DaysE, Donate as you save Energy, was the recipient of the SEAI Sustainable Energy Award 2016 for Innovation.
This award recognised the innovate nature of our funding model. As Colm Byrne, DaysE founder, explains:
In a nutshell, the DaysE model starts with energy savings implemented by a commercial energy user / donor. Donors choose to donate part of the consequent financial savings to DaysE to be used by community beneficiaries on energy projects. Employers can engage employees in an energy saving campaign while raising funds for their chosen organisation. Or, in collaboration with a Utility Partner, donors can pledge the ‘energy credits’ related to energy savings to community energy projects. All of the above meet DaysE and donor objectives by a reduction of:
- energy costs for donor
- energy related greenhouse gas emissions and
- energy poverty in a cyclical model of benefit.
Two Scoops – SEAI Sustainable Energy Award Winners 2016
The Better Energy Community project which we co-ordinated (with lead applicant Camphill Communities Ireland) also won the SEAI Sustainable Energy Award 2016 for Community. We are happy to acknowledge the invaluable administrative backup provided by Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency to our Better Energy Community project that year.
Read the SEAI case study here.