Energy Campaigns/Events

Behaviour change energy-saving campaigns

Reduce Your Use Campaigns

We're taking part in the Government’s Reduce Your Use energy efficiency campaign and we need your help.

The Public Sector has been challenged to take a leading role in reducing our nation’s energy demand due to the current energy crisis. It is expected that this campaign can deliver 5-10% energy savings overall across the sector, and up to 15% in buildings.

The Reduce Your Use energy efficiency campaign is an effective way to assist with increasing our energy security, lowering energy bills and meeting our targets relating to climate change.

Our Energy Team is taking the lead in this campaign and will be promoting a weekly energy saving action for you to take at work. Our energy team will also suggest energy saving ideas for you to try at home. The campaign starts in earnest next week, as part of Energy Efficiency Week. 

I encourage you to take part in the energy saving exercises and any planned activities over the challenging winter months ahead. If you can, please also join the short weekly webinar on Wednesdays or view the recordings to explore energy saving actions for the workplace and for your home.

Reduce Your Use Staff & Student Event

Staff & Students Energy Expo 2023

University of Galway were delighted to welcome over 26 Exhibitors to the Energy Expo.

The exhibitors covered everything from Government bodies represented by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) who guided visitors through grants, new guidelines on energy saving products. They also highlighted the work that Sustainable Energy Communities do as part of the journey in your local area to reduce energy.

SEAI schools were also in attendance with Guzzler the mascot, free storybooks on Guzzlers journey to reduce energy.

Office of Public Works (OPW) presented on the #ReduceYourUse campaign and how we can reduce energy at Home, Work and in our community.

Kore Retrofit represented one of the recently announced government One Stop Shops and they also linked in with CLÁR ÉIFEACHTACHT FUINNIMH to discuss the collaboration between University of Galway, Kore and SEAI around Better Energy Grants.

Electric Ireland discussed their initiative to Beat The Peak as part of the government Reduce Your Use campaign.

University of Galway's Energy Team, Green Campus, CUSP and My Green Lab outlined all the great work on campus, linking in with Societies to present some great initiatives going on.

We had Western Motors displaying some EV cars and displayed our own EV Vans on campus. We had numerous suppliers of Heat Pumps, controls, heating, insulation, ventilation, lighting and specialist controls on display as well as Solar PV panels.

Chadwick’s brought along their whole house display of all the new technologies and insulation required to upgrade your home.

There were 2 guided Living Lab tours which included the new Heat Pump in Áras De Brún, Lighting upgrades in Labs, Arts Science Main boiler house and NO 9. Distillery Road.

SEAI Energy Team 2019

The University of Galway Energy team won the SEAI 2019 Energy team award, picture shows the presentation of the award to President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh .

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) recently announced the winners of its 2019 Energy Awards at a gala event which saw NUI Galway take away the top prize for Energy Team of the Year.

The University of Galway has set its sights on the campus being one of the greenest universities in the world. They impressed judges with their inclusive and long-term approach to energy management. As part of its strategy, it created a Green Campus Charter, encouraging and providing tools to students and staff on how they can reduce energy use on campus and in their homes. Already at 36% energy reduction, the University of Galway continues to work towards its ambitious target of a 40% energy reduction by 2020.

Congratulating all the finalists and award winners, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, said: “How we respond to the challenge of climate disruption will define us as a generation. These awards are a good opportunity to highlight those taking leadership and managing their energy use in a more sustainable way.

Julie O’Neill, chair of SEAI, said: “The 134-plus entrants in this year’s awards have made energy savings of €38 million. The continued efforts and outstanding ambition of this year’s finalists is to be commended.”

SEAI Energy in Buildings Winner 2023

The University of Galway Energy team won the SEAIEnergy in Buildings Award 2023 team award, picture shows the presentation of the award to President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh .

The Áras de Brún Building was constructed in 1960 and is a 3 – 4 storey with a floor area of 2,426 M². The building is a standalone concrete post and beam construction with extensive glazing to the East and West Facades. There are 887 m.2 of office space, 801 m.2 of teaching spaces, 719 m.2 of laboratory space, and 19 m.2 of general storage area. 

Each floor has a central, extra-wide corridor, each room has windows at a high level opening onto the corridors that are an integral aspect of the natural cross-flow ventilation system.

A major window and roof refurbishment took place in 2014. All the main glazing systems to the East, West and Southerly aspects were upgraded to double glazing with spacers and metal frames. Additionally, the roof was comprehensively upgraded in 2013. that included the addition of roof insulation, coupled with a weatherproof membrane system.

Identify main areas of expenditure and specific costs related to the sustainable energy element of the building. (optional)

The project costings were developed by the Design team with project estimates of €620,000.00 plus VAT, funding was supported 50/50 by the HEA/SEAI and the University of Galway. The University utilises a ‘Green’ Procurement Procedure that is focused on the achievement of best value over the operating lifetime of a project. The procurement selection process includes a stipulation that a life cycle assessment will be carried out prior to purchasing or signing a contract to procure new capital projects, new plant & equipment and carrying out retrofit projects.

The following technologies are installed.

1.) Air to Water Heat Pump using a Bluebox Zeta by Swegon.

2.) Re-engineering of the heating distribution system, using effective heat emitters, central time, and temperature controls & room stats

3.) Installation of a 50 kWp East-West ballast and roof top solar photovoltaic system,

4.) Lighting configurations have been upgraded to LEDs with presence and daylight‐controlled systems.

In submitting the Áras de Brún project for this award, the Energy team at the University of Galway are proud of this project. The project team and contractors worked closely to produce a “Living Lab in Action” project and research tool which will encourage students to carry out research in decarbonisation. The strategy of using a Bivalent buffer vessel to control the hydraulic flow in the system whilst integrating new and existing technologies shows that all buildings can be decarbonised.

As project lead, I’m very happy to demonstrate this project to visitors and explain the positives and negatives of retrofit heating and electrical systems, technologies such as Solar PV and Battery storage will allow projects meet demand outside of peak periods.

We are conscious of our place in the community and the responsibility to share our knowledge, we are an open campus and those wishing to learn from us are welcome.

1 Ton of Carbon 

The University of Galway need to reduce the Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 3500tonsCO2 by 2030. In September 2023 the energy team constructed a 1 Ton of CO2 structure to show the campus community the physical size of 1 Ton of Carbon.

The 8.3mx8.3x8.3m high structure was constructed in the center of the Quadrangle and all staff and students were invited to sign the Carbon pledge to try and reduce their carbon footprint on campus.

Videos from University of Galway Energy Team

• Nuala Ní Chonghaile in conversation with Michael Curran
• Building Management System.mp4
• Climate Action Week.mp4
• SEAI Pathfinder Project - Higher Education Authority (HEA).mp4
• Shots of Solar PV Panels on Campus.mp4
• Solar PV Panels.mp4
• University of Galway Energy Team.mp4

Community Engagement

University of Galway Strategy 2020 – 2025 outlines that we will scale sustainability successes beyond the campus by building sustainability partnerships with neighbouring communities, national bodies, and partners across Europe and the globe Clár Éifeachtacht Fuinnimh is to build an energy efficient community, based on the promotion and integration of renewable energy linking with energy efficiency technology and the long term goal of adopting to a low carbon foot print within the Gaeltacht.