Laois council wants to be the champion of energy use in Ireland

A new energy awareness campaign is underway in County Hall Portlaoise which Laois County Council hopes will build on work already done on climate action that has included planting 10,000 trees in Portlaoise. 

The local authority's new energy awareness campaign is called Positive Energy. The council says the aims is to encourage its staff to embrace sustainable practices and build on the achievements in energy efficiency.

Under the campaign, the Council says it will focus on safeguarding and further advancing its 59% improvement in the energy efficiency of operations. A statement says it has already reduced overall emissions by 1,650 tonnes of CO2.

To maintain this momentum, John Mulholland, Chief Executive, says planning is well underway to get the resources needed to transform its infrastructure. He is also encouraging staff to support and contribute to the ambitious climate action goals at every opportunity.

A council statement highlighted what it says is significant progress in various areas: 

• Recycling: The recycling rate for 2022 stands at 61%.  
• IT: The council has replaced 276 PCs with laptops. 
• Less Paper: Print volumes have been reduced by 21% since 2019. 
• Public Lights: 67.8% of public lights have been retrofitted with energy-efficient LEDs. 
• Housing: In 2022, 169 social housing units were retrofitted.  
• County Hall: Participating in the Optimising Power @ Work initiative since 2014, saving of 381,051kWh. 
• Reduce Your Use Campaign: The campaign has achieved an outstanding overall reduction of 26.8% compared to 2019, surpassing the 15% target. 
• Active Travel: Initiatives include the installation of 34 bicycle stands throughout Portlaoise town center, the development of local transport plans for several towns, and the installation of 2400m of footpaths and cycle tracks in 2022. 
• Portlaoise Low Carbon Town Project: A multitude of environmentally friendly initiatives have been undertaken, such as planting 200,000 bulbs, 10,000 trees, and creating pollinator-friendly roundabouts. Additionally, energy-saving LED street lighting, EV chargers, and compactor solar bins have been installed.
• Fleet: Fuel consumption has been reduced by 8% in 2022, contributing to significant emissions reductions.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, was proud of council's accomplishments and the dedication of staff.

"We have consistently led the way in energy efficiency improvements, and these achievements demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable future. Through the 'Positive Energy' campaign, we are empowering Laois County Council staff to continue driving positive change and inspiring others to follow suit," he said.

Suzanne Dempsey, Climate Action Coordinator, emphasised the importance of the "Positive Energy" campaign in engaging staff members. 

"By harnessing the collective power of our employees, we can accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future. The 'Positive Energy' campaign provides a platform for staff members to actively contribute and make a real difference in reducing our environmental impact. Through awareness, education, and collaborative efforts, we can inspire positive change within our organization and inspire others to follow suit.

"Together, we can create a culture of sustainability and lead by example, setting the standard for other local authorities and organizations. I am excited to see the enthusiasm and dedication of our staff as we work towards a greener and more energy-efficient Laois," she said.

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Laois County Council claims it leads the way among local authorities in terms of energy efficiency improvements, as highlighted in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) figures published in 2022.