'First in Midlands' energy certification for Offaly County Council

Offaly County Council has said it's first local authority in the Midlands to have its energy management system certified to a particular internationally-recognised standard.

The council announced this week that it had achieved the 'ISO 50001:2018' Energy Management System standard.

The council said this achievement demonstrated its commitment to best practice in energy management and sustainability.

The certification covers all of the energy used to undertake the daily activities of council staff.

The awarding of the accreditation was announced at an Offaly County Council meeting on Monday, November 17, and follows the background development of an energy management system that has been underway in recent years.

The adoption of the energy management system was driven by recent climate change legislation which mandates local authorities to upgrade their energy management protocols.

Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney said achieving this certification was "a clear demonstration of Offaly Council's commitment to continually improving energy efficiency through practice, awareness and design.

"This success reflects the dedication of our staff, who have actively engaged in implementing the energy management system," she added.

"The accreditation provides the platform for further energy efficiency improvements, supporting the Government’s 2030 energy efficiency targets."

Director of Services Paul McLoughlin stated: "Achieving the certification gives confidence that we operate a robust recognised system to monitor and manage the energy usage of the whole organisation and further demonstrates our commitment to climate action."

The ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management System is the world’s foremost energy management standard and is used by some of the largest organisations worldwide.