Carbery Housing Association CLG

CHA is a social housing association providing homes for families at risk of homelessness . We do this currently by buying properties where residents are at risk of eviction for mortgage arrears and we keep them housed as tenants paying a Council equivalent rent. We also undertake essential repairs on homes and make them energy efficient and integrate renewable energy. We currently house around 70 people in 21 homes. We have secured EU funding to install solar panels, batteries and storage.

Location:

Skibbereen County Cork

Established:

2001

Type of organisation:

NGO/ community-based organisation/ charity

Focus

  • Environment
  • Housing and homelessness
  • People in vulnerable situations e.g. domestic violence.
  • Poverty alleviation
  • Rural development
  • Social inclusion
  • Urban development

Interest

  • European learning networks and exchanges
  • Community outreach and engagement
  • Cultural and artistic innovation
  • Governance
  • Policy, advocacy and campaigns
  • Research
  • Technological innovation

EU Project Experience

Substantial experience

RED WOLF (Rethink Electricity Distribution Without Load Following)

  • The RED WoLF project, funded by the EU programme Interreg North-West Europe (NWE), brings together 14 Partner Institutions from UK (5), France (4), Ireland (3), Belgium (1) and Germany (1). Universities, housing associations, local authorities as well as training and other non-profit organisations across North-West Europe aim to tackle housing emissions, responsible for approximately 300 million tonnes of CO2/year.
  • The RED Wolf project will increase renewables' usage and reduce carbon emissions for homes with photovoltaic solar panels that do not have gas. CHA homes will provide one of 32 pilot homes in Ireland, UK and France. As part of this, CHA and Partners will fit houses with hybrid storage systems merging batteries and storage heaters. The heaters will provide heat on demand and the batteries will store output from the solar panels as well as low-carbon energy (wind/solar) drawn from the national grid at times of low demand using new 'smart' technology through which the houses hybrid storage systems will be able to communicate with the grid. This will remove the mismatch between generation and usage.
  • The total budget received from Interreg North-West Europe (2014-2020) is €3.64 million of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The total project budget is €6.06 million.

E-Lighthouse Project (Energy Saving Lighthouse Cities in the NPA region)

  • The E-lighthouse Project ran from 2016 to 2019.
  • It supported actions that increase energy efficiency in buildings and the uptake of renewable energy, thus decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Though not a full partner, CHA was involved this project through NCE insulation and provided Pilot Projects for two innovative energy models, a Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) and a Domestic Energy Management System (DEMS).

RENEASE Project - (Renewable Energy Against Social Exclusion)

  • This Project ran from May 2002 to March 2003. The aim of the Project was to develop a model for design of sustainable social housing, creating a convergence between social and environmental objectives. This has been achieved.
  • The Pilot Project has clearly demonstrated to a large constituency that added value could be gained from incorporating sustainable energy considerations into social housing development strategies.

EU Funding Goals

Our EU funding goals are:

  • to promote innovation in our work
  • to secure additional funding resources
  • to  build expertise and skills
  • to work with peers in other regions
  • to develop networks
  • to diversify

Strenghts

Our strenghts are:

  • experience
  • skills in project development
  • project management
  • housing
  • building
  • circular economy
  • energy efficiency
  • renewable energy

Video

Contact Name:

Jose Ospina

Job Title:

Chairman

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