NUI Galway has passed a milestone in energy savings that it set itself well ahead of schedule.
The university recently welcomed Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) CEO Jim Gannon to sign a Public Sector Energy Partnership Agreement on energy savings, committing to cutting emissions by 33 percent by 2020.
But NUIG said that it has already passed that target by achieving saving of 34 percent with the help of SEAI funding for LED lighting projects, solar photovoltaic, energy efficient mechanical plant and electric vehicle charging points around campus.
President of NUI Galway Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said that the university has taken a proactive stance on improving its energy efficiency since 2006.
He thanked all the staff and students who have helped NUIG exceed the energy savings target of 33 percent “through ongoing energy awareness campaigns and energy upgrade projects on campus”.
Rather than sitting on its ass now that it’s met that commitment, NUI Galway kept the 2020 deadline and pushed its goal further to 40 percent in savings.
President of SEAI Jim Gannon congratulated NUIG for showing “real leadership” in surpassing its targets and setting more ambitious goals.
“Collectively, our public sector energy bill remains at over €600 million,” he said.
“But through energy efficiency and upgrade projects over the past few years, like those demonstrated by NUI Galway, the public sector has made recurring annual energy savings of €191million.”
“We need to build on these successes as we look to not only reduce our consumption, but also move away from more carbon intensive energy sources.”
