Green Gown Awards 2016 – Best Newcomer – Waterford Institute of Technology– Finalist

Finding WEAG!

The Finding WEAG project is the story of how Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has improved energy awareness among its 10,000-strong community in a bid to cut energy consumption by 33% by 2020.

In 2014 the WIT Energy Advisory Group (WEAG) was established and WIT signed up to Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Public Sector Partnership Programme.

WEAG is a cross functional multi-disciplinary team of WIT staff and students which has been instrumental in promoting energy awareness across the institute’s five campuses. With the assistance of staff and students WEAG has driven WIT’s energy roadmap forward to help achieve targeted energy savings.

Energy saving infrastructural initiatives implemented include heating controls and upgrades, lighting controls and upgrades and the installation of 40kW of Photovoltaics (PV) as part of the Better Energy Communities Grant. In June 2016 WIT energy management system was certified to ISO 5000:2011 standard.

Top 3 learnings

1 Collaboration is key so variety of members in the team is hugely important

2 Structured coordination of activities is essential so allow time for planning

3 Fun element must be present to maximise engagement.

CO2t Savings: 519.9t   
Actual/Estimated: Actual
No. of yrs: 2