EnergyCloud Age Friendly Pilot Cork City

Description

The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Pilot provides free hot water to older residents in private and local authority properties by redirecting surplus renewable energy from wind farms. The Pilot aimed to address potential energy poverty among older residents.
The primary objectives were:
1. To reduce energy costs for a pilot group of 40 older households in Cork City.
2. Support Cork City Council’s Climate Action Plan by aligning with its goals for a climate-neutral, thriving, and resilient city.
3. Install easy to use smart technology in the homes of older adults to efficiently utilize surplus renewable energy.
The project demonstrated a measurable impact on both private and local authority housing, enhancing the well-being of older residents.
This is the First EnergyCloud Pilot in the country targeting older residents and where installations have been made in private homes. The installation of the easy-to-use smart Climo devices, provided by EnergyCloud, allowed for efficient use of renewable energy, allowing clients not only to receive free energy but to better monitor the heat of their tanks, effectively reducing energy costs and minimizing waste. The project showcases how smart technologies may be leveraged for social good.
This collaboration between EnergyCloud Ireland, Cork City Council, and Cork City Age Friendly ensures that older adults receive direct and innovative support from Cork City Council as they seek to minimise carbon emissions and explore sustainable energy solutions, aligning with Cork City Council’s Climate Action Plan, demonstrating the council’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and promoting sustainable living.
The pilot was open to all over 65’s on a ’first-come first-served’ basis and the older people in our Age Friendly Forum were part of the decision-making process to engage with this pilot , empowering them to play a more active role in community life. The engagement with this project fosters a sense of empowerment as older people get to grips with technology and see the real benefits for them .
While primarily benefiting older residents in Cork City, the initiative also has the potential for broader societal and environmental impact nationally, project contributes to environmental sustainability and economic resilience.
The idea for this pilot was brought to us by the late, John Mullins, who amongst other distinguished roles was previously CEO od Board Gais and the Age Friendly Ambassador for Cork for over a decade. John identified that Cork City Age Friendly would be an excellent platform for promoting the work of the social enterprise EnergyCloud through our established membership, networks and communication channels.
The partnership approach demonstrates how local government, social enterprises, and community organisations can work together to create innovative solutions that are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. This integrated approach not only supports the Climate Action Plan but also aligns with broader national strategies aimed at fostering a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable society.
The pilots success can serve as a model for other communities, encouraging similar projects that address energy poverty and promote inclusivity. The long-term impact includes improved well-being for older residents, and reduced carbon emissions.

Aim of Initiative

The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative is a groundbreaking project designed to combat energy poverty among older residents in Cork City. Launched in April 2025, this pilot program harnesses surplus renewable energy from wind farms to provide free hot water to older adults, ensuring reduced fuel costs and environmental sustainability.
The initiative’s primary goal is to reduce energy costs for older residents living in both private homes and local authority housing. By installing smart Climo devices, participants can efficiently utilise overnight unused wind energy by redirecting free power to heat immersion tanks overnight, reducing heating costs and improving their quality of life.
Beyond financial benefits, the project supports Cork City Council’s Climate Action Plan by promoting carbon-neutral solutions that align with Ireland’s national sustainability objectives. Redirecting surplus wind energy, which would otherwise go unused, demonstrates how innovative technology can be leveraged for social good.
Additionally, the initiative fosters digital inclusion by introducing smart technology in an accessible and easy-to-use format. Residents gain confidence in managing their energy consumption, helping bridge the digital divide among older adults.
The project’s success lies in its collaborative approach between EnergyCloud Ireland, Cork City Council, and Age Friendly Ireland, ensuring broad community engagement and lasting impact. By providing economic relief, technological empowerment, and environmental benefits, this initiative exemplifies how local governments and social enterprises can create age-friendly solutions that promote well-being and the environment.

Who is it aimed at

The EnergyCloud Age Friendly Initiative was specifically aimed at older residents living in Cork City, particularly those facing energy poverty and financial strain due to rising electricity costs.
Recognising that older residents are often at a higher risk of financial hardship and digital exclusion, the initiative ensured that participation was accessible and inclusive. The project was open to all individuals aged 65 and over, following a first-come, first-served approach. Special attention was given to those who may struggle with the cost of heating water, ensuring that the benefits reached those most in need.
Beyond financial relief, the initiative also supported technological literacy among older adults by introducing smart Climo devices in their homes. These user-friendly devices allowed residents to manage their energy usage more efficiently, empowering them to make informed decisions about their energy consumption and bridging the digital divide.
In addition to individual participants, the project engaged with community groups such as Cork City’s Age Friendly Forum, ensuring that older residents had a say in the decision-making process. This helped foster social inclusion, empowerment, and a stronger connection between older adults and local government services.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Strategic Collaboration & Partnerships
   The initiative thrived because of the strong partnership between EnergyCloud Ireland, Age Friendly, Cork City Council Community, Climate Action and Housing Teams. By working together, we combined our expertise, resources, and outreach capabilities to ensure the project was delivered. Strong community engagement with our older people through the Cork City Age Friendly Forum also played a crucial role in securing buy-in from older residents and community organisations.
2. Excellence in design of the Smart Technology
   The installation of Climo smart devices in older peoples homes was a critical step, to ensure the easy access to and use of the surplus renewable energy delivered as free hot water in older peoples immersion tanks overnight. The technology is simple, intuitive and accessible for older residents, allowing them to easily monitor and control their energy consumption. Providing user-friendly solutions , builds confidence and allowed participants to engage with the system effectively.
3. Clear Communication & Community Engagement
   The project was successfully promoted through a targeted and inclusive communication strategy. A community ‘call-out via the Age Friendly Forum helped to recruit potential participants for the scheme. Co-designed clear informative messaging about the project helped to educate homeowners about the benefits of the initiative and to spread the word. Unsurprisingly when people understood the pilot we were oversubscribed. By involving older residents in the decision-making process and having ‘buy-in’ from local community organisations, we fostered a sense of ‘ownership’, ensuring the pilot was well received and maximized its impact.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Engagement with Older Residents
   Encouraging older adults to participate in the pilot required targeted outreach and reassurance about the benefits of the initiative. Some residents were hesitant due to concerns about technology or skepticism about free energy, requiring thoughtful communication and engagement strategies.
2. Installation Logistics
   Coordinating the installation of smart devices across both private and local authority homes required careful planning. Variations in home layouts and immersion setups meant adjustments had to be made to ensure smooth implementation
3. Digital Literacy
   Some older residents were unfamiliar and nervous around the use of smart technology, making the initial adoption of Climo devices a little bit challenging. Ensuring participants understood how to use the system effectively required hands-on support and clear guidance from our installers (who did a great job!).

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Environmental Sustainability
   The pilots use of surplus renewable energy contributes to Cork City Council’s Climate Action Plan, supporting sustainability goals while ensuring a lasting impact on the community. The success of the pilot demonstrated how innovative ‘easy-to-use’ energy solutions could be scaled up to benefit the environment, locally and nationally and globally.
2. Reduced Energy Costs
   The initiative will provide free hot water tanks to older residents in Cork City, leading to a projected annual energy savings of up to €150 per household. This directly reduced financial strain and helped mitigate the risk of ‘energy poverty’ among older adults.
3. Enhanced Digital Literacy & Empowerment
   By installing ‘Climo smart devices’ into homes, and teaching people how to use them, the project enabled older residents to better understand and manage their energy consumption. This outcome fosters confidence in older people using and seeing the benefits of using smart technologies and this empowers older people, by mitigating against them from feeling ‘left behind’ in a digital world.