Trim sustainable community energy plan launched

Trim Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) welcomed the public launch of its Energy Masterplan last week with a vow to help homeowners reduce their energy spend and the town play its part in combating climate change

Cllr Ronan Moore, Chair of Trim SEC explained: “At its simplest an SEC is a group of volunteers drawn from the community who come together with the ambition of reducing the energy usage of a town. To help us identify how this can be achieved, an Energy Masterplan is undertaken, which provides several energy reduction strategies, the most common of which involves home-retrofitting. In reducing energy usage not only does it help the community meet its climate targets it also helps local people to lessen their energy spend, keeping money in people’s pockets and circulating in the local economy.”

Secretary of Trim SEC, Melanie Steinhardt continued: “Everyone from international governments to local communities need to take part in combating climate change. The launch of Trim’s Energy Masterplan is another step towards our own community finding ways to do our part, and we are excited to share the plan and get started.”

The public launch was preceded by a free energy clinic facilitated by the architects of the Masterplan, Sligo-based consultancy firm Plan Energy. Both events took place in Trim GAA club which was one of eight local community and commercial premises to receive an energy audit as part of the Masterplan process. At the end of the public launch there was also a presentation from the Energy Team, Dunleer who have previously partnered with Trim SEC to help three homes undergo full retrofits.

Cllr Moore concluded: “Having had great success in delivering retrofits in the community in partnership with the Energy Team, Dunleer over the last couple of years, we are in the midst of preparing a new block application with the Energy Team and are inviting any interested parties to get in contact with us at trimsec@gmail.com.”