The Carbon Club CLG

The Carbon Club Company Limited by Guarantee operates as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to educating and empowering primary and post-primary school students. Its core mission involves reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions through energy monitoring and behavioural change solutions. The company aims to provide students with practical knowledge to assist them in reducing their environmental impact and carbon dioxide emissions.

The organisation runs a schools competition, currently featuring ten post-primary ETB schools in Cork. Participants receive free energy monitoring systems with visual display screens to track live energy consumption and associated emissions. Schools designate a teacher as a contact point and establish an Energy Ambassador Team with Transition Year students. These teams monitor usage and implement behavioural changes to reduce energy use. The company provides a customised dashboard for real-time data, along with training, ongoing support, and energy reporting that includes recommendations for efficiency.

Participants can track their progress on a website leaderboard. The winning school has the chance to receive a solar PV system to generate free renewable electricity, while the second-place school may win an electric vehicle charger. The company also offers free energy audits to help schools identify measures for improved energy efficiency. Additionally, it provides opportunities for schools to access SEAI grants for energy retrofitting projects, thereby helping to reduce electricity bills while empowering students with essential skills.