Energy Efficiency Scores a Slam Dunk in National Basketball Arena
~Electricity costs cut by a third ~
Dublin’s National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, which hosted the National Cup Final last weekend, has reduced its electricity costs by a third. Having received a grant of €45,000 through www.FutureFit.ie and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Basketball Ireland invested in new LED floodlights and a new energy efficiency boiler.
The retrofit has resulted in almost 35% saving on total electricity consumption for the building and 50% on the arena lights alone. LED lighting is not only more energy efficient, it also produces 25% higher quality light with better uniformity across the court, which for the players, is like playing in daylight.
Last year FutureFit worked directly with over 50 clubs, generating combined savings of over €200,000. In addition, FutureFit secured a total of €100,000 in funding for six sports facilities including the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght; Neptune Stadium in Cork; Naomh Columba and Chonaill GAA Clubs in Co. Donegal; Emmets GAA club in Carrickmacross and Edmondstown Golf Club in Rathfarnham in Dublin. FutureFit aims to secure further funding for up to 100 clubs this year. Funding is available through SEAI’s Better Energy Communities Scheme which has a total fund of €13.5 million available this year.
For more information please check out www.futurefit.ie or call Paul O’Connor on 086-343-3368
Dr. Brian Motherway, CEO, SEAI said: “Sports plays a crucial role in Ireland’s culture and it has an influence in all communities throughout the country. The investment Basketball Ireland made to its lighting and heating systems is resulting in significant savings annually. But it also tells a wider story of the potential in energy savings for many of our sports clubs around the country, most of whom have the potential to knock 20% of their energy costs and become a model for energy efficiency within local communities.”
Bernard O’ Byrne, chief executive of Basketball Ireland said: “Receiving the grant from FutureFit and SEAI was a transformational investment for a sport like basketball. The new LED floodlights will see us save €11,000 on our electricity costs annually, which is huge for a facility of this nature. The savings that we will make annually will benefit all our 16,500 members by allowing us to continue to invest in the Arena and ensure that we remain a world-class facility.”
John Harrington, Director, FutureFit said: “1.7 million people are members of over 12,000 sports clubs. It’s difficult to think of a single community with so much influence and penetration into every city, town and almost every household in the country. We propose to use this sport network to promote energy efficiency and help sports clubs reduce their energy costs.”
