Sustainable Energy Communities: What are they and how are they achieved?

The concept of a sustainable community is difficult to unpack in a single sentence. It tends to encompass more than just environmental awareness and takes into account the broader issues faced by societies all over the world. The Institute for Sustainable Communities describes it as one that ‘manages its human, natural, and financial capital to meet current needs while ensuring that adequate resources are available for future generations’.

In this article, we’ll only have time to address solutions to a single aspect of this concept: how to begin implementing a sustainable energy plan in your community.

In the past, communities have primarily responded to calls for sustainability and environmental cleanliness in reactive ways, with action groups targeting the scourge of littering, supporting recycling initiatives and petitioning for greenways. For a long time, these noble pursuits were the most practical and sometimes only way of carrying out an environmental program in a town, often due to lack of funding or realistic alternatives.

Gradually, new technologies have emerged along with much-needed grants and a surge in local interest for change. This combination has allowed communities to become more proactive in their approach to looking after the environment. It’s also provided people with a clearer picture of what environmentalism is all about — that it doesn’t always have to revolve around personal sacrifice or supporting abstract schemes that don’t provide tangible results.

It’s impossible for many communities in Ireland, particularly those in rural areas, to resolve in one go all of the challenges they face — which currently includes a health crisis coupled with economic strain. But there are some positive initiatives that we can focus our energies on while we’re confined to our homes and dreaming about a brighter future.

A good place to start is by (virtually) setting up a community action group that will focus on promoting sustainable living and renewable energies in your town or village. Read The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) guide on how and why to start an energy community. 

An example of this is Sustainable Clonakilty: a group that was set up in 2006 with a view of reducing the town's carbon footprint by 2020. They aimed to 'give a stable and predictable energy supply to the town at stable prices, retain money spent on energy in the local economy, create employment, encourage eco-tourism and (see) environmental benefits.' They implemented this by breaking their group into factions that focussed on promotional events like the Green Energy Fair, a local food production group, and 'Clonergy 2020' which promoted the use of renewable energy in the town and surrounding area. 

They received close to €80,000 in funding from the SEAI, under the Better Energy Communities grant. The grant is provided to community groups and projects that are actively working towards sustainability goals. Successful applicants could receive for their town: 

• Building Fabric Upgrades
• Technology and System upgrades
• Integration of Control Systems
• Integration of renewable energy sources
• Domestic Combined Fabric Upgrade
• Single Building Demonstration projects will be considered under the Communities Grant.

With the help of the grant, and in collaboration with local business NCE Insulation, Sustainable Clonakilty established 'the first community bicycle scheme in a rural environment in Ireland.' They were also able to carry out energy upgrades 'to a variety of public and private buildings including Clonakilty Rugby Club, Richy’s Cafe & Bistro & Fernhill House Hotel.'

Applications for the Better Energy Communities grant are currently open until January 29th, 2021. For more on how to set up and fund your energy community, visit the SEAI website.