The Health Service Executive (HSE) has selected Limerick-based EpiSensor to deliver the energy monitoring infrastructure for a nationwide decarbonisation programme, as Ireland’s healthcare system works to meet legally mandated climate targets.
The HSE’s Infrastructure Decarbonisation Roadmap sets out how it intends to cut energy-related emissions across its estate by 51% by 2030, the target the Climate Action Plan sets for every public body in Ireland. The contract with EpiSensor provides the data infrastructure that programme needs: where energy is used, whether efficiency measures worked, and what carbon was actually saved.
You can’t manage what you can’t measure
Real-time energy data is the essential first step in any decarbonisation strategy. Without granular visibility into consumption patterns, identifying waste and measuring the impact of efficiency measures becomes guesswork. EpiSensor’s platform captures energy data at quarter-hourly intervals across electricity, gas, water and heating fuels, providing the evidence base for targeted action.
“The global opportunity for reducing cost and carbon through better energy visibility is enormous,” said Brendan Carroll, CEO of EpiSensor. “But it starts with accurate easy-to-use measurement. Our technology gives the HSE the data foundation to understand precisely where, when and how energy is being consumed, so they can make informed decisions that cut both bills and emissions.”
The HSE achieved ISO 50001 energy management certification in 2024. This metering programme provides the ongoing data needed to maintain that certification and to measure progress towards the 2030 targets.
Healthcare’s climate imperative
Healthcare facilities have a particular reason to invest here. A health service that cuts its own fossil fuel use reduces both its emissions and the local air pollution its own buildings produce.
The HSE’s Infrastructure Decarbonisation Roadmap and Climate Action Strategy recognise this connection. Accurate metering supports initiatives across the roadmap, from LED lighting upgrades to heat pump installations, by providing before-and-after data to verify savings.
“Sustainable healthcare infrastructure isn’t just about meeting government targets,” Carroll added. “It’s about breaking the cycle where our hospitals contribute to the air pollution that makes people sick. Every kilowatt-hour we help the HSE save is a step toward healthier communities.”
The technology behind the transformation
EpiSensor’s platform combines:
- Billing-grade metering accuracy (Class 0.5S) for reliable data
- Wireless sensor networks that reduce installation disruption in clinical environments
- Local data storage ensuring no measurement gaps during network outages
- Secure, encrypted communications protecting sensitive operational data
- Multi-utility monitoring covering electricity, gas, water, and liquid fuels
The platform is designed, developed, and manufactured entirely in Ireland, which shortens the supply chain.
Public sector leadership
Ireland’s public sector organisations are legally mandated to achieve:
- 51% reduction in energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
- 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030
The HSE’s investment in comprehensive metering infrastructure demonstrates the scale of action required across the public sector. With real-time data feeding into energy management systems, facilities managers can identify anomalies, detect waste, and prioritise interventions across a geographically dispersed estate.
