Lawler Sustainability’s Design of the EasyPro Solution
10th April 2025
The EasyPro project makes Irish universities carbon neutral via Energy Performance Contracting (EPC). As an EU project officer and grant coordinator, our project partner Damien Whelan from Lawler Sustainability leads the design of the EasyPro solution. In the following blogpost, Damien explains this process.
The EasyPro Project
EasyPro is the straightforward and inexpensive procurement of Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) for the Irish University sector in order to make Irish universities carbon neutral. This EU-funded project responds to the Irish Government’s Climate Action Plan, which sets a target for all public body sectors to improve energy efficiency by 50% by the end of 2030. According to the Irish Fiscal Advisory council and the Irish Climate Change Advisory Council, Ireland currently faces over 26 billion Euro in fines for exceeding its carbon budget.
The EasyPro solution a tailored EPC Facilitation Service and procurement framework to reduce the costs and complexities of EPCs and energy efficient building renovations. This solution will be piloted in the following Irish universities: Technological University Dublin (TUD), University College Cork (UCC), Maynooth University and Dublin City University (DCU). Ultimately, EasyPro brings knowledge and finance together to help universities make more informed decisions about decarbonisation.
Designing the EasyPro Solution
Designing this solution involves evaluating project bundles and building energy assessments for the four participating universities. This process involves creating a detailed list of potential energy efficiency building refurbishments, including LED lighting upgrades, HVAC system upgrades and solar PV panels installed with the purpose of reducing carbon emission and saving money for the universities.
Regarding the energy assessment, EasyPro has received positive engagement from both the project’s selected universities and funding organisations. Preliminary discussions with EasyPro’s selected universities have identified what specific areas of their energy profile can be designated as a standalone bundle, and in consultation with their estates’ teams, the universities have provided a list to confirm which measures are to be included in each bundle. The key decision makers within the university teams engage with Lawler Sustainability to select the most suitable project bundle.
These energy assessments will be documented into a technical file and supplied to Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) for the tender process, who will implement the energy efficiency building refurbishments in the universities. The technical file tabulates energy costs, floor plans, energy schematics, operation and maintenance manuals, and feasibility studies. The level of complexity of energy assessments requires an investment grade audit technical file to cover the scope of decarbonisation that heretofore would have prioritised energy efficiency as the primary goal. For example, universities can have single sites with many buildings or many sites with single buildings. Their energy systems can vary accordingly and depend on the size of their maintenance resources. These buildings can have a decentralized, modular or main heating system.
The ESCOs are then selected via a tendering process, whereby the EasyPro partner Codema – Dublin’s Energy Agency will hold a mini competition using a competitive dialogue procurement procedure.
A delicate balance
EasyPro aims to achieve a high-level outcome of decarbonisation over a sustained period. This involves keeping multiple ‘moving parts’ in alignment. All Irish universities acknowledge the need for quick progress in their decarbonisation goals due to the Climate Action Plan 2030 requirements. The above process undertaken by EasyPro is cheaper, easier and faster than traditional attempts at decarbonisation, including EPC procurement processes by Buildings and Estates’ offices. Indeed, funding is a major issue for universities as they primarily require on-state subvention. Full decarbonisation with its added complexity significantly increases the cost and results in lengthy completion timelines. Stakeholder engagement also takes time and sometimes, not every stakeholder group is at the same level of preparedness.
To mitigate these risks, Lawler Sustainability – and in turn, EasyPro – ensures thorough preparation, communication and adaptability amongst all participants in the EPC process, and that all stakeholders deliver their work on time and understand the project’s goals. This process can be likened to a race: the EasyPro project will get everyone over the finish line together.
The preliminary stage of EasyPro’s EPC process is now complete, and the project is currently compiling business information and putting the project on a definitive work schedule.
