University of Galway is continuing to invest in energy efficiency improvements after it halved its total carbon dioxide emissions in five years.

Among the ongoing projects on campus at Dangan is the retrofitting of student accommodation at Corrib Village.

These green improvements come as the third level institute confirmed its total CO2 emissions are down by 50% between 2017-2023.

The university said its energy efficiency has improved by 57% since 2007, and it was using 49.6% less electricity from the grid, than in 2006.

“University of Galway is the leading university in Ireland in terms of green energy with a 38% reduction in fossil CO2 emissions from 2017 to 2023.

“We also have a geothermal system for our swimming pool in the Sports Centre, and we have installed more than 6,500 LED lights to save energy,” a spokesperson said.

Further improvements are planned and ongoing, including a retrofit project at Corrib Village, to be carried out over several years. The entire project has an estimated cost of around €15 million.

“The works involve a wide range of energy efficiency improvements, including insulation, ventilation, heating, windows and doors and solar PV, as well as other ancillary works and improvements for the benefit of students, making their accommodation more comfortable, warmer and of higher quality,” a spokesperson said.

The university has a student population of around 19,000, with about a fifth coming from overseas. It also employs more than 2,000 staff. It is a major consumer of energy in the city but has taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint.

Retrofitting of three accommodation blocks at Corrib Village were to be completed this summer as part of the second phase of the project. Solar PV converts sunlight into electricity from roof panels. The University of Galway has fitted almost 700kWp of solar PV on campus.

“Our strategic approach to investing in solar PV is to reduce individual building energy demands and deliver measurable, long-term value and benefit across the entire university estate. It is an integrated approach, and it is central to our mission of creating a resilient, efficient and low carbon energy ecosystem on campus.

“As a public sector body, by treating renewable energy as a strategic asset rather than a bolt on feature, we ensure that every kilowatt generated contributes to overall cost and energy savings and to a more sustainable and interconnected future for the university,” the spokesperson added.

Pictured: University of Galway. Photo: Chaosheng Zhang.