Sustainable Energy Europe Annual Conference

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Sustainable Energy Europe Annual Conference 29th
November 2005 Round Table 6 Energy Weeks/ Days -
Can they Make the EU Citizen Aware of Sustainable
Energy Benefits? Local Energy Days
Ireland Presented by Geraldine A. Cusack (Meath
Energy Management Agency MEMA)
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Items of Introduction
Energy is EVERYBODYS business Meath Energy
Management Agency - County Meath, Ireland

• Context for Irish Energy The Message
• MEMA Programme
• Meath Energy Management Agency (MEMA)
• Energy Agency Networks
• Local Council Leadership
• Sustainable Energy Days/Weeks - Campaigns
  throughout the Year
• Learning Process for Successful Energy
  Programmes
• Key Focused Work Programmes
• Integrating Energy programmes with Environment
  Programmes
• Challenge Maintaining Momentum for Energy
  Work Programmes

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The Message Sustainable Energy is Investment
in our Future

• ENERGY CONSUMPTION
• Ireland is 89 dependent on imported energy
  sources (SEI April 2002).
• Irelands energy security and national security
  depends primarily on oil and gas from the Middle
  East, Russia, N. Africa, and some North Sea
  fossil fuels, and the energy products need to be
  transacted in U.S. dollars.
• Irelands population as an island lt 4million
  people and is extremely vulnerable to a volatile
  fossil fuel energy supply market and economic
  price shocks.
• Ireland needs to secure a sustainable,
  dependable energy future.

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The Message Ireland has over emitted its
allowable GHS limit from 13 to 31 in 2001

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Meath Energy Management Agency (MEMA)

• Started up July 2002 by Meath Co. Council with
  support from European Commission Directorate
  General for Energy and Transport under EU SAVEII
  programme - to promote sustainable energy
  initiatives in County Meath.
• Agency staff grew to 3 full-time professional
  scientists/engineers.
• Meath Energy Management Agency (MEMA) is one of
  15 energy agencies established throughout Ireland
  over the period 1995-2002.

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MEMA associates with National Energy Agency
networks

• Belfast Energy Agency
• Carlow/Kilkenny Energy Agency
• City of Dublin Energy management Agency
• Cork City Energy Agency
• Cork County Energy Agency
• Donegal Energy Action Team
• Galway Energy Agency Ltd
• Kerry Energy Agency
• Mayo Energy Agency
• Meath Energy Agency
• Tipperary Energy Agency Ltd
• Waterford Energy Bureau
• Wexford Energy Management Agency
• Western Regional Energy Agency
• Clare/Limerick Energy Agency
• (MEMA holds Chairperson position for 2005)

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Local Council Leadership throughEnergy Agency
Focus Areas (EU SAVEII Programme)
Promoting Rational Uses of Energy Renewable
Energy 1. Energy Info Dissemination (public)
2. Energy Management (council
operations) 3. Energy Education Programmes
(schools) 4. Sustainable Energy
Initiatives (county) 5. Energy
Policy Development (council) 6. Local
-Interntl Partners (SAVEII contract)

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Sustainable Energy Campaigns

• MESSAGE BETTER WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS
• County Council Engineers (energy management year
  round)
• Sustainable Energy Initiatives (council
  projects March - present)
• County Meath Schools (education programmes Sept
  - June)
• County Meath Citizens (information/advice year
  round)
• County Council Staff (energy tips for work and
  home holidays)
• National Energy Awareness Week (Sept annually
  linked Car Free Day)

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National Energy Awareness Week

• 3rd Week September annually and linked EU Car
  Free Day
• Promoted by Sustainable Energy Ireland (national
  energy agency)
• MEMA promoted local/regional energy programmes
  and target messages
• Council Management Dept Euro savings
• Council Environment Dept EU legislation
• Public tips to save Euro and protect
  Environment
• Schools energy is Fun and Exciting!
• Parents Walking Bus as a healthy alternative

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Energy Awareness Week Activities in Co. Meath

• Information Dissemination through
• Display Boards Libraries / Public Buildings
• Competitions - Libraries / Public Bldgs /
  Intranet Quiz
• RE Demonstrations County Hall (Wood Pellet
  Stove)
• Media Coverage Radio Quiz for Balloon Ride
• Car Free Day Walking Bus Launch by Govt
  Minister
• Promotions Free CFL bulbs in return for Home
  Energy Survey
• Information Evening Renewable Energy Lecture

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Council Operations Energy Management(
Invisible Costs)
PHASE 1 Evaluate energy performance of Meath Co.
Council operations
PHASE 2 Manage and monitor energy performance of
Meath Co. Council operations
PHASE 3 Control energy performance of Meath Co.
Council operations
Note 2003 to 2004 price increases Electricity
ESB increase 15 Electricity Airtricity
increase 9 Fuel increase 59
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Sustainable Energy Initiatives(Intelligent
Energy Knowledge Base)

• Feasibility Study Objective is to be
• Resource for schools education linking
  programmes and University ecology study field
  programmes.
• Starting point for community environment
  initiatives and network activities.
• Show-case example of Sustainable Energy and
  Building Design and Use.

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Energy Education Programmes (Influence through
Knowledge)

• Primary Secondary Schools Workshop and Field
  Study Programmes
• Workshops last 1.5hrs.
• Delivered to 35 schools since Sept 2003.
• Avg. number students 90 per day.
• Approx 3,5000 students have participated in
  the sessions.

• Promoting Walking Bus options to Primary
  Schools via
• Parent-teacher groups
• Green Schools Programmes and accreditation

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Learning Process for Success

• Get Energy Agency involved in National
  Associations be shown to represent the County
  Community. (AIEA)
• Enter Council energy projects for National
  /International Energy Awards etc County
  Community can take Pride in Sustainable Energy
  Achievements in THEIR County. (SEI Energy
  Awards managEnergy Best Practice Case Studies)
• MEMA leverages its public message on energy
  topics and its achievements for the Council and
  County throughout the National Energy Awareness
  Week.
• Competitions are very successful incentives
  for overall participation.
• Pfizer Science Bus is a novelty for students
  exciting, fun and interactive to learn the
  Science of Energy.

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Key Focused Work Programme
Get Everybody Involved and Target your Message
to your Audience! 1. Energy Info Dissemination
(public/ individuals / communities) 2. Energy
Management (council operation
engineers/management) 3. Energy Education
Programmes (schools) 4. Sustainable
Energy Initiatives (public authority reps and
politicians)

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Key Integrate Energy and Environment project
work in the Council
Holistic approach to Energy Energy
Environment are inextricably linked. Energy needs
to be one of basic considerations when starting
ANY project work. Energy is part of the
Strategic Policy Committee Agenda (Council
Environment and Roads Dept).

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Challenge Maintaining Enthusiasm Momentum

Promote energy awareness as - Saving money
energy efficient technology - Better Living /
Working habits and behaviour - Environmentally
responsible living options and choices - Smart
Investment in a future for independent choice
in sustainable /manageable living

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Energy Aware - Energy Efficient - Energy Wise

• website www.mema.ie
• Best Practice Case Studies
• http//www.managenergy.net/products/R1030.htm
• Meath Energy Management Agency (MEMA)
• Meath Co. Council Civic Offices
• 1-2 Killegland Square Upper
• Killegland Street
• Ashbourne
• Co. Meath
• Ireland
• Tel 00-353-(0)1-835-8019
• fax 00-353-(0)1-835-8019
• e memainfo_at_meathcoco.i.e
• Geraldine A. Cusack
• Energy Agency Programme Manager