Crucial meeting held in Laois to tackle greenhouse gas emissions

A crucial meeting by the Midlands Energy Agency (MEA), a group established to reduce energy consumption among local authorities, including Laois County Council was held in Portlaoise this week. 

The Agency, which supports five Midland local authorities including Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, and Longford in managing and reducing their energy consumption in alignment with national targets, has reached a significant milestone in the SEAI Pathfinder Project.

 A meeting of the MEA Steering and Working Groups took place at the Council Chamber, Laois County Council, to facilitate an introductory session with Diarmuid Waters, Senior Project and Programme Manager at Rogerson Reddan, the appointed contractors for the MEA Pathfinder project.

 Attended by Padraig Brehony and Gerard Donnellan from the SEAI Pathfinder Team, this meeting signifies a pivotal moment in the journey towards achieving energy efficiency targets for local authorities in the Midlands. Specifically, 26 buildings will receive detailed Energy Reports aimed at maximizing the energy rating of structures with the highest energy consumption.

The Pathfinder Programme aims to accelerate the delivery of large-scale deep energy renovation projects in the non-domestic sector. The program focuses on supporting projects that will act as exemplars, demonstrating best practice in energy efficiency and renewable energy integration.

"Our mission at the Midlands Energy Agency is to empower each Midlands local authority to achieve a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030," stated Suzanne Dempsey, Energy Officer at Midland Energy Agency. 

"This meeting with Rogerson Reddan and the SEAI Pathfinder Team not only represents a significant step forward in the SEAI Pathfinder Programme but also reaffirms our unwavering commitment to driving sustainable energy practices across the Midlands."