Inland Fisheries Ireland
Customer case study
Easy to use software tools for energy & sustainability managers
45%
Reduction in energy use
33%
Reduction in GHG emissions
107
Locations, including 72 properties
1
Central, searchable, & secure location for all energy & carbon data
Project overview
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is one of the country’s core environmental agencies. It is responsible for the protection, development, conservation, and management of 74,000 km of rivers and streams, 128,000 hectares of lakes, and a 12-mile coastal jurisdiction. IFI operates across 107 locations, and has a building stock of 72 properties dispersed nationally. Aligned with the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate, IFI is committed to deliver and excel in its national obligations to accelerate decarbonisation efforts. This is how a partnership with EnergyElephant has helped IFI to maximise their energy efficiency and minimise the ecological footprint of their activities.
Key Sustainability Priorities for IFI:
Maintain biodiversity and ensure sustainability of native fish through a climate change adaptation and mitigation programme.
Improve energy efficiency by 50% by 2030 (2009 baseline).
Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51% by 2030 (2016-2018 baseline), with a view to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Maximise adoption of measures that will yield carbon abatement at no cost where entire lifetime costs are considered (solar PV, EV fleet, EV charging network, building fabric upgrades, zero emissions approach to property portfolio development).
Energy certification of IFI’s public buildings.
Monthly, quarterly, and annual reports of IFI’s GHG emissions and sustainability activities to track progress and maintain accountability.
Annual data reports to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Public Sector Energy Performance Monitoring & Reporting (M&R) System.
Key sustainability initiatives implemented by the Trust:
Setting annual energy saving targets and building energy management capacity through integration of Facilities Management, Finance, and HR functions.
The appointment of an Energy Performance Officer (EPO) to lead the development and implementation of an Energy Management Plan.
Formation and expansion of a national Green Team network, including appointed local energy champions, to help drive behavioural change, and providing staff with the necessary training and support for the implementation of actions and projects.
Roll out of a high resolution energy monitoring network on a prioritised basis at IFI sites that consume the highest amount of energy.
The adoption of renewable energy solutions in tandem with energy efficiency action where feasible. Onsite renewable energy generation (solar PV systems) already installed at 21 locations is offsetting imported grid electricity.
Undertaking building retrofits to help reduce energy consumption, including occupancy sensors, intelligent lighting systems, and high efficiency electric panels and radiators.
Growth of its EV fleet component which plays a crucial role in reducing GHG emissions. As of 2024, IFI’s road fleet comprised 63 EVs, 30 e-bikes (used to patrol rivers, lakes, and estuaries), and 151 internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Charging points have been installed at 32 strategic locations around the country to support the roll-out of an expanding EV fleet, each fitted with a solar PV system.
The challenge
IFI decided on a holistic, evidence-based approach to ensure priority projects in their energy efficiency programme were based on sound data. Aligned with their Energy Management Plan, they devised a data collection strategy to ensure the correct data was collected by the right people, from the right sources, at the right time, and was substantiable. To facilitate this, they needed to invest in a fit- for-purpose tool that could integrate with all of their existing resource monitoring infrastructure (e.g. real-time IoT sensors), as well as accommodate automated file uploads and manual data entry.
In 2022, we partnered with EnergyElephant to onboard an intelligent energy management system. The platform allowed us to clearly see where the energy blackspots were, sites with old boilers, single-glazed windows and poor insulation, for example. This data has supported the implementation of several energy upgrade projects which have contributed to significant savings.
The EnergyElephant Solution
A free trial with EnergyElephant, which allowed IFI to test the software with real-world scenarios relevant to their business, allowed the team to quickly assess the platform’s functionality, usability, and ability to deliver the promised value, aligned with their specific requirements. It was important to IFI that the system be user-friendly, ensuring that relevant staff could easily navigate and interpret the data without the need for extensive training. IFI appreciated EnergyElephant’s transparency about their software development process, limitations, and future roadmap. Training on how to use the system was delivered to 21 staff, including four from Finance.
Real-time Module
EnergyElephant integrates with real-time IoT sensors across all IFI properties to provide live views and analyses of energy supply and consumption on any given site. Access to real-time data at asset level helps IFI quickly identify areas that need attention. Being able to take corrective action within minutes of an incident occurring leads to reduced energy consumption and GHG emissions, and lower operating costs.
Electricity (20% of IFI’s total energy demand) is used for lighting, power, and air conditioning. Natural gas, LPG, and kerosene (10% of IFI’s total energy demand), is used primarily for heating spaces. EnergyElephant consolidates all of this energy data to provide a granular analysis of consumption patterns and trends. The system displays key metrics such as cost, Kilowatt-hours (kWh), and carbon figures, offering a holistic view of the environmental and financial impact of IFI’s energy usage.
Fleet & Vehicles Module
Approximately 70% of IFI’s total energy demand relates to fleet, including road vehicles, off-road vehicles, boats, and PWCs. The majority of staff comprise a mobile workforce, often travelling significant distances daily to carry out their statutory functions. EnergyElephant tracks energy, emissions, and cost data associated with IFI’s fleet. It also helps pinpoint inefficiencies in business travel, and identify ICE vehicles that should be prioritised for EV upgrade.
IFI conducts regular transport specific energy audits to identify actions and projects based on energy performance data provided by EnergyElephant.
Results
IFI has achieved a 45% reduction in energy use and 33% reduction in GHG emissions to date. The daily partnership between team and technology will continue to play a cornerstone role in IFI’s delivery of its legislative remit, to minimise the organisation’s impact on the environment resulting from its facilities and activities. Capital expenditure to support ongoing projects has been committed annually to 2030.
Key outcomes include:
EnergyElephant has allowed for the centralisation of all IFI’s energy and sustainability data. The monitoring of solar production, EV charging, kerosene, LPG Gas, natural gas, and electricity usage is now available in one location.
IFI’s commitment to energy efficiency, including investment in sustainability management software and a wide array of projects, has set the organisation on a clear pathway to achieving their targets.