Published on: June 30, 2025
Carlow Lawn Tennis Club — one of Ireland’s oldest sports clubs — has successfully completed a major energy upgrade, cutting its energy bills from over €10,000 a year to almost zero, exemplifying the impact energy upgrades for sports clubs can make.
With support from South East Energy Agency and funding through the SEAI Community Energy Grant , the club installed solar PV panels, upgraded insulation, and improved the building fabric to dramatically improve energy performance.
Pictured: Marina DeCosta, County Carlow SEC Mentor, Colm Kelly, President, Carlow Tennis Club, Michael Kinchella, Project Delivery Engineer, SEEA, Mark Foley, Facilities Manager, Carlow Tennis Club
From High Energy Bills to Long-Term Savings
Founded in 1877 and now home to over 1,000 members, Carlow Lawn Tennis Club was struggling with rising utility bills, which once reached nearly €20,000 annually. The club partnered with South East Energy Agency to identify opportunities for energy savings.
“Every committee meeting was dominated by how we’d deal with our heating and lighting bills,” said Club President Colm Kelly. “Now it’s no longer even on the agenda.”
Following an energy audit conducted by Project Delivery Engineer Michael Kinchella, the club focused on cost-effective, high-impact measures:
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Upgraded windows and doors to modern uPVC and composite types
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Installed a suspended ceiling with 300mm insulation in the clubhouse bar area
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Added 10 kW of solar PV on the clubhouse roof
Results That Speak for Themselves
Thanks to these improvements, the club is now seeing:
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Annual savings of €4,385
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Energy savings of 15,148 kWh per year
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CO₂ reduction of 4.77 tonnes annually
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A projected 25-year saving of over €109,000
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Payback time: just 10 years
A Replicable Model for Other Clubs
Michael Kinchella encourages other sports facilities to follow this example:
“The first step is to talk to your local Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) mentor or development office. We can then carry out an energy audit and guide you through the available SEAI funding schemes,” he said.
With 30% of the total project cost (€62,437) covered by the Community Energy Grant, this project demonstrates how clubs can take control of their energy use and create a more sustainable future.
South East Energy Agency has delivered many energy upgrades for sports clubs across the South East. From energy audits and grant applications to project management and delivery, South East Energy Agency is your one-stop shop for energy upgrades. Contact us today to find out how we can help.
Discover more Energy Upgrades For Sports Clubs, Businesses, Communities & Homeowners in our case studies page.
