SuperValu, Centra and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has announced that collectively the groups have contributed in the region of €350,000 to national charities; Enable Ireland and the Simon Community, as well as local clubs and community groups as a part of it retrofit programme.
This national retrofit programme upgrades store and community buildings and facilities to meet high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage.
The goal is to reduce energy costs, fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions every year, as well as improving the comfort of these homes and buildings.
“Awareness of energy and environmental issues is now more integral than ever, and in order to create and maintain sustainable communities, each and every one of us must play our part,” said John Randles, head of delivery with SEAI.
“We have an ongoing commitment to creating a sense of togetherness and energy reduction within our local communities and we firmly believe that this should begin in our own stores," added Daniel Murphy, sustainability manager for SuperValu and Centra.
“This brings businesses and the broader community together in a positive way that results in warmer and more energy efficient homes and buildings”.
This year Enable Ireland and the Simon Community, along with eight local charities from around the country, received a substantial investment of €353,000.
"We work incredibly hard to support Irish families living with disabilities, providing services such as clinical assessment, respite and family support, so such substantial annual savings as a result of this scheme will make a huge difference to our organisation," said Sinéad O’Keeffe, partnerships & philanthropy manager with Enable Ireland.
This investment has not only put money back into the pockets of these causes, but have also resulted in cosier and more comfortable conditions for those using these premises.
The SuperValu and Centre stores showcases energy efficient technologies in their own stores, such as installation of refrigeration cabinets with doors, plug in freezers, LED lighting upgrades and Solar PV roof panels.
These upgrades have resulted in these eight SuperValu and Centra stores recording estimated yearly energy savings of €172,100.
Enable Ireland and the Simon Community
Enable Ireland and the Simon Community were the chosen national charity partner for this Supervalu, Centra & SEAI project, spearheaded by Riordan’s SuperValu Fermoy, Donohoe’s SuperValu Ballinamore, Martin’s SuperValu Clonmel and Hickson’s Centra Piltown.
As a result of this scheme Enable Ireland, an organisation that provides services to children and adults with disabilities and their families, replaced the gas-fired system to six air-to-water heat pumps, as well as installing a new high-efficiency condensing gas boiler at their Sandymount Avenue location.
Three Simon Community buildings in Castleknock and Drimnagh, Dublin and Maynooth, Kildare, used their store and SEAI funding to install new attic and external wall insultation along with new boiler and heating controls.
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Maria Cabecos. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
