Longford County Council has designated Longford Town as its official ‘Decarbonisation’reducing the amount of Carbon Dioxide emissionsZone (DZ).
The vision for Longford Town aims:
“To set an example for County Longford by forging and strengthening engagement between Longford County Council, business, communities, key stakeholders from the private sector, energy network operators and others by striving together towards the National Climate Action Target”.
8.9 tCO₂e per person per year
In 2018, the town’s emissions were estimated at 89,503 tonnes of CO₂e per year, which is about 10% of total county emissions. The 2022 census gave the population of Longford Town as 10,952. The estimated per person emissions of the town is about 8.6 tonnes. This is lower than the 19 tonnes per person elsewhere in county Longford. This is mainly because there is no agricultural activity in the town.
Aims and Objectives in the Longford Town DZ
As a small urban centre, Longford Town’s decarbonisation efforts focus on two main areas:
- Residential and Transport:
- Industry and Business:
New “A Rated” Social Housing.
Longford County Council is committed to constructing all new social housing to BER A standard and to use the latest technology such as heat pumps to ensure that greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions are minimised.
Retrofits and Energy Saving
Longford County Council has a programme to retrofit its existing social housing stock to BER A rating and to reduce ghg emissions.
Transport
Longford County Council is constructing dedicated cyclepaths in Longford to encourage people to move away from car travel and to use alternative modes of transport
Public Lighting Upgrades
Longford County Council is currently upgrading all public lighting to energy efficient LEDs. Approximately 82% of all lighting has been upgraded todate.
Industry and Business
Engaging with local companies and organisations
Longford County Council is engaging local companies and organisations to capture all the climate positive actions they are taking on the road to net ZERO by 2050. This is work in progress and a comprehensive report is being compiled and will be ready for publication in early 2026.
An example of the type work being done: Longford Leisure Centre uses biomass (wood chips) to heat the swimming pool and has installed solar panels on the roof which provide carbon free electricity for the leisure centre.
New 75KW Electric Vehicle Charging Points recently installed at the Public Library in Longford Town
A town-wide sustainability mapping exercise will identify existing climate actions and practices. Findings from this and public surveys will inform a local sustainability report and guide the development of an implementation plan for Longford Town’s decarbonisation pathway.
Community Engagement
Local communities in Longford Town have been active in climate initiatives prior to DZ designation. The Longford Climate Action Plan, completed in 2024 and updated in 2025, includes five DZ-specific actions among 58 total measures, many of which benefit the DZ area.
The Longford Climate Action Team will begin implementing DZ actions in October 2025, focusing on understanding existing community and business efforts through direct engagement and surveys rather than large public forums. This personalised approach aims to encourage deeper connections and help identify: 1) Local attitudes toward climate action, 2)Key environmental concerns and priorities and, 3) Existing skills, resources, and opportunities for collaboration.
Longford County Council’s Climate Action Team will also work closely with established local groups such as Longford Tidy Towns and the Longford Sustainable Energy Community, currently developing their Energy Master Plans.
Longford County Council administers the Community Climate Action Fund (CCAF) which grant aids community organisations undertaking climate action projects. In the DZ a number of groups have availed of this funding. For example the Athletic Club and a new biodigester connected to the catering training kitchen at Longford Education Development Education Centre (EDI centre) funded by the CCAF.
Stakeholder Engagement
The Climate Action Team aims to collaborate with major public sector stakeholders, including the Prison Service and the Health Board, to align efforts in reducing emissions across the town.
Future Plans
Longford County Council’s Climate Action Team plans to contribute to a new community hub, being developed by the Enterprise Office, to promote awareness on energy efficiency, renewable energy grants, and sustainable living.
The Climate Action Team has a project to develop allotments in partnership with Longford Community Resources clg, the local Public Participation Networks (PPNs) and the newly formed Allotments Association o establish a community allotments and a community garden.
Get Involved
Learn more about Longford Town’s Decarbonising Zone and how you can contribute to its success by contacting:
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