REEF
Supporting public authorities at a local and regional level to apply the principle of Energy Efficiency First across relevant policy areas to meet climate targets.
01 May 2025 - 31 July 2029
Project background
REEF’s overall aim is to support public authorities at local and regional level to apply the principle of Energy Efficiency 1st across relevant policy areas, thus contributing to achieving climate targets.
This project aims to improve the delivery of a technical, business, community and organisational plan to achieve climate action goals, in coherence with the Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle.
About the project
It is envisaged that REEF can contribute to various management related features, sharing experience, knowledge and good practices in the field of:
- Definition of governance models for the policy instrument, which considers different interests and means of applying an EE1st assessment. The policy requires a robust, transparent and responsive governance system to coordinate goals and actions between the community, local businesses, the local authority and public sector.
- Development of localised evidence bases for energy in the geographic area of the policy instrument, thus facilitating decision making in regard to EE1st assessment.
- Use of participatory processes for stakeholder and the public in the geographic area of the policy instrument, increasing consultation in decision-making process about investments and transparency in assessment in line with the EE1st principle.
- Project implementation processes and models for key stakeholder groups in the selected geographic area, with interregional input into overall investment plans for a portfolio of solutions, taking into consideration EE1st, and for their implementation in the decarbonisation zone.
For Dublin, this project will focus on the Clondalkin decarbonising zone, and will be using the South Dublin 2024-2029 Climate Action Plan, as a policy instrument focusing on the Energy Efficiency First principle.
Project aims
Improve the delivery of a technical, business, community and organisational plan for each policy instrument
Increase public and stakeholder participation in project pilots (Clondalkin DZ in Dublin), aligning with the EE1st principle
Develop localised evidence bases for energy in the geographic areas of the policy instruments (Clondalkin DZ in Dublin)
Project team
Project lead
Rebecca Cachia
Executive Manager - Energy Planning
Project lead
Rebecca Cachia
Executive Manager - Energy Planning
Rebecca joined Codema in April 2017 and is Codema’s Executive Manager in the area of Energy Planning. She holds a bachelor’s in architecture and civil engineering from the University of Malta and a Master’s in Sustainable Infrastructure from TU Dublin. Rebecca has led several EU and local projects, focusing on energy planning, building energy efficiency, and emissions modelling. She played a key role in developing the Dublin Region Energy Master Plan, co-wrote energy and carbon assessments to inform development plans and developed the decarbonising zones’ evidence base. Rebecca has also worked on emissions quantification, spatial energy mapping, energy and planning policies.
James Lawson
Energy Systems Graduate
James Lawson
Energy Systems Graduate
James joined Codema in May of 2023 as an Energy Systems Graduate in the Research, Development and Innovation cell. He completed a Masters in Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering with a specialisation in renewable energy and structural design. His Master's thesis focused on the value of BIM for different stakeholders. Previously, he worked on projects calculating the value of geospatial information to the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. At Codema, James works on energy planning and develops our sustainability reporting. He is currently pursuing two micro credentials in energy system decarbonisation and energy policy and Chartership with Engineers Ireland.
Katia Tikhoniouk
Communications and Project Manager
Katia Tikhoniouk
Communications and Project Manager
Katia joined Codema in 2016. She holds a Masters of Architecture from UCD, a Certificate in Project Management, and diplomas in Digital Marketing and Graphic Design. She has written for the Independent, Passive House Plus and Architecture Ireland. Within the Project Funding & Facilitation team, Katia acted as Internal Communications Manager of the HeatNet NWE project, as well as the coordinator of the Sustainable Energy Communities programme in the Dublin & Mid-East Region. Within the Awareness, Communications & Engagement team, her responsibilities include the implementation of Codema’s branding, graphic design of materials, and assisting with social media and website management.
Katie Harrington
Executive Manager - Public and Stakeholder Engagement
Katie Harrington
Executive Manager - Public and Stakeholder Engagement
Katie joined the team in July 2020 and is Codema’s Executive Manager in the area of Public and Stakeholder Engagement. Katie is responsible for leading all public engagement projects within Codema such as developing a comprehensive community engagement process to support the development of Decarbonising Zones. Katie is the lead on the Zero Together project, which has involved engaging a diverse group of stakeholders to collaborate on the best pathways to move Dublin towards net-zero. Katie holds a BSc in Marketing from DIT, a postgraduate diploma in Digital Marketing from the Digital Marketing Institute and a MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society from DCU.
Sarah McEllistrem
Public Engagement and Stakeholder Coordinator
Sarah McEllistrem
Public Engagement and Stakeholder Coordinator
Sarah joined the Codema team in March 2023 as our Public Engagement and Stakeholder Coordinator. Sarah holds a LL.B (Honours Degree) in Law and French from Trinity College Dublin and a Higher Diploma in Sustainability in Enterprise from University College Cork. Prior to joining Codema, Sarah worked as a Travel Officer with Green-Schools An Taisce where she was involved in delivering environmental education workshops and promoting sustainable travel modes to schools across the Greater Dublin Area.
Hannah Byrne
Communications and Engagement Coordinator
Hannah Byrne
Communications and Engagement Coordinator
Hannah joined the team in July 2023 and is Codema's Communications and Engagement Coordinator. Hannah holds an MSc. in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society from DCU and a B.A. in Politics and Sociology from Maynooth University. Before joining Codema, Hannah worked for a number of years in the non-profit sector and more recently in the local government sector with a focus on digital communications and content management. Hannah also holds a Professional Diploma in Project Management from the UCD Professional Academy, and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from Irish Times Training.
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