Neighbourhood Energy Clinics Deliver Personalised Home Energy Prescriptions to Portlaoise Householders
Portlaoise Residents benefit from free Neighbourhood Energy Clinics
Residents across Portlaoise have benefited from a series of free Neighbourhood Energy Clinics where householders received personalised home energy prescriptions to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy bills and identify suitable retrofit supports.
Organised by Laois County Council’s Climate Action Team, the Energy Clinics visited estates throughout Portlaoise, including Esker Hills, Wood Grove, Kylebrook, Cherrygarth, The Hermitage, Marian Avenue, Fairgreen and Kilminchy.
The clinics brought independent qualified energy experts directly into local neighbourhoods, providing residents with free, independent, one-to-one advice on home energy upgrades. Topics discussed included attic and wall insulation, heating system improvements, solar PV installations, ventilation, and the steps involved in carrying out a home energy retrofit.
Laois Civil Defence kindly provided its communications van, enabling the Neighbourhood Energy Clinics to travel directly to residential estates across Portlaoise and offer residents accessible advice in their own communities.
Using the innovative RetroKit digital assessment tool, specialists combined each home’s Building Energy Rating (BER), where available, with other information about the property to generate a personalised home energy prescription. Each prescription set out the retrofit measures best suited to the home, relevant SEAI grant supports and practical steps to improve comfort, reduce energy costs and lower environmental impact.
Residents also received practical information on the various SEAI grants and supports available to help offset the cost of energy upgrades, making retrofit projects more accessible and affordable.
In addition, People First Credit Union attended the clinics, providing information on its range of green loan products and financing options available to homeowners considering energy efficiency improvements. This gave residents an opportunity to learn about both grant supports and funding options that can assist with retrofit projects.
Yuno Energy also attended the clinics and provided residents with practical energy-saving tips to help reduce household energy use and costs.
Laurence O’Reilly, SEC Mentor, SEAI was also on hand to provide residents with advice on the SEAI grants and supports available for home energy upgrades.
Strong local interest in the clinics reflected growing demand for trusted, practical information on reducing household energy use and costs while improving home comfort. The personalised home energy prescriptions gave householders clear advice based on the characteristics and needs of their own homes.
Anne Lennon, Climate Action Officer with Laois County Council, said: “Bringing the clinics directly into neighbourhoods made it easier for residents to access trusted, independent advice and ask questions about the options best suited to their homes.”
Kevin Manning, Energy Engineer with Laois County Council, said: “Every home is different. By bringing together the home’s BER, where available, and other property information through RetroKit, we could provide residents with a personalised home energy prescription. This gave each household a clearer view of the retrofit measures, grant supports and next steps most relevant to their home.”
Through the Neighbourhood Energy Clinics and personalised home energy prescriptions, Laois County Council is supporting residents to make informed improvements that can reduce carbon emissions and create warmer, healthier and more sustainable homes.