Mayo County Council, Pathfinder

Under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, public bodies are obliged to set and achieve targets for energy, transport and the decarbonisation of their buildings. Mayo County Council appointed Mosart to lead its Pathfinder programme, decarbonising three civic buildings: Áras an Chontae in Castlebar, Westport Leisure Centre and Ballina Swimming Pool.

The objectives were clear: a 50% reduction in carbon emissions and in direct (thermal) emissions against the 2030 CO2 factor, a 50% reduction in primary energy, a minimum BER Grade B, and a renewable-heat contribution set by the design team. Our scope also required a strategy to deliver the council’s 2050 obligation of zero emissions.

Swimming pools and leisure centres are among the largest energy consumers a local authority owns. High hot-water demand and high humidity make their retrofit solutions complex, and getting them right is where the biggest savings are found. Across the three buildings, solutions included internal natural insulation to stone walls, external wall insulation, triple-glazed windows and doors, airtightness and roof or attic insulation improvements, air source heat pumps, PV panels, upgraded ventilation and lighting, and new building controls and metering.

When complete, the council will have buildings with better indoor air quality, greater comfort and markedly lower running costs.