GreenPlan Mulranny turned a volunteer-run tourist office into a public “green hub” for the whole village—swapping bulbs, cutting bills, refilling water bottles, charging e-bikes from solar, and showing live energy on a screen. Those visible, low-cost actions grew into a community energy pipeline (Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) → Energy Master Plan (EMP) → Building Energy Ratings (BERs) → retrofits) and helped set the stage for Mulranny’s Decarbonising Zone.

Where?

Mulranny Co. Mayo

Who started this action?

Mulranny GreenPlan Group

Some quick facts about the project
  • Launched: 2015 — Ireland’s first GreenPlan village.
  • Green hub: Mulranny Tourist Office (GreenPlan HQ).
  • Impact snapshot: ~75% CO₂ reduction at the Tourist Office in year 1; 2,237 plastic bottles avoided by May 2022 via the water bottle refill station; Ireland’s first community e-bike scheme (solar-charged).
  • Energy pipeline: Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) SEC member, completed an Energy Master Plan, ran 15 BER assessments, and built a register of opportunities.
  • Partners: SEAI mentors, Mayo County Council, LEADER support.
What makes this stand out?
  • A public hub concentrates quick wins (low-energy lighting, water bottle refill station, swaps, solar e-bike charging) that residents and visitors can see and copy.
  • Behaviour-change first: clear, seven-theme framework; low-cost, measurable actions.
  • Place-based innovation: invasive rhododendron used as biofuel instead of turf.
  • Data matters: the water bottle refill station app tracks bottles avoided, turning action into evidence.
Highlights
  • Energy & retrofit at HQ: insulation + full low energy lighting conversion; later solar panels + battery with a lobby screen showing live generation/usage.
  • Community “light-bulb swap”: first of its kind in Ireland.
  • Greener Energy Showcase Day: hands-on demos with Mayo County Council & suppliers (grants, practical tips).
  • Water & waste: county’s first water bottle refill station; battery/WEEE collections; book reuse; non-toxic “Cleaning Naturally.”
  • Mobility: community e-bike scheme (solar-charged) + free e-bike sockets at the hub for Greenway users.
  • Social layer: Food Drop Box (holiday homes → Food Charities); invitation letter asking visitors to join the GreenPlan
Why this matters

GreenPlan Mulranny shows how visible, low-cost actions in a public place can unlock a structured energy journey for a whole community. By pairing everyday behaviour change with an Energu Master Plan, Building Energy Rating pipeline and practical services (water bottle refill station, solar e-bike charging), the village created a replicable model that advances climate action, strengthens community, and informs Decarbonising Zone delivery.

SDG Alignment & Keywords

SDG 13 Climate Action · SDG 12 Responsible Consumption · SDG 11 Sustainable Communities · SDG 15 Life on Land · SDG 17 Partnerships
Keywords: community energy, behaviour change, water bottle refill station, e-bikes, solar PV, circular economy, biodiversity, Greenway

Find Out More about the project

GreenPlan Mulranny 2015–2025

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Community Group Best Communications Practice Builds Success

by Climate Connected and Mulranny Communmity Futures

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