Marcella

Derry O Donnell is Development Coordinator with Community Power and with Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative (ECTC). Community Power is Ireland’s first and only community owned electricity supply company buying renewable power that is owned by communities, co-operatives or citizens, and selling that electricity to its customers. Derry holds an environmental seat on the Tipperary PPN secretariat and is on the steering committee of Tipperary Green Business Network. 

Derry O Donnell, Development Coordinator, ECTC & Community Power: email – derry@energycommunitiestipp.ie or phone 089-9546808

Download pdf of Derry’s presentations at the following links:

Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative Presentation for Tipp GAA Derry O Donnell

Community Power Community Owned Electricity

Gearóid Fitzgibbon works with the (SEAI) Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s Sustainable Energy Communities Programme, to provide support to Tipperary communities. Gearóid is a specialist in community development and community energy and has spearheaded initiatives using energy as a driver of local economic development, including Energy Communities Tipperary Cooperative, and the Tipperary Green Business Network.

Gearóid Fitzgibbon, Community Energy Mentor, SEAI, email – fitzgibbong@gmail.com or phone 085-7409023

Download a pdf of Gearóid’s presentation here: SEAI SEC Supports G Fitzgibbon

John Hassett – Senior Building Services Engineer, Tipperary Energy Agency.

Contact: John Hassett, Senior Building Services Engineer, Tipperary Energy Agency, Phone: 052 7443090 Email: john@tippenergy.ie

Download a pdf of John’s presentation here: Moyne Templetuohy GAA John Hassett Presentation