Dublin City Council awarded Ireland’s first local authority Energy Performance Contract (EPC) project to Noel Lawler Green Energy Solutions. Working closely with the Dublin Energy Agency Codema, the project will save the council up to €100,000 on its energy and maintenance costs per year.
Dublin City Council awarded its first Energy Performance Contract (EPC) project to Noel Lawler Green Energy Solutions in July 2016, working closely with Dublin’s Energy Agency Codema in procuring this contract to upgrade three of its Sports and Fitness Facilities. The project was supported under the SEAI National Energy Services Framework, as well as the European project EESI2020, co-funded under H2020.
As leisure centres are typically high energy users, Dublin City Council decided to use an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) model to carry out upgrades to Ballymun, Finglas and Markievicz Sports and Fitness Centres, rather than carrying out these works using more traditional methods. An EPC is a contractual agreement by an Energy Service Company (ESCo) to guarantee energy savings over an agreed period of time. It differs from the traditional method of carrying out energy efficiency measures, as the ESCo must ensure that these energy savings are achieved, and cannot walk away from an unsatisfactory job.
After a rigorous procurement process, DCC awarded the contract to Noel Lawler Green Energy solutions; this contract is for 8 years and includes full maintenance of all equipment associated with the upgrades by the ESCo.
General informations
Location: Ballymun, Finglas & Markievicz Sports & Fitness Centres, Dublin
Results: 38% energy savings in the 1st year
Funding: Dublin City Council, SEAI, DCCAE
Example of upgrades: BMS Optimisation, CHP upgrades, LED upgrades
Year completed: 2016
Energy Measures
The energy upgrades at the three sports and fitness facilities were completed by the end of 2016 and included:
- Building Management System (BMS) optimisation
- CHP Overhaul and power modulation controls (Finglas) • New 110 kWh CHP and power modulation controls (Ballymun)
- Upgrade of lighting to LED and lighting controls
- New cooling strategy for Air Handling Units • Boiler plant replacement with high modulation boiler
- New controls for pool pumps