Ivan Sproule, business programmes manager, SEAI

Grants for 2018

SEAI will announce an expanded smart lighting scheme in March 2018. Any business interested in this should email business@seai.ie. Applications can be submitted by either:

• Individual SMEs or

• ‘Aggregators’, which group applications and are in a position to apply and deliver lighting upgrades for a number of SMEs.

The upgrade must entail a whole building or whole facility solution which comprises lighting upgrades in all service areas within that building or facility. This could include the retail sales area, store rooms, toilet facilities and outside car parking lighting, if applicable, in a retail outlet for example.

Energy management

For any business interested in considering energy efficiency measures, SEAI offers training and other supports and has recently produced a userfriendly SME Guide to Energy Efficiency. This includes practical advice for those starting out and information for those who want to take their energy efficiency and cost savings up a level. It is available here: https://www.seai.ie/resources/publications/SME-Guide-toEnergy-Efficiency.pdf

The Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) scheme

The ACA scheme is a tax incentive which aims to encourage companies and sole traders to invest in energy saving technology. With the ACA, when money is spent on energy efficient equipment products listed on the SEAI Triple E Register, a company can write off the full cost of this equipment against its profits in the year of purchase rather than the usual eight years. Find out more and the list of qualifying equipment at www.seai.ie/aca For more information and energy saving advice for businesses, visit www.seai.ie/energyinbusiness