180 Degrees: Recent Episodes
180 Degrees
180 Degrees is a podcast series that looks at the energy choices we make when it comes to transport, our homes, business and technology.
For Season 3, we’re sharing stories from people across Ireland, working towards a cleaner energy future. We are talking about energy efficiency in the home, the motivations for investing in a large energy upgrade, and how to finance it.
We also discuss the switch to electric vehicles, Ireland’s charging infrastructure and how one EV owner converted to driving electric and hasn’t looked back!
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can reduce your carbon footprint, tune in to season 3 of 180 Degrees, starting 23rd September. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. And for more information, please visit seai.ie/podcast (https://www.seai.ie/podcast/) .
180 Degrees is brought to you by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and is supported by the Government of Ireland.
SEAI has announced a package of new and enhanced grants for homeowners across the country who are looking to benefit from home energy upgrades. In this bonus episode, Kim sits down with Tom Halpin, Head of Communications at SEAI, to get all the details on what this means and how the new grants will benefit homeowners all over Ireland.
You can find out all the details on the grants here
It’s the final episode of this season of House Warming! To wrap things up, Kim is back with Dermot Bannon, to look to the future. How will sustainability and energy efficiency change how we live, and what does the home of the future look like?
Finally then, in our last homeowner visit, Kim travels to Blanchardstown in Dublin to meet Wayne Kavanagh. He had been living in his house for around ten years before a chat with some neighbours led to him going down the road of a full energy upgrade.
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Wayne used the Churchfield Home Services, an SEAI registered One Stop Shop, to complete his upgrade.
Find out more here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
We are back this week with podcaster, broadcaster and sustainability influencer, Fionnuala Jones, who has been renovating the house she bought in Dublin. In this episode, Kim chats to her about her work in sustainability, upcycling, her design style and lots more.
Then it’s off to Portarlington to visit the home of Olof and Siobhan. They wanted a warm, comfortable and eco-friendly house and Kim talks to them about how their energy upgrade has enhanced their lives.
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Olof and Siobhan’s One Stop Shop was SSE Airtricity
Find out more here: http://www.seai.ie/TraditionalHomes
Interior designers and podcasters, Kate O’Driscoll and Jenny Sheahan, are back on the podcast this week. They are joined by SEAI’s Stephen Farrell to talk about traditional homes: houses with character and history, but plenty of challenges too. Stephen talks us through the Traditional Home Pilot Scheme, run by the SEAI, and there’s lots of advice for anyone living in an older home.
Kim then travels to Tipperary to meet Clifford Guest, who has renovated a beautiful 200-year-old home which has been in his family for six generations. Clifford tells Kim about his vision for the house and how he transformed the place.
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Clifford’s One Stop Shop was Kore Retrofit
Find out more here: http://www.seai.ie/TraditionalHomes
We're back with James Kavanagh, for more on his fabulous new home in Kilkenny. Kim sits down with James to dive deeper into his renovation plans, to chat about his “squishy Irish” design style, and to see how he envisions life in his new home.
Kim then travels to Sligo to meet Hilda O’Shea. She is in the middle of transforming her 300-year-old house into a warm, energy efficient haven for her growing family. It’s an ambitious project, and Kim gets a full tour of the build in progress, before sitting down for a chat.
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Hilda's One Stop Shop was Electric Ireland Superhomes
Find out more here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
On this week’s episode Kim is back chatting to building engineer and fountain of energy upgrade knowledge, Kieran McCarthy. He gives his advice on how to get the best value for money on your energy upgrades, as well as sharing his thoughts on sustainable living and what the home of the future will look like.
Kim then heads out to Cabinteely, in Dublin, to have a chat in Deirdre De Burca’s home. She took on a big renovation project to upgrade her mother’s former house, transforming it into a warm, comfy and energy efficient home.
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Deirdre's One Stop Shop was SSE Airtricity
Find out more here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
On this episode of House Warming, host Kim Buckley sits down with interior designers and podcasters Kate O’Driscoll and Jenny Sheahan. Kate and Jenny were both competitors on RTE’s Home of the Year, but they went from competitors to collaborators and now co-host the interiors podcast Rip It Up.
Kim gets the full story of how they both ended up working in interior design, despite starting out on very different career paths. They give us an insight into their award-winning homes, and what they’ve been up to since, and have plenty of great tips for anyone upgrading their home.
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Find out more here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
On this episode of House Warming, Kim Buckley is talking all things design and architecture, and who better than Dermot Bannon to get some top tips on upgrading your home. Kim chats to Dermot about everything from heat pumps and solar panels to his famous glass box extensions!
Kim then heads to Cork, to sit down with Jerome O’Donovan in his three-bedroom bungalow in Blackrock. With a deep retrofit he has brought his home to an A1 rating - as energy efficient as it’s possible to get a house! He tells Kim about what he’s learned from the experience and gives us a tour of his beautiful house.
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Find out more here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
For more information on Jerome's One Stop Shop, please visit https://www.envirobead.com/
On this episode of House Warming, Kim Buckley sits down with Leinster and Ireland rugby star Ryan Baird, and Kieran McCarthy, building engineer and regular on TV and radio.
Ryan has just bought a new house by the sea in Dublin, and has big plans for the design and energy upgrade of his home. He tells Kim about his vision for a house where he can cook and entertain, but can also switch off, connect with nature, and take a break from busy training schedules.
Meanwhile, Kieran has carried out extensive energy upgrades to his own house, as well as providing his expert advice to his clients and to the public on TV and radio. He chats to Kim about some of the common challenges and misconceptions around getting an energy upgrade. There is plenty of practical information for anyone interested in sustainable living and home renovation!
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Find out more here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
Ryan's One Stop Shop was Ohk Energy
Welcome back to House Warming, where Kim Buckley is getting an inside look at two Irish homes. Fionnuala Jones, or Fionnuala Jay to her online followers, is a podcaster, broadcaster and sustainability influencer. Tired of living in a series of cold and draughty apartments, she’s bought a house in Dublin and has been renovating it to create a warm, cozy, and energy efficient home .
Meanwhile, in Cork, Niamh Kent had also been renting and looking to buy. So, when she and her husband got the chance to buy the house they had been living in, they jumped at the chance to start on their own renovation project and home energy upgrade.
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Find out more here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
Niamh's One Stop Shop was Envirobead
We all know a home energy upgrade isn’t cheap and is one of the main barriers to homeowners carrying out retrofit work. The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme has been introduced to make a home energy upgrade more accessible and affordable for homeowners. The purpose of the government backed loan is to carry out home energy upgrade works that are also grant-aided through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). You can borrow from €5,000 to €75,000 for a term of up to 10 years.
Kim sat down with SEAI’s Roisin Mulligan and SBCI’s Orla Ní Cholmáin about how this loan helps to finance a home energy upgrade.
Find out more about the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme from the SEAI and SBCI.
Find out more about SEAI’s home grants here.
On this, the first episode of House Warming, host Kim Buckley sits down with two homeowners who’ve moved out of the city to renovate a house in the countryside. James Kavanagh – social media personality, entrepreneur, television presenter, and podcaster – is currently renovating his house in Kilkenny. If you’ve been following him online, you’ll have heard all about his renovation project, and he chats about what inspired the move out of Dublin, how he and his partner found the perfect house, and what their renovation plans are.
Kim also chats to Ellie Hagenau in her stunning cottage in rural Cork. They sit down in her living room, with views out over the fields, to talk about pink bedrooms, “cow TV” and transforming an old house it into a beautiful, energy efficient home.
You can check out Ellie's house and renovation journey on Youtube here. Ellie's One Stop Shop was Insulex
SEAI’s One Stop Shop service offers homeowners all that’s required for a complete home energy upgrade. These registered private operators will manage the entire process for you, from the initial assessment of your home, through to the final BER.
Find out more here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants
Welcome to Housewarming, a brand new series, brought to you by SEAI, all about helping you to make your home a warmer, more energy efficient, and beautiful place to live.
We travelled across Ireland to chat with homeowners about their energy upgrades, interiors and sustainable habits. And we have design tips from Home of the Year winners and expert builders, advice on grants, finance and planning, and renovation stories from the likes of James Kavanagh, Fionnuala Jay, Ryan Baird, and Dermot Bannon.
The evidence is clear. Climate change is happening. We need to pick up the pace and take further action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions before it’s too late.
In January this year, the EPA launched Ireland's Climate Change Assessment report (ICCA). The report provides a comprehensive assessment of our understanding of climate change in Ireland and our response to this global crisis - the first report of its kind for Ireland's climate.
The EPA also published a second report on ‘Climate in the Irish Mind’, a national survey on climate attitudes in Ireland.
In this episode, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment at the EPA, talks to Sinead about the reports’ key findings and the scale of the challenge ahead for Ireland and how there is still opportunity to reduce the impact of climate change, while also preparing to become climate resilient.
To access Ireland's Climate Change Assessment report from the EPA, click here: Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment (ICCA) | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie)
To access the 'Climate in the Irish Mind' report, click here: Climate Change in the Irish Mind | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie)
In this episode of 180 Degrees we zoom in on the growing number of ‘Sustainable Energy Community' groups across the country, who are working towards reducing their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and making their communities more sustainable.
180 Degrees Season 5 host Sinead Ryan is joined in the studio with Ruth Buggie of SEAI, Ger O'Halloran of the 'Connecting Cabra' Sustainable Energy Committee and Padraig Fallon, of the GAA Green Club initiative.
In recent years, we are seeing more community groups coming together to take climate action in their local areas. Tackling everything from recycling and biodiversity, to renewable energy projects, ambitious and important climate work is happening locally, and forming the backbone of what it means to be part of an Irish community.
In this episode of 180 Degrees we will zoom in on the growing number of ‘Sustainable Energy Community' groups across the country, who are working towards reducing their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and making their communities more sustainable. These groups are not only adapting to more sustainable energy behaviours, but they are also investing in large-scale energy projects that are benefiting all members of the community
Representatives from different community-focused projects will share their experiences of being part of a community project, and the impact this is having on the wider community.
In this mini-episode, we enter the realm of Smart Grids and Smart Networks: a technological landscape where the smart grid, an advanced electricity network, facilitates seamless communication between electricity generators and users. Picture this: wind turbines engaging in a sophisticated dialogue with everyday appliances, turning your home into a synchronized hub of energy efficiency.
Fergus Sharkey of SEAI returns and is joined by Chloe Kinsella of Cenergise to take us through the energy technology that lies ahead.
We've heard of ‘smart products’ for our homes and the concept of the ‘Internet of Things’ - where our home appliances and apps can communicate to find the right product or play the ideal music in our living rooms – but are we soon going to have the same options for our home energy use?
Enter the realm of Smart Grids and Smart Networks: a technological landscape where the smart grid, an advanced electricity network, facilitates seamless communication between electricity generators and users. This intricate web ensures optimal balance in meeting electricity demands for household activities like washing, cleaning, charging, and beyond. Picture this: wind turbines engaging in a sophisticated dialogue with everyday appliances, turning your home into a synchronized hub of energy efficiency.
Tune in to find out more!
In this mini-episode, Fergus Sharkey of SEAI and Tina Dowling, CEO at 'The Watershed' sport and leisure centre in Kilkenny, answer questions on how SEAI is supporting businesses to decarbonise and save on energy costs and what choices Tina made to start the The Watershed's energy journey.
In this episode we discuss how SEAI is supporting businesses to decarbonise and save on energy costs with Fergus Sharkey of SEAI and Tina Dowling, CEO at the Watershed, home of sport and Leisure in Kilkenny. The Watershed, who provide a host of indoor and outdoor sporting facilities and swimming, were finalists in the SME category at the SEAI Energy Awards. Tina discusses how they got started on their energy journey and more importantly, why.
Data centres are adding more demand onto Ireland’s electrical grid, but can our grid keep up with the scale of the demand, or do we need to add more capacity?
In this mini-episode we discuss how increased demand on our data centres impacts Ireland's climate targets. Can we reach our 2030 goals while increasing capacity, and what does that mean for Ireland’s energy future.
Saving to the ‘cloud’ frees up storage on our devices, but despite the name, our data doesn’t disappear into the sky, it’s stored in a data centre.
Data centres are adding more demand onto Ireland’s electrical grid, but can our grid keep up with the scale of the demand, or do we need to add more capacity?
In this episode we discuss how increased demand on our data centres impacts our Climate Action plan. Can we reach our 2030 goals while increasing capacity, and what does that mean for Ireland’s energy future.
We have our Climate Action Plan for Ireland, which is a roadmap that is updated every year, for taking the right actions to halve Ireland's emissions by 2030 – can the growth of more Data Centres fit into these plans for Ireland’s climate?
District Heating currently delivers 9% of Europe's total heating demands.
So how does it work and how can it be developed in Ireland?
In this mini-episode we answer your questions on District Heating.
One of the oldest methods of heating buildings, District Heating has played a key role in making cities like Denmark and Copenhagen some of the most sustainable in the world, while also lowering costs for customers. District heating currently delivers 9% of Europe's total heating demands.
So how does it work and how can it be developed in Ireland?
In this episode we talk about the plans to develop District Heating projects across Ireland’s towns and cities while also looking at some examples of where it is working.
Renewable energy projects are key to helping Ireland reach net-zero.
In this episode, we explore how we can make the most of our natural resources, like wind, sea and sun to create our own energy in Ireland. Discover how we can reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels and learn about the government's investments in this critical transition.
Renewable energy projects are key to helping Ireland reach net-zero. In this episode, we explore how we can make the most of our natural resources, like wind, sea and sun to create our own energy in Ireland. Discover how we can reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels and learn about the government's investments in this critical transition. Join the discussion on how we can rally citizens, communities, and industry to lead the way on the path to achieving a net-zero future.
SEAI’s Director of Policy Research and Policy Insights, Margie McCarthy and Dr. Lee Carroll of SEAI speak with Sinead Ryan about the renewable energy opportunities in Ireland.
Transport in Ireland - a conversation for the ages!
In this mini-episode, join Sinead Ryan and Fergus Sharkey of SEAI who together delve deep into the data surrounding our transportation habits and explore the solutions that will propel us toward a more sustainable, public and zero-carbon transportation system.
Transport in Ireland - a conversation for the ages!
It’s not just about our cars anymore; it’s about reimagining how we utilise trams, trains, buses and even bicycles on our country’s roads.
We simply cannot afford to be as car dependent anymore.
To reshape our transportation landscape, reduce emissions and tackle traffic
problems, we need reliable and accessible public transport options.
In this episode, we delve deep into the data surrounding our transportation habits. We unpack the design elements and infrastructure that have driven our car-centric culture and explore the solutions that will propel us toward a more sustainable, public and zero-carbon transportation system.
The latest Energy in Ireland report shows that, our CO2 emissions are going up, again! SEAI's Director of Research and Policy Insights Margie McCarthy and Dr. Lee Carroll, Programme Manager for SEAI's Energy Statistics team, chat about Ireland’s energy and carbon emissions trends with Sinead Ryan.
You can learn more about Energy in Ireland by visiting our website.
The annual Energy in Ireland report profiles trends in the supply and demand of energy and energy related CO2 emissions in 2022 and 2023.
Around 45% of Ireland’s energy use is for direct personal consumption, primarily in our homes and in our cars. So, it is absolutely essential that we all become more energy efficient to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions; to insulate ourselves from high energy prices; and to reduce the chance of outages or fuel shortages. We also need systemic change, beyond what individuals can do, to address the current energy and climate crises.
In this episode, SEAI's Director of Research and Policy Insights Margie McCarthy and Dr. Lee Carroll, Programme Manager for SEAI's Energy Statistics team, chat to our host, Sinead Ryan, about the everyday choices that people make have a major role to play.
You can learn more about Energy in Ireland by visiting our website.
Sinead Ryan and Fergus Sharkey of SEAI answer your Electric Vehicle (EV) questions in this third mini-episode of 180 Degrees.
This mini-episode covers:
🚗 SEAI's grant options for buying an EV
🚗 The different types of EVs
🚗 Ireland's second-hand EV market
and more!
To listen back to the full episode on EVs, visit www.seai.ie/podcastor download from wherever you get your podcasts.
For something so silent, Electric Vehicles sure are making a lot of noise on the car market. EVs, are heralded as the successor to fossil-fuel based internal combustion engine cars (ICEs) with one in five new passenger vehicles sold in Ireland last year being electric.
In this episode, we dig deep and get down to the real truths about EVs– how affordable are they in Ireland right now? What options do you have when it comes to owning or leasing an EV? What EV legislation is coming down the road in the next few years? Are we approaching the tipping point for EV adoption in Ireland?
All this and more in Episode 3 of 180 Degrees.
Sinead Ryan and Brian McIntyre answer your top questions on all things Heat Pumps, in under 5 minutes! This 180 Degrees Podcast mini-episode covers the need-to-know on how to check if your home is 'Heat Pump Ready', the space required for a Heat Pump to be installed, the different types of Heat Pumps available and more. To listen back to the full episode and gain more information on Heat Pumps, visit www.seai.ie/podcast or download from wherever you get your podcasts.
Sinead Ryan and Brian McIntyre return for episode two of our latest Podcast season, talking all things Heat Pumps – why they’re a good renewable heat source, how they work, the grants you can receive to purchase one and more. Later in the episode, Sinead is joined by homeowner Pamela Potterton who talks about her own experience of having a heat pump installed in her home and the results.
Join Journalist Sinead Ryan for practical advice on reducing your energy bills, saving money and adopting a more energy-efficient lifestyle in Season 5 of the 180 Degrees Podcast. Sinead will chat to expert guests to address some of the key questions around Ireland’s energy revolution, what renewable technologies are coming into our homes to help improve our lives and our communities and how we can prepare for a fossil free future.
Sinead Ryan continues our latest podcast season with this 5-minute mini-episode dedicated to answering your top questions on how to reduce your energy use at home.
‘Your Questions Answered’ follows on from the full-length first episode of ‘Cut Money Stress and Home-Assess!’, where Sinead chats toBrian McIntyre from SEAI about ways to cut back on energy use in your home, saving you both money and carbon emissions. Sinead is also joined by Architect Andre Negri who has spent the last 13 years transforming old homes into luxury A rated homes. To listen back to the full episode and gain a comprehensive understanding of how to make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable, visit www.seai.ie/podcastor download from wherever you get your podcasts.
Sinead Ryan kicks off our latest Podcast season, chatting with Brian McIntyre from SEAI about ways to reduce your energy use in your home, saving you both money and carbon emissions. They cover the basics, such as where to start, understanding your energy use, getting your home assessed and sharing the no-cost, low-cost solutions in addition to bigger investment options. Later in the episode, Sinead is joined by Architect Andre Negri who has spent the last 13 years transforming old homes into luxury A rated homes. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.
Dr. Diarmuid Torney is an associate professor in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University. His research focuses on climate change politics, policy, and governance. He is co-director of the DCU Centre for Climate and Society and programme chair of DCU’s MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society. In this episode, he speaks with Jim Scheer on Ireland's climate policy, how Ireland ranks internationally for its climate legislation and citizens engaging with their political leaders to progress climate action.
Dr Erlijn van Genuchten is an author, educator and science communicator working in the field of sustainable living, who's mission is to make scientific research on nature and sustainability available to the broad public, to help people take action for the climate. She is part of the UN ECE Task Force on Digitalization in Energy, and part of the advisory committee for the UN Environmental Program West Asia Frontiers Report.
In this episode of 180 Degrees, Dr van Genuchten has a conversation with Jim Scheer on her previous work in Ethical Hacking, "pro-sumers" and digitalisation for better energy infrastructure.She has also recently published a new book 'A Guide to a Healthier Planet' and you can find a link to more details on it here: https://www.sustainabledecisions.eu/guide-to-a-healthier-planet
To join Erlijn virtually on some the walks discussed in this podacst, and explore the beauty of our planet, please visit https://www.youtube.com/@xplore-nature
On Twitter, she shares how living more environmentally friendly makes us happier, healthier and wealthier. In her 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge, she shares simple ideas on how she makes her daily life more environmentally friendly (https://Twitter.com/@ErlijnG).
You can visit Dr van Genuchten's website here - Sustainable Decisions
Prof. Dr. Claire Dupont is a research professor at Ghent University, in Belgium, specialising in research on policy, politics and governance of the transformation to sustainability and climate neutrality in Europe. In this episode of 180 Degrees, Professor Dupont speaks with Jim Scheer on the need for communicating the palpable ideas of a just Climate Transition to people to help bring it into reality.
Dr. Val Cummins, Operations and Projects Director at Simply Blue Energy Ireland and recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Energy Award at the SEAI Energy Awards 2022, speaks with Fergus Sharkey of the SEAI on her academic background and career, her work in floating offshore wind infrastructure and researching periwinkles!
Dr. Lorna Gold, Environmental Activist and Author talks to host Jim Scheerabout mobilising faith communities and how we can build a worldwide movement to scale up our climate action.
Professor John Sweeney, Emeritus Professor of Geography at the NUI Maynooth joins host Jim Scheer to discuss the stark reality of the latest climate science, Ireland’s energy and climate targets, and the chances of meeting them by 2030.
Podcast host Jim Scheer is joined byRachel Dempsey, founder of Full Circle Change to discuss her experience and knowledge supporting people to turn eco-anxiety to eco-resilience. They discuss the roots of the climate crisis, the youth movement, climate anxiety and indigenous wisdom on climate.
Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications shares his thoughts with host Jim Scheer on Ireland’s policy response measures for climate action.
Davie Phillip, Community Resilience Manager, talks us about practical ways of engaging with climate action and about Ireland’s first ecovillage in Cloughjordan.
Sharon Finegan, Director Office of Environmental Sustainability at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),has a conversation with host Jim Scheer in front of a live audience about her career and work for the EPA and the Department of the Taoiseach in communicating the importance of climate across Irish society.
Liz Bonnin, Science, Wildlife and Natural History Broadcaster chats to host Jim Scheer about her career in the environmental space and climate anxiety.
This is a bonus episode recorded at the 2022 SEAI Energy Show in the RDS, Dublin. Fergus Sharkey, our Head of Public Sector and Transport, spoke to Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of EuroACE, who was a speaker at the sold-out seminar on Deep Retrofit, Insulation and Recovery Plan. They discussed the current energy crisis, Ireland’s retrofitting targets and the additional benefits for homeowners who upgrade their homes.
Watch the ‘Deep Retrofit, Insulation and Recovery Plan’ seminar
SEAI’s Jim Scheer, Head of Data & Insights, interviews Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insights at SEAI, about the recently published National Heat Study by SEAI. It’s a comprehensive analysis of the options for reaching net zero emissions from the heating sector by 2050.
Comprising a series of technical reports analysing heat supply and use across all sectors, the study provides key insights and proposed actions to decarbonise the sector. Crucially it stresses the need for early and urgent action. Margie and Jim discuss what form these actions could take and who should be acting on them.
You can read the report in full here.
This is a bonus episode about SEAI’s Annual Report Energy in Ireland, which presents the latest official statistics on energy use in Ireland. SEAI’s Jim Sheer, Head of Data and Insights, chats to Denis Dineen, senior statistician, about the report’s findings. They discuss Ireland’s national energy use and the underlying driving forces, such as the economy and weather, and more recently the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also examine greenhouse gas emissions from energy use, energy security, cost competitiveness, and our progress towards EU renewable energy targets. Read the report in full:
https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/key-publications/energy-in-ireland/
Episode 7 features Pauric Kavanagh, Operations Director with KORE Insulation, and Dearbhla Stapleton from SEAI’s Business and Industry team. This October, KORE Insulation won the award for ‘Small and Medium Business Exemplary Energy Management’ at the SEAI Energy Awards. Pauric tells Louise what winning the award has meant for the company and Dearbhla outlines what made it a winning entry. We also hear about the supports SEAI offer to SMEs beginning their energy efficiency journeys.
Learn more about how SEAI's support and education resources for businesses: https://www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/small-and-medium-business/
This is the final episode about electric vehicles (EVs). In this episode, we’re talking about the different options for charging your EV. One of the most common comments SEAI gets on social media is around ‘range anxiety’. People are concerned that the EV won’t get them from A to B without stopping to charge. We asked EV owner Noel how he finds charging and if he ever uses the public network. SEAI’s Transport Programme Manager Graham Brennan tells Louise about his recent experience driving an EV around Ireland this summer. He also explains what’s coming next for Ireland’s charging infrastructure. Find out about SEAI’s home charger grant here. Try our ‘Compare and calculate’ tool to see what EV would suit your needs
This is the second of three episodes where we explore the many benefits of driving an electric vehicle (EV). In this episode, we talk through the buying process when in the market for a new EV. We visit a local car dealership for a test drive, and we hear some of the most common questions customers have when buying an EV.
Find out more about switching to an electric vehicle at drivingelectric.ie
This is the first of three episodes where we will explore the many benefits of driving an electric vehicle (EV).
Host Louise Ryan chats to two motoring journalists Caroline Kidd and Neil Briscoe, who tell her about the latest in the EV market and what the future holds for Ireland’s driving electric plans. We also hear from former EV sceptic Noel Griffin, who was inspired to make the switch a couple of years ago after attending a climate change event.
Learn more at drivingelectric.ie
This is the final episode focusing on home energy upgrades. Our host Louise Ryan is talking about financing an energy upgrade, which is a huge investment in your home and can take years to plan and save for.
We hear from homeowner Cormac Madden again who availed of the SEAI grants at all stages of his home upgrade. SEAI’s Tom Halpin explains the different routes for homeowners looking to start, including the various grants and ‘green loans’ available.
Find out more about home energy upgrades.
This episode is the second of three episodes focusing on home energy upgrades. Our host Louise Ryan is talking about heat pumps, which can transform the comfort levels in your home while reducing running costs, energy usage and harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Brian McIntyre, SEAI, breaks down exactly what a heat pump is and how they make a home much more energy efficient. Homeowner Cormac Madden installed a heat pump in his house in 2017 and he explains why it’s transformational and he predicts it will be the appliance of choice in the future.
Find out more about heat pumps.
In this episode, host Louise Ryan explains the importance of our home’s BER (building energy rating) and how it effects your energy bills and carbon emissions. We hear from homeowner Cormac Madden, who spent several years upgrading his family home to an A3 rating and he’s delighted with the results. Then architect Denise O’Connor talks through the latest trends in house design and says her clients are becoming more focused on comfort and climate action.
Find out more about home energy upgrades.
This season we are talking about energy efficiency in the home, the motivations for investing in a large energy upgrade, and how to finance it. We also discuss the switch to electric vehicles, Ireland’s charging infrastructure and how one EV owner converted to driving electric and hasn’t looked back!
This bonus episode of 180 Degrees comes from our recent Energy Show. The SEAI Energy Show is Ireland’s leading sustainable energy business event and this year we hosted it all online. The event offers a unique opportunity to learn about the latest innovations in energy efficiency and renewable energy and policy developments underpinning Ireland’s clean energy ambitions. We had a fantastic line-up of speakers over the two days. One of which was Daniel Murray, a journalist with the Business Post, who chaired the session ‘Pathway to Net Zero’. Daniel shared some brilliant insights into Ireland’s energy transition and what challenges, risks, and opportunities it presents for business.
This episode is coming to you straight from the SEAI Energy Show. Fergus Sharkey, Head of Business and Public Sector at SEAI, interviews two business leaders who are actively looking to decarbonise their business for the long term.
Fergus talks to Ian Ryan from Wyeth Nutrition and Shaun McKevitt from Terra Spirits and Liqueurs who share their insights from their own decarbonisation journeys.
In this episode, Louise is looking at the careers of two senior women leading on change and innovation in what has historically been a very male populated sector.
Our guests are Martina Hennessy, Principle Officer of Offshore Renewable Energy at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Patricia Comiskey, Programme Manager of Offshore energy at SEAI.
We are also chatting about the offshore wind sector and what measures are being taken to increase its viability in Ireland.
Homeowner Francis Clauson shares his fascinating story of building a home to an A1 rating – also known as a passive house. Louise finds out why he did it and what’s it like living there eight years on. Susan Andrews from SEAI’s Home Energy team, explains what exactly is involved in upgrading your home to a BER B2 and the benefits of doing so.
Louise is joined by Céline Reilly, Manager at Dublin City Council (DCC) and Alan Ryan from SEAI’s Public Sector Programme. Here they examine what DCC is doing to meet (or exceed) its energy targets and why other public sector bodies need to get serious about decarbonisation.
DCC won the Leadership in Public Sector Award at the SEAI Energy Awards 2020 making it well placed to lead the conversation on decarbonisation in the public sector.
In this episode, Louise speaks to Carol Loftus, from Mulranny Sustainable Energy Community (SEC), about how the local community came together to reduce their energy consumption, and change behaviour that will have a positive impact on climate change.
Ruth Buggie from SEAI’s Sustainable Energy Communities programme outlines the support SEAI and other communities can offer aspiring SECs across Ireland.
In this episode, Louise chats to Eoin Madigan, Waterford Insulation and Brian McIntyre, SEAI.
Eoin shares his experience working on deep retrofit projects. They look at the start-to-finish project experience through the eyes of a contractor and hear why people make this investment in their homes.
Brian discusses the challenges for homeowners, how SEAI is supporting the process, and the target of bringing 500,000 homes to a B2 by 2030.
Host Louise Ryan finds out why Jan-Bart Spang, Co. Cork, switched to an electric vehicle and how he’s finding it so far. Jan-Bart explains what motivated him to make such a change, how he found the process from researching cars to getting a home charger installed, and what are the benefits of driving electric. Shane Prendergast from SEAI’s Transport team, along with Jan-Bart, helps to dispel outdated concerns about ‘short range’ and ‘lack of chargers’ and looks to the future of EVs in Ireland.
Joining Louise are Paul Blount, Portfolio Director at Coillte, and Dr Lucy Corcoran from SEAI’s Research and Innovation Department to discuss how energy research is informing Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. Paul has a wealth of experience in wind energy and is the Irish Wind Energy Association’s (IWEA) Person of the Year 2020. He recently led the model development and analytics aspects of an innovative wind energy project supported by SEAI. While Dr Corcoran leads a range of energy research and innovation activities at SEAI.
Our first episode features Áine Martin, Green Team Leader at Hotel Doolin, Co. Clare and Dearbhla Stapleton, Programme Manager for Business and Industry at SEAI. Áine tells host Louise Ryan about Hotel Doolin’s journey towards becoming Ireland's first carbon neutral hotel. While Dearbhla explains how Irish businesses can become more energy efficient with SEAI’s support.
For Season 2, we’re sharing stories from people across Ireland, working towards a cleaner energy future. We’re talking about sustainable transport, energy in the home and in our communities, how businesses and public sector bodies are cutting carbon emissions and how energy research is informing policy decisions.
Episode 1 will be released on Thursday, 19th November. Subscribe to '180 Degrees' wherever you get your podcasts and don't miss our inspiring stories from people creating a cleaner energy future.
Former President Mary Robinson's inspiring keynote address, recorded live at the 2020 SEAI Public Sector conference in the Helix DCU.
There are many people who want to make a difference but are not sure where to start.
In this episode, we talk about the challenges and opportunities available to people in Ireland. Chatting to us on this topic is Actress and climate change activist Aoibhéann McCann, Environment & Science Editor at the Irish Times Kevin O Sullivan, Gillian Gannon from the SEAI community programme and Karen Finigan, Cool Planet Champion and chairperson of the Kilanerin Ballyfad Sustainable Energy Community in Wexford.
What do you think Ireland’s energy system might look like in say 2050?
We talk to Liam Delaney, Professor of Economics at UCD, Met Eireann Meteorologist, Liz Walsh and Ruth Buggie, Sustainable Energy Communities Programme Manager at SEAI about the impact of climate change on Ireland in the future and what can we do now to positively alter the path we're on.
We talk to Liam Delaney, Professor of Economics at UCD, Met Eireann Meteorologist, Liz Walsh and Ruth Buggie, Sustainable Energy Communities Programme Manager at SEAI about the impact of climate change on Ireland in the future and what can we do now to positively alter the path we're on. Episode available to download on Nov 20th at 7am.
Do you think Irish businesses have a role in tackling climate change? For many companies; a shortage of time, money, resources and knowledge can prevent them from moving forward. . For some, there is also a fear of drifting into the green washing space.
For an in-depth chat on this topic, we speak to; Ali Sheridan, Irish Times journalist Mark Hilliard, Bernadette Phelan from Business in the Community Ireland and Fergus Sharkey, Head of Business and Public Sector programmes at SEAI.
Do you think Irish businesses have a role in tackling climate change? For many companies; a shortage of time, money, resources and knowledge can prevent them from moving forward. For some, there is also a fear of drifting into the green washing space. For an in-depth chat on this topic, we speak to; Ali Sheridan, Irish Times journalist Mark Hilliard, Bernadette Phelan from Business in the Community Ireland and Fergus Sharkey, Head of Business and Public Sector programmes at SEAI.
Quantity Surveyor Lisa O’Brien and SEAI's Jenny Power and Brian McIntyre answer your concerns about energy efficiency upgrades and talk about the financial side of upgrading your home
Quantity Surveyor Lisa O’Brien and SEAI's Jenny Power and Brian McIntyre answer your concerns about energy efficiency upgrades and talk about the financial side of upgrading your home. Episode will be live on Thursday 24th at 7am.
Are you interested in learning more about how Irish houses perform compared to years ago?
This round table discussion talks about Ireland’s attitude to housing and energy upgrades with guests; architect Dermot Bannon, social affairs correspondent for the Irish Times Kitty Holland, SEAI architect Jenny Power and financial journalist and broadcaster Sinead Ryan.
Dermot Bannon gives his view on why people sometimes get it wrong when deciding what is best for their home
Are you thinking about buying a new car? You may be interested in listening to our new podcast on electric vehicles.
In this episode, we discuss the electric car market in Ireland, Europe and where perhaps the market will be by 2030.
Discussing this is Journalist and motoring expert Geraldine Herbert, car reviewer Mark Noble, also known as Nobby from FM104s Strawberry Alarm Clock and Graham Brennan, Transport Programme Manager with SEAI.
What will the motoring landscape in Ireland look like in 2025? Journalist and motoring expert Geraldine Herbert thinks it will be unrecognisable... To hear the full episode it will be available to download on Sept 26th.
Welcome to the preview of 180 degrees. 180 degrees is a new podcast series that looks at the energy choices we make when it comes to transport, our homes, business and technology. Throughout the series we talk to guests such as architect Dermot Bannon and quantity surveyor Lisa O’ Brien about tips for home energy upgrades. We talk to experts in the field of motoring about the future of electric cars as we are joined by leading business experts to discuss what businesses can do to tackle climate change.We also look at Ireland’s energy future and what individuals can do to support our sustainable energy transition to a low carbon economy.
This series kicks off on the 26th of September. To contact the Podcast team email us at podcast@seai.ie or visit us at seai.ie/podcast