Positive Energy

Laois County Council is proud to announce the launch of its new energy awareness campaign, “Positive Energy,” aimed at encouraging its internal staff to embrace sustainable practices and build on the council’s remarkable achievements in energy efficiency.

According to statistics released in 2022 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Laois County Council is now leading the way among local authorities in terms of energy efficiency measures. 

What is the "Positive Energy" programme?

In July 2023, the council launched a new energy awareness programme called "Positive Energy" with the goal of inspiring its internal workforce to adopt sustainable practices and improve on its impressive record of energy efficiency. 

Laois County Council's effort will concentrate on maintaining and expanding upon its remarkable 59% increase in the energy efficiency of Council operations. Compared to the baseline measurement, the council has already significantly decreased its overall emissions by 1,650 tonnes of CO2.

You're NO PRINTS Charming Image with a crown

The council is aware of the difficulties in electrifying its fleet of vehicles and switching to renewable heating sources in order to keep up this momentum.  According to John Mulholland, former Chief Executive of Laois County Council, planning is well advanced, and the council is dedicated to obtaining the required funds to modernise its infrastructure.

Every employee is urged to support and participate in the bold climate action goals whenever possible.

The former Cathaoirleach of the Laois County Council, Paschal McEvoy, highlighted the council's successes thus far and expressed his delight in the staff's dedication.  According to him, "We have constantly led the way in enhancing energy efficiency, and these successes show our dedication to a sustainable future."

We are enabling Laois County Council employees to keep promoting good change and encouraging others to do the same through the "Positive Energy" initiative.

What improvements have been made?

The Laois County Council has made notable advancements in a number of sectors, including:

Recycling

An astounding 61% of waste will be recycled in 2022.

Information technology

  • By swapping out 276 PCs for laptops, the council was able to save energy that is comparable to doing the same amount of laundry or using a tumble dryer nonstop for 2000 days.
  • Less paper: Since 2019, print volumes have decreased by 21%. 

Public lighting

Energy-efficient LED retrofits have been installed in 67.8% of public lighting. 

Housing

169 social housing units underwent retrofitting in 2022, which significantly increased their energy efficiency.

County hall

  • Since joining the Optimising Power @ Work programme in 2014, the Laois County Council has saved 381,051kWh, which is comparable to the annual energy use of 25 households or the carbon offset of 343 acres of forest.
  • Initiative to Reduce Your Use: The initiative has surpassed the 15% target and produced an amazing overall reduction of 26.8% when compared to 2019. 

Active transportation

  • Projects include the construction of 34 custom bike stations for the Portlaoise town centre, the creation of local transportation plans for multiple towns, and the installation of 2400 metres of cycle and walkways by 2022.
    The Low Carbon Town Project at Portlaoise: Numerous eco-friendly projects have been started, including the planting of 10,000 trees, 200,000 bulbs, and pollinator-friendly roundabouts. Furthermore, EV chargers, LED street lighting that uses less energy, and solar bins.
  • Fleet: In 2022, fuel usage decreased by 8%, which resulted in notable emissions savings. 


The Coordinator for Climate Action, Suzanne Dempsey, underlined the value of the "Positive Energy" programme in involving internal personnel. "By utilising our employees' combined strength, we can expedite the shift towards a more sustainable future," she declared.