Laois County Council Energy Pathfinder
Whole-county decarbonisation planning: three buildings, one coherent pathway to CAP2030 and beyond
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Client Laois County Council
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Location County Laois, Ireland
Whole-county decarbonisation planning - three buildings, one coherent pathway to CAP2030 and beyond
About the project
Laois County Council is responsible for a diverse estate of public buildings spanning civic offices, leisure facilities, and community infrastructure—each carrying a statutory obligation under Ireland's Climate Action Plan (CAP2030) to achieve a 51% reduction in fossil fuel carbon emissions by 2030 compared to 2016-2018 baselines.
The challenge was not just technical complexity across three fundamentally different building types, but the need to develop credible, costed, and phased decarbonisation pathways for buildings that ranged from a 1982-era uninsulated county hall to active leisure centres with high-intensity heating demands for swimming pools. Existing plant was aging, building management systems were fragmented, and baseline energy documentation was incomplete - requiring IN2's team to reconstruct baselines from first principles and site survey evidence.
Together, these facilities represent a significant portion of the council’s energy footprint. The project’s primary goal is to achieve a minimum 51% reduction in carbon emissions and energy consumption compared to 2020 baselines, through a combination of building fabric upgrades, low-carbon heating, renewable integration, and digital energy management.
Key highlights
- Three-Building Assessment: Decarbonisation studies completed for County Hall and two leisure centres
- Solar PV Strategy Delivered: Developed the PV installation, now supplying 30% of its electricity demand.
- 50kWp Renewable Generation: Identified rooftop solar potential on the Basilica's south-facing roofs.
- Decarbonisation Roadmap: Created a phased plan to reduce reliance on oil, LPG, and diesel heating.
