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Launching the Optimising Power @Work programme at Kerry County Buildings on Thursday, front l-r: Tim McSwiney (Senior Executive Engineer, KCC), Sandy McSwiney (Energy Officer, KCC), Moira Murrell (Chief Executive, KCC), Bronagh Sherlock (Office of Public Works). Back l-r: Charlie O’Sullivan (Director of Services, KCC), Alan Cooke (Aramark Consultants), Caimin Barrett (Aramark Consultants), Gerry Riordan (Senior Engineer).
A NEW nationwide programme aimed at reducing energy consumption in public buildings across Ireland is being rolled out at Kerry County Council’s headquarters at County Buildings in Tralee.
The Optimising Power at Work (OP@W) Programme which is run by the Office of Public Worksaims to change staff behaviour in relation to energy use and eliminate energy wastage within public buildings.
Kerry County Council is the latest local authority to embrace the programme and has launched a number of initiatives aimed at achieving a one-third reduction in its energy consumption across Kerry County Council by 2020, a commitment made by all public sector bodies.
The OP@W campaign, which began in 2008, has successfully created and maintained staff energy awareness regarding energy usage, conservation and wastage in public buildings. It originally targeted central government buildings but has since expanded into the wider public sector. Its core principle is the encouragement of behavioural change with the aim of identifying and eliminating wastage.
In practical terms, the rollout of the programme in County Buildings will involve:
• The installation of meters which record energy usage across a number of different parts of the building which will allow data to be collected and energy consumption measures to be taken as a result
• An energy awareness day for staff, which took place on Thursday, and which was hosted by specialist energy consultants, Aramark
• The formation of an Energy Team comprising an ‘Energy Champion’ in all sections and business units of the council at County Buildings
• Promotional signage and postering in the building
• Audits of night-time energy consumption to help reduce consumption at night-time, e.g. computer monitors not being powered off etc.
Speaking at the launch of the programme at Kerry County Council on Thursday, Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell said: “Kerry County Council has been to the fore of the energy movement in Ireland since the formation of our Energy Section in 2001. The energy section has delivered many energy saving projects in conjunction with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and has been an exemplar local authority in this regard.”
“One such project is the implementation of an ISO 50001 certified Energy Management System which reinforces the organisation’s commitment to meeting our 2020 target of a 33% reduction in energy consumption. The Optimising Power @ Work campaign will provide staff with energy saving tips at home as well as at work. I look forward to its rollout across the organisation and wish the programme every success,” she said.
