For Aran Woollen Mills, an SSE Airtricity energy audit didn’t just uncover energy and cost-saving opportunities — it ignited a company-wide commitment to reaching net-zero emissions.
Since its foundation, Aran Woollen Mills has woven sustainability into its DNA. Established in 1965 by Máire and Pádraig Hughes, the company started out as a family-run business committed to creating premium Aran knitwear while providing employment in the west of Ireland. Over the decades, it has grown to become an iconic, design-led brand with three manufacturing facilities, over 130 employees locally and nearly 600 nationwide under its parent company, Carraig Donn.
From crafting premium Aran knitwear with 100% natural, biodegradable wool to adopting eco-friendly packaging, the leadership team has always prioritised responsible practices. However, with rising energy costs and Ireland's target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, in 2023, the company decided it to take a closer look at its energy usage.
“We decided to review our energy consumption in greater detail to find out what was driving it and how we could reduce it,” explains Olan McCarthy, head of finance at Aran Woollen Mills. On the advice of SSE Airtricity, the team applied to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and received a €2,000 SEAI Energy Audit Voucher, which fully funded the audit.
With the support of SSE Airtricity, the process was seamless. The energy audit involved three key steps:
- Data collection: The finance team compiled energy usage data for the company’s Lodge Road site in Westport.
- Site visit: SSE Airtricity’s lead energy engineer, Daniel O’Dwyer, conducted a detailed inspection to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
- Energy audit report: The final report outlined actionable recommendations, including short-term wins like installing light sensors and long-term strategies such as investing in solar power.
One of the first outcomes of the energy audit was the formation of an in-house “Green Team” - a cross-departmental group dedicated to driving sustainability initiatives. Employees from HR, production, operations and sales came together to share ideas, implement energy-saving measures and participate in SEAI’s Energy Academy training sessions.
“The Green Team has been instrumental in maintaining momentum,” says Cliona Donnelly, finance analyst at Aran. “It’s both challenging and exciting to see how small changes can make a big difference.”
Low-cost measures, such as installing light sensors and smart meters, delivered immediate savings. But the game-changer was the decision to invest in solar energy. Structural assessments of the company’s buildings have paved the way for solar panel installations, projected to generate over 29% of the company’s energy needs.
The energy audit’s impact extended beyond the manufacturing facilities. Insights were applied across Carraig Donn’s 45 retail outlets, where store managers received training on thermostat controls and energy-efficient practices. This has resulted in measurable energy reductions across the company’s retail network.
Aran Woollen Mills also partnered with Enterprise Ireland to develop a comprehensive Sustainability Plan. Leveraging grants like the Climate Action Voucher and Green Start, the company now has a clear roadmap for continuous improvement, including applications for a Green Plus grant to further embed environmental best practices.
What began as a pragmatic step to manage costs has evolved into a cultural shift. “The audit was the catalyst for real change,” says Warehouse and Logistics Manager Ciara Brady. With employees united by a shared mission, Aran Woollen Mills is setting a new standard for what it means to be a sustainable, forward-thinking Irish SME.
To find out more about SEAI’s support scheme for energy audits (SSEA) with SSE Airtricity’s high quality energy audit, visit: www.sseairtricity.com/ie/business
Watch full video highlighting the Aran Woollen Mills Energy Audit: SSE Airtricity