THE Donegal Local Enterprise Office is urging eligible businesses throughout the county to take advantage of the recently expanded Energy Efficiency Grant, aimed at helping local enterprises reduce their energy consumption and lower operating costs.
This grant, with funding of up to €10,000, provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to enhance their energy efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable future while also achieving significant cost savings.
The closing date to apply for the grant for this year is Friday, December 20, 2024.
Highlighting the benefits of the Energy Efficiency Grant, Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise Donegal, said: “For small businesses in any sector employing up to 50 employees, it has never been easier to begin or advance their green journey. We have the expertise, the time and the supports to help them go green and become more sustainable. The best thing about implementing these changes is that they will improve the business and help in saving time, money and energy. The free Green for Business audit enables a green consultant to assess the business and compile a comprehensive report which the business can then work with the Local Enterprise Office to implement.
“The expanded Energy Efficiency Grant enables businesses who have availed of the Green for Business audit to apply for up to €10,000 of funding to implement the outlined changes from the report. This can all be carried out through the Local Enterprise Office with 75 per cent grant support available to support the investment in technologies and equipment.”
One business who benefited from this scheme was Mac’s Deli. When their electricity bills rose by three times last year, Letterkenny business, Mac’s Deli contacted the team at LEO Donegal to see what supports were available to help them operate more efficiently and save money on their energy costs.
The Letterkenny deli qualified for the Green for Business programme, which examined everything from their lighting to fridges, and identified issues and ways to help the business become more efficient in the long run.
Following on from this, Mac’s Deli was eligible for the Energy Efficiency Grant. Speaking on the benefits of the grant, Ronan MacIntyre said: “While the Energy Efficiency Grant was instrumental in addressing the issues we faced as a business, identifying the problem through the audit was our first step. As a result of the entire process, we’ve seen a 30% reduction in our electricity bills, with our kilowatt usage dropping by about 6,000kW every three to four months. This translates to savings of €3,000 to €4,000 every two months. I’d encourage any business to reach out to the team at LEO Donegal to discover how they can help you save money and grow your business.”
For more information on the eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit www.localenterprise.ie/Donegal
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