From Classrooms to Homes: Empowering Communities to Decarbonise

Education and retrofit at the core

NCE’s main responsibilities in HYBES have been focused on:

• Education for decarbonisation, through the development of a teaching module for second-level schools
• Deep energy retrofit, including the retrofitting of a property in Cork and monitoring energy and carbon performance before and after the intervention

This dual approach, combining learning with practical demonstration, has helped bridge the gap between knowledge and action.

A success story in schools

One of the most rewarding outcomes for NCE Insulation has been the teaching module, which was designed to introduce second-level students to the principles of decarbonisation in an engaging and practical way.

The impact went beyond the classroom:

• Schools involved in the project saw improvements in awareness and environmental behaviour.
• Students carried the core messages into their homes and social lives, influencing everyday choices around energy use and recycling.

For local communities, this showed how education can be a powerful catalyst for broader behavioural change.

Demonstrating solar-powered living

Another important case example was the installation of a solar panel and smart energy storage system in a residential property. The project was delivered by associate partner Carbery Housing Association, with funding from Interreg NWE.

The installation demonstrated how:

• Domestic electricity and heating needs can be largely met by rooftop solar PV.
• Energy can be stored in batteries for later use
• Excess electricity can be sold back to the grid, with grid power used as a supplement when needed.

For local people, this provided a tangible example of how solar energy can deliver clean, affordable, and reliable household energy.

Advice for future projects

Based on its HYBES experience, NCE Insulation encourages organisations considering similar initiatives to stay the course:

• Cross-border projects are always worthwhile.
• Progress may feel slower in the middle stages.
• The long-term results and impacts are consistently rewarding.

By working simultaneously with schools, households, and communities, NCE Insulation’s contribution to HYBES shows how local action, supported by international cooperation, can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.