Communications Plan (Warm Home Hub)
Background
The Warm Home Hub was established under the Net Zero Pilot Cities Programme as a local hub to provide guidance on home retrofitting. Based in Westside; the designated decarbonisation zone of Galway City, the Hub was initially staffed by a Project manager, an Energy Officer, and later joined by a Community Engagement Officer and a social media and Marketing Intern.
Over the course of the project, the team trialled a range of communication and engagement methods. Estate based door-to-door outreach combined with information sessions proved most effective in reaching the largest, sustained audience and in building trust in the Warm Home Hub brand. Area based archetyping was carried out based off publicly available BER data to determine the age, build type and heat pump readiness of the estates surveyed. This information was provided to residents via information clinics held during the project lifetime.
Although the Net Zero Cities project concluded in July 2025, bridging funding from DECC and Galway City Council has enabled the Warm Home Hub to continue until December 5th, 2025.
Aims and objectives
The Warm Home Hub will continue to operate as a Community Climate Action Hub. It’s objectives (funded until December 2025) are to:
Gather at least 300 new household contacts across Galway City in retrofit guidance.
Deliver 30 one-to-one appointments with householders.
Host 5 workshops tailored to community needs.
Run 5 media/outreach campaigns to expand awareness and participation.
Share learnings and results with Galway City Council and other stakeholders.
Gather archetyping information on large areas such as Renmore and Knocknacarra delivering heat pump readiness details.
Stakeholders
Primary stakeholders: Homeowners in Galway City (expanded from the initial focus in Westside/adjacent areas to include the wider city environs).
Community stakeholders: Residents’ groups, schools, churches, sports clubs, and local community organisations.
Institutional stakeholders: Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Galway City Council, Galway City Partnership, PPN, SMEs, and enterprise organisations.
Delivery partners: Energy One-Stop-Shops, technical experts, and relevant agencies.
Key Engagement Activities
Workshops & Events: Information evenings (grants, finance, retrofit pathways), age-targeted sessions, estate-based workshops, and awareness sessions on forming SECs and accessing community energy grants.
Open House Demonstrations: Where available, guided visits to retrofitted homes.
Expert Sessions: "Meet the Expert" events and collaborations with OSS providers.
School Collaborations: Engagement with local schools to raise awareness.
Community Outreach: Partnerships with community organisations, sports clubs, PPN groups, Galway City Partnership, landlords, and SMEs.
Door-to-Door Campaigns: Focused outreach in identified estates and priority areas.
One-to-One Appointments: Tailored retrofit guidance and support.
Media Campaigns: Social media, local press, and radio campaigns.
Customised Brochures: Estate-specific archetyping and retrofit guidance (e.g., heat pump readiness in Renmore, Knocknacarra).
Resources
Bridging funding (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment & Galway City Council).
Collaboration with other ongoing projects (e.g., Climate Festival, local development initiatives and Community Climate Assembly Showcase)
Support from Galway Energy Cooperative and partner organisations.
Collaborations with local financial institutions such as the Claddagh credit Union
Collaboration with the Galway Volunteer Organisation for help with leafletting
Collaboration with Retrokit.eu to provide low cost desk based Home Energy Assessments
3 employees working approximately 45 hours per week to meet targets.
Timeline
Project end date: December 5, 2025.
All major campaigns/events completed by November 14, 2025 (to allow time for reporting and wrap-up).
First campaign: Claddagh door to door (Thursday evening 11th Sept and the Climate Carnival Volunteer Fair 13th September at Father Burke Park)
Second campaign: Knocknacarra Information Session (Thursday 25th Sept - subject to change) and two door to door 19th Sept and 23rd Sept to leaflet and recruit for attendees)
Third campaign: Renmore Door to Door October and Meet the Expert Renmore/Mervue 20th October)
Fourth campaign - Meet the Experts - Westside 11th November
Upcoming door-to-door outreach: Knocknacarra estates to be determined, September —e.g., Claddagh, September].
Workshops/Events schedule: Knocknacarra Information Session in Cappagh Road end of September.
Warm Home Hub Communication Plan – KPI Mapping
|
Activity |
Description |
KPI Alignment |
Notes |
Risks and Mitigation |
|
Media Campaigns |
Social media campaigns, press releases to local newspapers and radio stations (Galway Bay and Flirt FM) articles, posters, and leafletting. |
5 Media Campaigns |
Frequency and timing of posts. 3 times a week for posts and timings will be scheduled as per Meta Business suite suggestions for best impact. Posts on social media to rotate between Call to action, Affordability, Comfort and Climate Impact, highlighting events. |
Risk: Message may not reach or resonate with the target audience Mitigation: Engaging with all available forms of communication, collaborating with local groups to get message out through already trusted intermediaries |
|
Information Workshops & Events |
5 group sessions covering grants/finance, age- or estate-based sessions, expert talks, and community energy opportunities. |
5 Group Information Sessions |
Information to be collected using sign in sheets during events and clinics, via the online survey and gathering details from phone calls and emails to the office. All participants will be made aware of the GDPR elements. |
Risk: Low attendance due to lack of time, perceived irrelevance, environmental factors Mitigation: Offer incentives, promote early and often. |
|
One-to-One Consultations |
30 tailored appointments for householders on retrofit measures, grants, and financing options. |
30 Appointments |
Risk: No shows or cancellations, Mitigation: Send reminders |
|
|
Door-to-Door Campaigns |
Estate-based outreach in Claddagh, Renmore, Knocknacarra, and others to recruit households. |
300 New Clients |
Claddagh, Knocknacarra Renmore, Westside, Headford Road area |
Risk: Householders may find the campaign intrusive or suspicious. Areas too large for small team to fully cover. Mitigation: Advertise in advance of campaign via trusted local intermediaries and leaflets and additions to church newsletters. Wear WHH branded jackets. Use area archetyping to focus in on areas with the larger zones that are most suited to Door to Door (heat pump readiness etc) |
|
Community Collaborations |
Work with resident groups, schools, churches, sports clubs, SMEs, PPN, Galway City Partnership, Charities such as Age Action |
Partnerships & Workshops Held |
Work with groups like Age Action and Active Retirement Ireland to offer information and brief sessions with their members. |
Risk: Limited capacity amongst these stakeholders due to own targets. Mitigation: Offer flexibility and reciprocity |
|
Open House Demonstrations |
Visits to retrofitted homes (subject to availability) to showcase retrofit results. |
Workshops & Community Engagement |
Risk: May not be a house available in the limited project lifetime Mitigation: Keep in regular contact with council to see if it can be arranged. |
|
|
Meet the Expert Sessions |
Invite OSS and retrofit specialists/ financing and grant experts to Q&A sessions with residents. |
Workshops + Partnerships |
Risk: Limited capacity amongst these stakeholders due to own targets. Mitigation: Offer flexibility and reciprocity |
|
|
Customised Brochures |
Produce estate-specific retrofit information (e.g., heat pump readiness). |
Supports recruitment of 300 New Clients |
Date Collection, Use, Storage and disposal.
Data will be collected through event sign in sheets, door to door campaigns, via email and phone calls. All details will be securely added to a password protected file. Sign in Sheets will be stored in locked cabinet in office. All contact details will be destroyed at end of project. Everyone submitting their contact details will be informed of storage and use and will retain the right to request that their details are removed at any time.
