Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone

energy efficient in your home can make a very
Some of the challenges facing all of us
The world is facing enormous energy challenges – not
least the fact that global demand for energy is expected
to rise by as much as 50% in the next 25 years.
significant impact on improving the environment. For
Project partners
a more detailed listing of changes that can be made
The Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone project is coordinated by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).
refer to www.sei.ie.
Other companies and organisations actively involved in the Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone project include:
The main sources of renewable energy are the sun
(solar power), the wind, moving water (hydropower,
This is a challenge that faces everyone living in Dundalk
wave and tidal energy), heat below the surface of the
and in Ireland as much as it is a challenge for a person
earth (geothermal energy), biomass (wood chip,
living in any other country in the world. The demand
for energy is increasing on a global level whilst
simultaneously many of the world’s major oil and gas
fields are maturing.
Visionary leaders are finding exciting new ways to
confront these challenges, and in Dundalk we can
contribute to this world vision.
wood pellets and energy crops such as willow) and
renewable sources of transport fuels such as
biodiesel.
Unlike fossil fuels such as oil, gas, coal and peat,
which will eventually run out, renewable sources
such as the wind, the sun, rivers and oceans are
sustainable resources and will never be exhausted.
What do we mean by
‘sustainable energy’?
Even better, renewable energy sources do not
contribute to climate change.
Centre for Renewable Energy (DkIT)
Industrial Development Agency Ireland (IDA)
Dundalk Town Council
Newry & Mourne District Council
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT)
Dundalk Chamber of Commerce
Enterprise Ireland
ESB Networks
Oriel Wind Farm Ltd
Property developers
– Adston Ltd., Carlinn Hall - Mullaharlin Road
– Bennett Construction - Greenpark
Teagasc
Heinz Frozen Foods
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
HSE – Louth County Hospital
Ice Dome
Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone
Louth County Council
ESB Customer Supply
Finnabair Industrial Estate
Living and working in
Department of Communication, Energy & Natural Resources
Department of Education and Science
Xerox Corporation
How do energy efficiency and renewable energy
Sustainable energy enables us to meet today’s energy
contribute to sustainability? By reducing the
One small step can make a huge difference to the environment. The partners in the Dundalk Sustainable Energy
needs – heating buildings, fuelling transport, using
consumption of fossil fuels, we can extend their
Zone project are taking some of the steps necessary to reduce their carbon footprint, but they need the help of
electricity – without compromising the ability of future
availability for longer. We can also reduce the likely
every citizen in Dundalk to get the rest of the way.
generations to meet their energy needs. The use of
sustainable energy is important to help in combatting
global warming.
impacts of global climate change and thereby
contribute to sustainability.
Interested in learning more?
All of us can choose to take the sustainable energy
The Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone is a dynamic and progressive project, which is currently happening. We
approach by being more efficient in how we use energy
are open to adding new and innovative projects to our portfolio. To find out more on the Dundalk Sustainable
in our daily lives, and by increasing the amount of energy
that we get from renewable sources.
What do we mean by Global Warming? Global warming
is also referred to as climate change. Put simply, through
the use of energy we produce greenhouse gases, such as
carbon dioxide, and these gases trap the sun’s heat and
this causes a rise in global temperature. Each person
contributes to global warming through the amount of
energy that we use throughout our daily lives.
What are the advantages of
sustainable energy?
Being sustainable in how you use energy creates
many benefits:
You save money on your electricity and heating
bills.
Energy Zone project, get in touch with:
leading Ireland towards a sustainable
energy future
Aideen O’Hora
Sustainable Energy Ireland
t
+353 (0) 42 939 1517
Finnabair Business Park
e
[email protected]
Dundalk, Co Louth
w
www.sei.ie/dundalk2020
Your home will be more comfortable.
You will be making a vital contribution to
reducing climate change.
What do we mean by ‘energy
efficiency’ and ‘renewable sources’?
Energy efficiency is about using energy wisely. Believe it
or not, the small actions that you take to become more
SEI is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007 – 2013 with programmes part financed by the European Union
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Sustainable living is the foundation of a thriving, vibrant and healthy community.
The EU and SEI chose Dundalk because they believe that it will be a role model for towns and communities
everywhere. They also believe that it can provide the kind of leadership that will inspire others to take similar
actions – first in the region surrounding Dundalk and across the border in Newry and, later, throughout the
island of Ireland. The proposed elements of this inspirational energy efficiency project include:
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Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone
Hospital
Residential
Industrial
Retail/Commercial/Leisure
Educational
Existing low-income housing to
be refurbished to bring homes in
line with energy requirements of
a conventional home.
Newly built homes – built to SEI
“House of Tomorrow” (HOT)
standard, which is 40% more energy
efficient than a conventional home.
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Working
with local
schools
within the
zone.
New street lights powered
by a combination of solar
panels and micro wind
turbines.
A boiler plant fuelled
by locally sourced
woodchip – providing
heating and hot
water for homes and
businesses
What is the ‘Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone’?
Dundalk is a global leader through its
development of the Dundalk Sustainable
Energy Zone project. Dundalk is setting out to
provide a showcase of some of the innovative
technologies, policies and practices that will be
needed in order to develop sustainable energy
communities in Ireland and elsewhere. Over
the next four years, we will be installing
innovative energy-efficiency technologies in a
wide range of buildings across the Dundalk
Sustainable Energy Zone. The zone is a foursquare kilometre area, stretching from the
Hospital and Hoey’s Lane to the Fairways Hotel,
and from Blackrock Road to Mullagharlin Road.
Dundalk is leading this flagship project with
The Targets
communities in Mödling (Austria) and
Neuchâtel (Switzerland). It is aimed at showing
other towns and cities across Europe how to use
different energy technologies and techniques in
an intelligent and integrated way. The EU
Commission selected this project as only one of
nine exceptional projects to support.
Increasing energy efficiency and increasing the
proportion of electricity and heat from
renewable sources, will reduce the carbon
dioxide emissions from the Dundalk Sustainable
Energy Zone by 10,000 tonnes every year from
2010.
In Dundalk, the main focus will be on the
technologies and behavioural changes that
deliver the most efficient use of energy. The
project will also involve research programmes
such as the innovative use of renewable
technologies, as well as research on the
development
of
sustainable
transport
initiatives.
By 2010 the Dundalk Sustainable Energy Zone
will work towards achieving the following
targets:
Energy efficiency in selected residential,
industrial and commercial buildings in the
Zone, will have improved by up to 40%.
At least 20% of all energy used to heat
homes and businesses within the Zone will be
generated by renewable sources.
At least 20% of all electricity used by
businesses within the Zone will be generated
by renewable sources.
The targets set for the Dundalk Sustainable
Energy Zone significantly contribute towards
Ireland meeting its national targets, as set out
in the Government’s White Paper on Energy.
A new wind turbine –
generating renewable
electricity for industry in
the Zone
The use of advanced meters in
homes
–
allows
greater
understanding of energy use and
potential savings in the home.
Working with local
industry on innovative
projects.
These technologies are designed to:
Deliver energy cost savings for you, the consumer.
Provide significant improvements in energy performance in homes, offices, factories, colleges, leisure and
shopping facilities, hospitals and other public buildings.
Reduce our dependence on foreign imports of oil, coal and gas.
Produce more locally generated heat and electricity from renewable resources.
Manage our energy supplies more effectively.
Benefit the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which is the main greenhouse gas that
contributes to global warming.