Good practice:

Clar ICH

Clár ICH is a Social Enterprise and an Approved Voluntary Housing Association providing energy advice and upgrades to domestic householders and SMEs in Ireland. It acts as an intermediatory between the SME and SEAI to assist in the acquisition of funds for energy upgrades.
SME’s in Ireland are embracing green business principles and Clár ICH are pivotal in assisting them in this transition by providing a one stop shop from energy assessment, identification of energy needs and upgrades, grant application, grant acquisition and energy upgrade installation. Clár ICH provides a road map to SME’s on how they may acquire funding based on the financial resources available to them and their energy priorities at a given time.Clár ICH coordinates and manages retrofitting projects from the initial contact with the SME, provision of advice and mentoring to installation of works and quality control.
It seeks expressions of interest from potential SME’s who are interested in availing of energy upgrades. Clar ICH provides the necessary information to the SME on the application process to SEAI, surveys the potential property and provides the SME with an energy roadmap. Should the SME be interested in availing of grant aid from SEAI, Clar ICH prepares an application comprising numerous households and commercial buildings, and competitively tenders to SEAI for grant aid. SME’s are eligible for 30% of the cost of the energy upgrades.

To resource the retrofitting activities of nine staff are employed on a full and part-time basis including one manager and financial controller, two administrators, a surveyor, a quality controller and seven installers. Clár ICH engages externally with an engineer and a health and safety consultant.

Since 2006 Clár ICH have administered €9,500,000 on retrofitting measures. €5,513,000 has been invested in the Better Energy Communities Programme with over €2,500,000 administered to SMEs for energy upgrades since 2014 saving 5,890,564 kh. Clár ICH increases employment opportunities and employability in the locality by upskilling sub-contractors and local people. It also facilitates knowledge transfer among sub-contractors as only SEAI registered contractors can deliver work under the scheme.

Many SME’s have restricted financial resources especially in the current Covid climate and are not able to bridge the 70% deficit. An Energy Savings Road Map provides SMEs with a clear concise road map on the measures to be undertaken to reduce their carbon footprint in the most cost-effective way.

As a Social Enterprise Clar ICH provides a comprehensive support package from initial enquiry through to completion.This model reduces bureaucracy and administration for the SME which in turn encourages participation in energy programmes. Clar ICH is independent and has no vested interest in any product or service provider which builds a relationship of trust where the SME accepts the validity of assessments undertaken and recommendations re works to be undertaken. Clar has an excellent relationship with utility companies which facilitates innovative financing through the Participation of Energy Suppliers (PES).
The social dividend gained by utilising the local supply chain and creating economic activity, training and employment opportunities as well as reducing energy costs for the SME sector is extremely positive. The model increases economic activity in a given geographical area and is easily transferrable particularly where there is a supportive environment for Social Enterpris