Kildare County Council’s DemoHouse wins at SEAI Energy Awards 2025
10th December 2025: Kildare County Council is delighted to announce that its DemoHouse has won the ‘Energy in Buildings’ award at this year’s SEAI Energy Awards.
The awards which were held in Dublin, on 27th November attracted more than 140 entries from businesses, communities and the public sector. The ‘Energy in Buildings’ award celebrates sustainable and low carbon commercial and public sector buildings which have demonstrated new and emerging practice, design, construction, retrofit and operation of new and existing buildings.
The DemoHouse, is a 1990s house located in Maynooth located in Maynooth, Co Kildare, Kildare’s designated decarbonising zone. The house offers a ‘show and tell’ experience of a fully retrofitted home, allowing visitors to see potential for home improvements, including energy upgrades and universal design, while incorporating circular economy and biodiversity. It’s a space for learning and offering people an insight into what changes can be made to their own home.
The house has undergone a comprehensive energy upgrade, including work done on the external walls, replacement of the oil central heating system with an air-to-water heat pump, installation of new insulation and triple-glazed windows. The internal air quality was improved by the introduction of a decentralised ventilation heat recovery system. The house had an initial BER rating of D1 which has now been improved to A1.
Other qualities of the house include an EV charger and PV panels to support sustainable energy. Nature-based Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) are found throughout the grounds to manage surface water, including permeable paving, gravel and planted area on the driveway, with a small rain garden in the rear of the house.
The DemoHouse is open to everyone, but booking is essential through the link below.
https://www.supersaas.co.uk/schedule/KCC_Booking_System/DemoHouse
For further information on the DemoHouse visit: https://kildarecoco.ie/AllServices/ClimateAction/DemoHouse/
or email: demohouse@kildarecoco.ie
