University College Cork achieves world energy first

An Irish university has said it is the first campus in the world to achieve the ISO 50001 standard in energy management.

The long hall and clock tower of the UCC quadrangle

University College Cork (UCC) is also claims to be the first public sector body in Ireland to be certified to the international standard.

ISO 50001, created by the International Organisation for Standardisation ISO), specifies what has to be done for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an energy management system.

To meet the criteria most organisations buy in software, UCC's was supplied by Irish firm Enerit.

According to the university's energy manager it meant the campus was certified in just four months.

UCC energy manager, Maurice Ahern, said: "We now have a very clear and systematic view of our energy management activities and the progress we are making."

Luke Walsh