Cork City Council officially opened the new Home Energy UpGrade Office (HEUGO) today on Grand Parade Street.
The first of its kind in Ireland, the new HEUGO office will provide free impartial guidance and resources to homeowners on energy upgrades and grant schemes. Free from financial commitment, homeowners will receive guidance on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
This new initiative follows the recent announcement from the European Commission that Cork has been selected as one of 100 ‘Mission Cities’ to lead the way on climate action and smart cities across Europe. The HEUGO office will contribute to this through community engagement.
Located in the Pod on Grand Parade, anybody interested in retrofitting, decarbonising, or improving the energy rating of their home is welcome to stop by the HEUGO office for free and independent advice.
At the launch, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Deirdre Forde noted:
“The Home Energy UpGrade Office (HEUGO) initiative builds on Cork City Council’s determination to become a climate neutral city. It is the culmination of four years involvement in the European interregional learning project INTENSIFY. This is the first such office in the country and illustrates Cork ability to innovate and in this case to engage with its communities to bring about behaviour change and reduce carbon emissions. It is also the outcome of the unique relationship Cork City Council has with the universities and third level colleges in the region. In this case it demonstrates the close co-operation between the IERC, UCC and Cork City Council working together to demonstrate the benefits of providing unbiased information locally to people on how to make their homes more energy efficient.”
