Energy Projects and Case Studies

The University of Galway have undertaken numerous projects to reduce the Energy and Carbon footprint, funding for these projects has come jointly from the university finances, savings in energy schemes and funding from SEAI and HEA.

The following list highlight some of the main achievements but is not exhaustive.

• University of Galway have reduced primary energy by 51.7% since our baseline in 2006.
• University of Galway Energy Team award SEAI Energy team 2019.
• Shortlisted for SEAI Awards four years in a row.
• Partnership agreements with CLÁR ÉIFEACHTACHT FUINNIMH.
• ISO 50001:2018 Monitoring and Reporting accredited in 2021, 12 years of certification to the ISO50001 standard.
• Enthusiastic Energy team conducting individual energy projects.
• 500kw SOLAR PV Installed on campus rooftops, a further 500kw scoped.
• 20 EV Car Charging Points around campus.
• 6500 LED lights installed throughout campus buildings.
• 1MW Wood Pellet Boilers serving Alice Perry and The Quadrangle.
• 19000 student energy engineers’ potential.
• Improved control strategies across older building stock, replacement of equipment that was no longer energy efficient, boilers, pumps, air handling units, fume cupboard fans, light fittings and electric motors.
• Collaboration with researchers and students on projects installed.
• Refurbishment of No 9 Distillery Road as exemplar building from G to A2 rating
• Innovation Energy Research funded by SEAI/H2020 allows innovative technologies/systems developed by researchers integrate into the campus fabric and systems with collaboration between teams. Examples of these are Geofit Thermal Heat Pump, HITTHEGAP, Wave and Wind research.
• 12 Days of Energy Christmas campaign, seasonal tips and advice at holidays to Switch Off and Save, Awareness campaigns are run regularly with the Student Unions, through `One Good Ideas’, Battle of the Dorms, Student Fairs.
• The CUSP group are the university sustainability team, and they interact with a number of bodies around Galway, ie Galway City and County Council, HSE and GMIT as examples. We are currently involved in preparing the GCC Decarbonisation plan.
• Purchase of Electric Vehicles for Library and Post room, further vehicles purchase to come in the next few years.
• Green Flag Campus (2019) and Green Park Flag (2020) by An Taisce, recertified 2022.
• In 2021 University of Galway were ranked 14th in World Universities for SDG 7: Energy, we have shown our capability that through our actions, awareness and hard work we can exceed the targets set.