​Town Team Appoints ORS Energy Consultants

The ORS Team Darragh Prunty, Brian Collentine, Laurence O'Reilly, and Tracey Turner

The Town Team Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) in association with Galway County Council recently completed a procurement and evaluation process to appoint an Energy Consultant to begin their ambitious journey in transitioning to a low-carbon community.
 
ORS is a prominent Irish multidisciplinary building consultancy offering design, planning and management advice that is supported by expert guidance in energy efficiency. They have a team of highly skilled designers, consulting engineers, planners, scientists, and surveyors. 
 
ORS were chosen to work with Ballinasloe SEC to deliver an Energy Master Plan.

ORS Team member Laurence O’Reilly stated: “Over the coming months our team will work closely with Ballinasloe SEC and the wider community to develop an Energy Master Plan. The aim of the study is to develop a simple, understandable, and strategic roadmap for the community of Ballinasloe to become more sustainable, improve energy efficiency, and to reduce carbon emissions. Our team of Darragh Prunty, Tracey Turner and myself, led by Brian Collentine, will analyse how the community is currently using energy, and through community engagement, data analysis, and site inspections, identify projects and initiatives that the town  can implement to become greener and more self-sufficient”.
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This will include the identification of home and community retrofits, funding supports, highlight appropriate behavioural change programmes along with the identification of renewable energy technology potentials for the area.
 
Identifying energy savings is at the core of everything ORS do. They mentor and support SEC’s to address their energy use seeking out energy saving opportunities.
 
Considering energy costs are forecast to rise by 25% by 2030 the timing of this collaboration could not be better. Energy consumers must be empowered to play a more active role in low carbon transition. Measurement and targeting of energy use can result in 10 – 15% savings without any capital input. 
 
As a member of the EU, Ireland has committed to transitioning to a low carbon economy by the year 2050, and to becoming carbon-free by the year 2100. Globally there is a critical need to reduce carbon emissions to protect future generations.
 
The upcoming programme of works heralds a new era for the community which demonstrates a commitment to achieving a sustainable and energy efficient future. 
 
If you would like to join or even just help the sustainable energy journey please contact Anita Killeen at ballinasloetownteam@gmail.com

6 months analysis plan