Cox’s Demesne energy-saving project set for European awards

The Cox’s Demesne Regeneration Project which has seen major energy efficiency works carried out on 573 homes in Dundalk was awarded the ‘Best Energy Smart Initiative by a Local Authority’ at the 2014 Community & Council Awards presented by LAMA, the Local Authority Members Association last weekend and now advances to the European finals.

The first phase of the regeneration project saw Dundalk Town Council take on Ireland’s biggest energy efficiency retrofit to date.

Working alongside Electric Ireland and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), €3.3m was invested in energy efficient insulation, boiler installations, draught proofing and the installation of heating controls in the Cox’s Demesne houses.

All this work was carried out free of charge to the residents concerned. The second phase of the Regeneration Scheme now consists of the Ashling Park pilot project, which is looking at improving existing Council housing stock as well as the local physical environment.

The Cox’s Demesne project will now proceed to the prestigious European Finale of the Ace Awards in the Netherlands in autumn. 

Edel Giltenane, Ace Executive Project Manager at awards sponsor Codema, said: “Cox’s Demesne Regeneration Project was selected for its creative approach and its potential as an exemplar project that can be replicated successfully by local authorities across Europe.”

Cox’s Demesne Regeneration Project will join the winners of preliminary rounds in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the UK at the finale of the Ace Awards.

The award for Best Energy Smart Initiative was presented at a special Community & Council Awards night held by LAMA in the Crowne Plaza, Santry and was hosted by RTÉ presenter Miriam O’Callaghan.

Welcoming the award, Dave Storey, Senior Executive Officer, this week said it was heartening to see recognition for Dundalk’s involvement in a pioneering project.

“A retrofit on this scale had never been carried out in the country until Dundalk Town Council put the wheels in motion and we knew that other authorities around the country were looking on our project as a national pilot scheme.

“We are delighted to receive this award as it shows that others have recognised the immense work that went into offering our residents free energy efficiency upgrades which they will reap the benefits from for many years to come.”

 

Two Dundalk projects shortlisted for LAMA awards

Two Dundalk projects have been shortlisted in the 2014 LAMA (Local Authorities Members Association) Community & Council Awards.

The Cox’s Demesne Regeneration Project has been shortlisted in the category for the Best Energy Smart Initiative by a local authority while Dundalk BIDS and Tourism Office are finalists in the Best Tourism Initiative category.

The Cox’s Demesne Regeneration Project has, to date, seen close to 2,000 residents benefit from Ireland’s biggest energy efficiency retrofit. Over an 18-month period, Dundalk Town Council along with Electric Ireland and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) invested €3.3m on works including energy efficient insulation, boiler installations, draught proofing and the installation of heating controls in 573 houses in Cox’s Demesne.

The work was carried out free of charge to all the residents concerned.

The retrofit marked the first phase of the regeneration project. The second phase consists of the Ashling Park pilot project, looking at improving existing council housing stock as well as the local physical environment.

Only days after securing another five years of Dundalk BIDS (Business Investment District Scheme) following a ratepayers ballot and the support of Dundalk town councillors, BIDS along with the Tourism Office has been nominated in the Best Tourism Initiative category.

Dundalk BIDs was instrumental in securing the return of the Tourism Office to the Market Square in 2012. In the year since, the Office has been extremely popular with visitors to Dundalk and the surrounding areas, providing a vital information hub and also increasing visitor footfall in the town centre.

Both BIDS and the Dundalk Tourism Office are strongly involved in many projects held throughout the year in Dundalk.

Speaking on the success of both projects in reaching the finals, Dave Storey, Senior Executive Officer with Dundalk Town Council said: “The LAMA Community & Council Awards is a very highly regarded awards scheme which highlights excellence in various projects throughout the country.
 
“Both the Cox’s Demesne Retrofit Scheme and Dundalk BIDS are pioneering projects on a national scale and it is good to know that the LAMA adjudicators are acknowledging this by placing the two initiatives on their respective shortlists.
 
“Hopefully we can bring home the top awards in January.”
 
RTE celebrity Miriam O’Callaghan will host the LAMA Community & Council Awards on Saturday, January 25 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.