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Fields supports Barnardos with energy upgrade

January 27th, 2016 7:15 AM

By Southern Star Team

David Long with Eimear and Kate Carey and John Field at Field's Supervalu in Skibbereen, to mark the store's generous funding for Barnardos energy upgrade. (Photo: Emma Jervis)

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Barnardos family care centres in Cork are set to benefit from much-needed energy efficiency upgrades, thanks to a donation from three local SuperValu stores, including Fields in Skibbereen. 

BARNARDOS family care centres in Cork are set to benefit from much-needed energy efficiency upgrades, thanks to a donation from three local SuperValu stores, including Fields in Skibbereen. The centres will also receive a grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The centres benefiting from the funding are Barnardos ‘Blackmore House’ on Meade St, Barnardos ‘Brighter Future’ in Knocknaheeney and Barnardos Child Care, Mahon Road, Cork.

Field’s SuperValu Skibbereen has joined with Dano’s SuperValu in Mallow, and Ryan’s SuperValu in Grange to spend a combined €370,000 on installing energy efficient technologies at their own stores.  

This is part of a nationwide campaign that has seen 19 SuperValu Stores across the country invest a total of €1.5m to reduce their energy consumption by up to 30%, – €275,000 of which was spent at their local Barnardos Centres.

It is estimated that the works undertaken at Barnardos, including upgrades to boilers and heating controls, roof and cavity wall insulation, low energy lighting, and air to water heat pumps, will save the children’s charity approximately €30,000 a year in energy costs, allowing more resources to be channelled directly into support services for vulnerable children and their families.

Commenting on this exciting partnership, Barnardos’ Fergus Finlay said: ‘We are extremely grateful to SuperValu Skibbereen, SuperValu Mallow and SuperValu Grange, and the SEAI for their support.  The savings we make on energy costs at our centres will be redirected into services and will support our work with more than 11,300 children and their families in communities across Ireland.’

Martin Kelleher, managing director of SuperValu, said that Barnardos provides essential services in the heart of local communities. ‘We have an ongoing commitment to create greener and vibrant local communities, and we hope that our contribution, and that of the SEAI, helps Barnardos make much needed savings to continue their work in the community.’

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