News

We are delighted to announce that our Home Energy Saving Kits are now available to borrow from a selection of libraries across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council!

The Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Cllr Tom Murphy, launched the Home Energy Saving Kits earlier today in the dlr LexIcon in Dún Laoghaire, which is one of the branches where the kit is now available for the public to borrow free-of-charge to get a sense of how much energy their home is using every day.  The kit can also be borrowed from Deansgrange, Dundrum and Stillorgan libraries.

The six tools in the kit address key areas of energy use in the home - space heating, hot water and electricity consumption - and can identify common issues such as lack of insulation, poor ventilation and the appliances that might be driving up electricity bills.  The kits can be borrowed in the same way you borrow a book or DVD from your library - you just have to be a library member to avail of this service.

The Home Energy Saving Kit scheme is promoted within the region in partnership with the dlr Energy Team, dlr Libraries and Codema.

Speaking at the launch earlier today, the Cathaoirleach said: “Citizen engagement with energy and climate change starts with addressing energy issues within our own homes. The Home Energy Saving Kits are easy to use and will help many homeowners take that initial step on their sustainable energy journey.” 

DLR County Librarian, Mairead Owens, added: “This project promotes energy awareness and builds on core library principles of sharing community resources to engage, educate and enrich citizens. We are delighted to support energy awareness through the public roll-out of the Home Energy Saving Kits within dlr Libraries.”

Sarah Cassidy, Energy Officer with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council added: "This project feeds into DLR’s Public Sector exemplar role on energy. Links to both SEAI domestic energy grants and legislation currently governing domestic renewables are available on the DLR Energy webpage, together with examples of other recent energy works undertaken by DLR.  On a broader scale, the DLR Climate Change Action Plan is currently being drafted and will be available later in the year."

Gerry Wardell, Codema’s Director, added: “Codema is delighted to be collaborating with DLR on this public awareness project. Codema’s initial collaboration with Dublin City Public Libraries on the pilot roll out of energy kits was very positively received. With the backing of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD, and the SEAI, the programme has extended to include other local authority areas, including Roscommon and Leitrim, and Cork City and Fingal County Council are due to launch theirs shortly. The increase and promotion of the Home Energy Saving Kits will hopefully encourage a shift in behavioural change that is needed to improve energy efficiency at both a local and national level.”

The Home Energy Saving Kits are available to borrow from the dlr LexIcon, Stillorgan, Deansgrange and Dundrum Libraries from today.  For further information, please click here or visit libraries.dlrcoco.ie.