The Project
The Templeglantine Community Hall, or Halla Inse Ban, as it is known locally, was built by voluntary labour in 1974. By modern standards, the building was poorly insulated, had an inefficient heating system and leaked heat through its single glazed windows. An energy survey in 2009 revealed a Building Energy Rating of (F).
How has Airtricity’s Community Fund Contributed?
Airtricity’s Community Fund has helped to transform this once energy-wasting community hall into a vibrant, energy efficient local landmark. The hall, which is located 3km form Airtricity’s Tournafulla wind farm, first applied to Airtricity’s Community Fund in 2010, and since then, the group have received over €50,000 in Community Funding to help complete an energy retrofit of the local multi-purpose hall.
Christy Walsh, Templeglantine Muintire na Tire commented “Airtricity’s funding has helped us to revive the Templeglantine Community Hall to become an efficient landmark building for all to be proud of. The funding has been used to implement a variety of energy efficiency measures, including, a complete re-insulation of the building, high performance energy saving windows and upgrading of our lighting system to a more cost efficient model.”
How will Community Members Benefit?
Pat Buckley of Templeglantine Muintire na Tire said,“We estimate that around 500 people a week from the surrounding communities will directly benefit from the retrofit of the hall. The local National School will make use the new hall on a daily basis for events, sports clubs will benefit throughout the year and senior age groups will certainly find the hall much more inviting with a warmer and more comfortable temperature.”
Templeglantine Community Hall’s Transformation
- March 2010: Retrofit project begins
- November 2010: Templeglantine group make their 1st Community Fund application
- June 2011:Group awarded €47,000
- November 2012: Group make their 2nd Community Fund application
- February 2013: Group awarded €5,000
- June 2013: Halla Inse Ban open to the community
Retrofit Measures
- Lighting upgrade to a T5 fluorescent light
- Energy Management Action Plan
- High performance windows
- Attic and Wall Insulation
If you would like to find out more about each of the measures implemented, click on the link, which will take you to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s website.
Anne Reynolds, Airtricity’s Community Development Officer, commented:
“The retrofit at Halla Insa Ban, is a great example of how a community can benefit from having a wind farm in its vicinity. We’ve worked with the Templeglantine Community Group since 2009, offering guidance and advice on applications for funding.
“The results speak for themselves, the Community Fund has helped transform a building that was cold and expensive to run, into a modern and comfortable energy efficient community centre, with a significantly lower carbon footprint and reduced energy use running costs.”
Active Airtricity Community Funds in the area
Airtricity own and operate three wind farms in County Limerick, Tournafulla, Dromada and Rathcahill. In the last five years, Airtricity has invested more than €450,000 in funding to support local energy efficiency and sustainability projects for community groups in a 20km radius of each of its County Limerick wind farms. Airtricity will increase the size of its Limerick Community Fund later this year, when it adds the 34MW Athea wind farm to its wind farm portfolio.
Applying to Airtricity’s Community Fund
To find out more about Airtricity’s Community Fund, visit our website, where you’ll find further information on how to apply, as well as Community Fund project ideas and suggestions.