TUS are taking part in SEAI’s Reduce Your Use Campaign this winter. It is a voluntary initiative supporting public bodies to reduce their energy use over the winter months through staff energy awareness campaigns and no or low cost measures. The campaign runs from October to March and information about how you can participate in this initiative is below.
Reduce Your Use 25/26
Competition: Energy Saving Suggestions
We can all play our part by switching off lights and turning off devices but for the first competition, we want to hear your suggestions for simple ways we can save energy in TUS. Are there buildings that still have the lights on when they’re empty? Is there equipment that stays running after hours? SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS BY CLICKING HERE to be in with a chance to win a number of prizes including a €70 One For All Voucher and TUS merchandise.
Significant sustainability work has already been undertaken on TUS’ Estate across campuses. This includes installation of Solar PV, installation of LED lighting, retrofitting and improving sustainable transport options. You can read more information on this, as well as other sustainability initiatives below.
In June 2021, planning permission was secured for the installation of a major solar photovoltaic (PV) system on the Moylish Campus. Supported by a 30% SEAI grant, the project began in September 2021 and was completed by January 2022.
The system includes 370 roof-mounted monocrystalline PV panels across Blocks 1, 3 and 5, with a total capacity of 166.5 kWP. This renewable energy investment is expected to generate around 7.3% of the campus’s annual electricity demand for the main building.
The project represents a significant step forward in reducing reliance on grid electricity and lowering carbon emissions. With a projected payback period of approximately ten years and a panel lifespan of 25 years, it delivers both environmental and financial benefits.
Heat Pump And Solar PV Installation at Athlone Campus
The Applied Polymer Technologies (APT) Building opened in September 2023 following a significant extension and deep retro fit of the former Auburn 2 building.
A Zeta Rev HP XT 12.4 Air source heat pump serves the heating and hot water requirements for the building and replaces the oil-fired boiler which heated the original building. A 3.9kWp photovoltaic panel array (PV) was installed on the roof of the new extension of the building to offset the additional electricity requirements resulting from the heat pump installation.
The high-quality thermal upgrade together with the usage of air to water heat pumps, both removes the dependence on CO2 producing fossil fuels and provides a long-term sustainable approach to this project which aligns with the Universities vision for the campus.
Coonagh Campus: From Vacant Centre to Award-Winning Sustainable Landmark
The opening of the TUS Coonagh Engineering Campus in April 2024 marked an important milestone in our university’s journey toward sustainability and innovation. What was once an abandoned shopping centre has been transformed into a vibrant, state-of-the-art engineering education facility that is now setting national standards in sustainable campus development.
This €5,700m² project is a flagship example of adaptive reuse, breathing new life into a vacant commercial building while dramatically reducing the environmental impact compared to new-build construction. By repurposing the steel structure and envelope of the original centre, the project avoided significant embodied carbon, a key sustainability achievement. The design incorporates upgraded insulation, energy-efficient cladding, and generous new openings that maximise natural light and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.
The result is a building that is not only environmentally responsible but also future-proof, offering flexible teaching, learning, and social spaces that can adapt as needs evolve. Importantly, the project demonstrates how education buildings can deliver positive community and social impact, acting as a catalyst for economic regeneration in Limerick’s Coonagh area.
The sustainability credentials of the campus have been widely recognised: the project has won four national awards, including Sustainable Building Project of the Year and Educational Building of the Year.
Coonagh now stands as a model of what sustainable, forward-thinking higher education development can achieve – and a source of pride for the entire TUS community.
20.09.24 TUS Coonagh Campus. Photo by Alan Place.
Energy Policy
TUS published a new Energy Policy in June 2025. You can view the policy by clicking HERE.
