Louth County Hall honoured with OPW Energy Reduction award

Louth County Council have been presented with an OPW ‘Energy Progress Award’ in recognition of a 30% energy reduction at County Hall Building in Dundalk, achieved as part of the Optimising Power@Work programme.

The local authority has been participating in the OPW’s Optimising Power@Work energy efficiency awareness campaign since 2016 with a focus on improving energy efficiency.

Due to the participation of staff and the implementation of improvement works which were recommended by the scheme, very significant energy savings have been achieved at County Hall.

The most recent monthly report, in September 2024, indicated that since joining the scheme Louth County Council have succeeded in reducing the amount of electricity used in County Hall by 18%, and heating gas consumption has been reduced by 38%. Compared to the base year of 2016 the carbon emissions over the last twelve months have reduced by 27%.

The figures demonstrate Louth County Council’s commitment to improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

Paul Tighe, Senior Engineer with the OPW said: “The OPW has developed and delivered a state-wide staff energy conservation programme, since 2008. The goals of Optimising Power@Work are to identify and eliminate energy waste. This is achieved through intensive engagement with staff to encourage behavioural change with regard to energy usage and by optimising building controls.”

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Mr. Tighe commended Louth County Council’s staff in implementing initiatives to achieve their energy reduction targets. 

The award was presented to Joe McGuinness, Temporary Chief Executive Louth County Council, at a ceremony in County Hall on Wednesday 23rd October 2024. 

Mr. McGuinness thanked Anita Watt and Declan Rajasingam from Aramark, the service provider for the OPW, for their advice which helped identify a number of key areas where energy was being wasted, enabling savings to be made.

He added: “This has happened during a time when we have more staff working in County Hall than ever before. I would like to commend the Energy and Facilities team and all the staff of Louth County Council, for their role in these improvements. Louth County Council will continue their ongoing efforts in County Hall and in other council buildings across the county, to become more efficient, reduce our emissions, leading the way in responding to the challenges of a changing climate.”