Laois fan manufacturer wins on the double at SEAI Energy Awards

Installing fans to cool down was on everyone's minds in Laois and Ireland for the recent heatwave, and a local company has won twice for doing exactly that.

Portlaoise engineering firm Aubren has won two top awards at the 2025 SEAI Energy Show Awards.

Aubren is a leading innovator in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) retrofit solutions. It designs, manufactures, and delivers high-performance air management systems from its advanced facility in Portlaoise, Ireland. 

The company is a big Laois employer, with 73 staff. It is based in Portlaoise Business and Technology Park.

Their leadership team has accepted top honours, with Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit named both Best Energy Efficiency Product and also Overall Product of the Show at the 2025 SEAI Energy Show Lunch in SEAI HQ, Dublin, Ireland’s flagship event for energy innovation.

The company’s award winning EC Fan Retrofit Solution is developed to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of existing HVAC systems—claimed both the Best Energy Efficiency Award and the coveted Overall Product of the Show title, marking a significant milestone for the Portlaoise-based engineering firm. 

Aubren CEO Aubrey Nuzum at the awards ceremony.

Their retrofit solution was selected from a highly competitive field of entries.

Aubrey Nuzum is founder and CEO of Aubren.

“This recognition from SEAI is a tremendous honour and a validation of the incredible work our team has put into developing the EC Fan Retrofit Solution.

“At a time when energy efficiency and carbon reduction are not just business imperatives but societal ones, we’re proud
to be leading the charge,” he said.

Representing Aubren were Aubrey Nuzum (CEO), Michelle McEvoy, Thomas Grattan, and Martin Greene.

Aubren was officially presented with the awards during a formal ceremony held on July 10 at SEAI headquarters, 3 Park Place, Hatch Street, Dublin 2. 

The SEAI Energy Show is Ireland’s only multidisciplinary, all-inclusive business event for the energy sector.

The event was hosted by Tom Halpin, SEAI’s Head of Communications. The awards were presented by Margie McCarthy, SEAI Director of Research and Policy Insights. Also in attendance was Helena Buckley, SEAI Marketing and Communications Manager.

The SEAI Product of the Show Awards recognise innovation, technical excellence, and sustainable impact across the energy sector. Entries are rigorously assessed by a panel of independent experts.

Representatives from all seven winning categories in the 2025 SEAI awards.

Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit emerged as a standout in a competitive field, recognised for its ability to significantly reduce energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operational costs in aging HVAC infrastructure.

The retrofit solution replaces inefficient, belt-driven fans in Air Handling Units (AHUs) with advanced electronically commutated (EC) fan technology from  ebm-papst — delivering energy savings of up to 70% and enabling building-wide CO₂ reductions of up to 50%. This makes it an ideal solution for organisations committed to long-term energy conservation and sustainability targets.

The retrofit includes intelligent fan control and management systems that precisely regulate airflow and ensure fans operate only when needed, thereby minimising energy waste. In multi-fan configurations, redundant performance is built in—the system automatically compensates to maintain airflow if a fan fails, helping sustain peak efficiency.

Aubren say their advanced fan selection process ensures the optimal fan is chosen for each unique application, reducing over-specification and the need for excess spare parts, while simplifying maintenance. Smart performance monitoring and predictive maintenance tools help detect potential failures early, improving system reliability and reducing unplanned downtime.

It also features advanced propeller technology for improved air movement and acoustic control—creating a quieter, more comfortable indoor environment. The long-term durability of the retrofit extends AHU lifespan by 10–15 years, significantly cutting lifecycle costs and reducing the environmental impact of equipment replacement.

Tom Halpin is Head of Communications at SEAI.

“Congratulations to Aubren Ltd. on winning the SEAI Energy Show ‘Product of the Show’ award for their EC Retrofit Fan. This prestigious award recognises exceptional innovation, performance, and contribution to sustainability, setting new benchmarks in sustainable energy products or service.

“Innovation, new product development and cutting-edge technology is the lifeblood of any industry, particularly so in the energy sector. Thankfully, continued investment in R&D has seen a wave of pioneering products and systems come to the market” he said.

“We need people and organisations to continue to lead the charge. A decarbonised Ireland will mean warmer homes, cleaner air, cheaper and more secure energy, in a prosperous and resilient economy.”

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The judging panel say there were particularly impressed by the solution’s use of smart control technology, ease of integration, and potential to make a meaningful contribution to Ireland’s national sustainability goals. Its lifecycle benefits—including reduced equipment replacement, lower noise levels, and longer AHU lifespan—position it as a model retrofit solution for commercial and institutional buildings..

With its award-winning retrofit technology, Aubren continues to support clients in Ireland and internationally as they transition to more sustainable operations.