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Client Offaly County Council
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Location County Offaly, Ireland
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Architect Rejen Architects
Realising nation-wide Net-Zero and decarbonisation goals with data-led design and coordinated retrofit strategies
About the project
The Offaly County Council Pathfinder Programme forms part of the SEAI’s national initiative to accelerate deep energy retrofit and decarbonisation across Ireland’s public building stock. As part of the 2024–2025 Pathfinder cohort, two key projects - Áras an Chontae and Tullamore Leisure Centre - are being developed to demonstrate how data-led design and coordinated retrofit strategies can support scalable low-carbon solutions across local authority assets.
The programme targets a minimum 51% reduction in carbon emissions and 50% reduction in primary energy use, aligned with the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate and National Retrofit Plan 2030.
IN2 was appointed to deliver mechanical and electrical design services for both projects, supporting the development of decarbonisation strategies from Stage 1 feasibility through Stage 2B detailed design. The role includes energy modelling, system selection, technical coordination, and support of the SEAI Pathfinder reporting framework.
A core element of the approach is the development of calibrated dynamic simulation models, based on measured building energy data, to establish baseline performance and assess the impact of potential retrofit measures. This enables informed comparison of upgrade scenarios and supports evidence-based decision-making in line with the Pathfinder methodology.
Given the differing building types and operational demands, tailored strategies have been developed for each facility:
Áras an Chontae: The proposed strategy focuses on improving building fabric performance and upgrading building services to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions. Measures include targeted fabric upgrades, replacement of legacy lighting with high-efficiency LED systems, and the transition from fossil fuel heating to electrified heat pump-based systems, supported by improved zoning and controls.
Tullamore Leisure Centre: The strategy addresses the complexity of a high-energy leisure facility, including swimming pool systems and large ventilation loads. The proposed approach includes replacement of ageing fossil fuel plant with heat pump technology, integration of heat recovery systems, and optimisation of ventilation and water treatment processes to improve overall system efficiency and reduce operational energy demand.
Throughout Stage 1 and Stage 2B, IN2 has facilitated Energy Efficient Design (EED) workshops with SEAI and Offaly County Council, supporting a structured and iterative process for selecting and refining retrofit measures. The wider design team includes Rejen Architects, Garland Consultancy (PSDP), and Brendan Merry & Partners (QS), ensuring integration of architectural, safety, cost, and technical considerations.
The projects are being developed in line with SEAI Pathfinder requirements, including lifecycle assessment and evaluation of pathways towards Zero Emission Building (ZEB) performance. Target Building Energy Ratings (BER) and final performance outcomes will be confirmed at detailed design stage following completion of modelling, cost analysis, and client approvals.
