Galway homes, businesses, farms and community organisations in funding are to benefit from €7.8 million in funding for energy efficiency projects.

The funding is provided by the Government through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s Better Energy Communities Scheme which supports energy efficiency projects involving communities across different counties.

In one of the larger grant allocations, €1.05 million will help fund energy efficiency improvements such as the installation of solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers, lighting upgrades as well as window and door replacements in several communities across Galway. Recipients include Ceantar na nOilean Teoranta, Údarás na Gaeltachta in Indreabhán, the Poor Clares, and multiple buildings in NUI Galway including the Arts Science Building and the Cairnes Building.

Other projects to receive support include student accommodation and the Bons Secours Hospital in the city and schools and farms in the county.

This funding of €7.8 million for projects including Galway will enable energy efficiency upgrades to homes, businesses, farms and community organisation buildings in the city and the county.

For several years now the Better Energy Communities Scheme has helped achieve both financial and environmental savings for communities across Galway.

The funding programme is also vital for the businesses in the construction and energy sectors and will be very welcome this year given the impact of the Covid-19 Coronavirus on our economy.

Of particular benefit this year is the awarding of €710,286 in grant funding as part of an overall project worth €2 million to carry out deep retrofit upgrades to 42 homes across Galway.

Given the scale of climate change and the measures needed, it is clear, however, that considerably more funding will be needed so that all households in Galway can benefit from the SEAI funding and carry out energy efficiency upgrades and retrofit projects as more climate action measures come into effect.