NEWS
Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit Secures Third SEAI Award with 2026 Win
Aubren is delighted to announce that its EC Fan Retrofit Solution has been named Best Sustainable Product/Project at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Energy Show 2026. This latest recognition marks the third SEAI award for Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit Solution, following its success at the 2025 awards, where it won Best Energy Efficient Product and Product of the Show.
Pictured at the award presentation from left to right: William Walsh, SEAI Chief Executive; Michelle McEvoy, Sales Manager at Aubren; Martin Greene, Contracts Co-ordinator at Aubren; Alan Dillon TD Minister of State.
Aubren Recognised for Innovation, Performance and Sustainable Impact
The SEAI Product of the Show Awards celebrate innovation, technical excellence and sustainable impact across the energy sector. Each entry is assessed by an independent expert judging panel, with criteria including product design, performance, real-world application, and contribution to energy efficiency and carbon reduction.
This year’s award recognises Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit – AHU Retrofit & Healthcare Decarbonisation Programme, acknowledging the engineering expertise, sustainability benefits and innovation behind the solution.
Commenting on this year’s SEAI Awards win, Aubrey Nuzum, CEO at Aubren, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to be recognised once again at the SEAI Awards. This achievement is a real testament to the expertise, innovation and commitment of the Aubren team, who have worked tirelessly to develop our EC Fan Retrofit Solution.
Following last year’s accolades, this latest award further reinforces the important role retrofit technology can play in improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and helping organisations meet their sustainability goals. These outcomes are central to our values at Aubren, and we’re delighted to see the impact of our work acknowledged on a national stage.”
Aubrey Nuzum, CEO at Aubren
Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit Solution was once again recognised in a highly competitive field for its ability to reduce energy consumption, CO₂ emissions and operational costs in aging HVAC systems. The solution replaces inefficient, belt-driven fans in Air Handling Units with advanced electronically commutated fan technology from ebm-papst, enabling organisations to modernise legacy HVAC infrastructure without the need for full system replacement.
The technology can deliver up to 70% energy savings and 50% CO₂ reduction, supporting long-term decarbonisation goals while improving system performance and reliability.
The 2026 award-winning project is part of a phased AHU retrofit and HVAC decarbonisation programme at a leading Dublin hospital. Aubren upgraded existing air handling units with high-efficiency EC fan technology, helping to reduce energy use, carbon emissions and lifecycle impact while maintaining uninterrupted clinical operations.
A key feature of the project was its focus on environmental responsibility and resource efficiency. By retrofitting existing infrastructure rather than replacing complete units, the project extends equipment life by 10–15 years, reduces embodied carbon and introduces fan array redundancy. This removes single-point failure risk and significantly improves resilience in a critical healthcare environment.
Measured results from three completed AHUs are already delivering combined savings of 43,321 kWh per year and 433,210 kWh over 10 years, alongside carbon reductions of 9,806.94 kg CO₂ per year and 98,077.40 kg CO₂ over 10 years.
Across the full programme, savings are estimated to exceed 3.1 million kWh and 998,000 kg CO₂ over 10 years. Delivery has been carefully structured around weekend works and planned shutdowns in critical 24/7 areas, creating a practical, scalable and evidence-based model for sustainable retrofit in live healthcare settings.
William Walsh, CEO of SEAI referencing the importance of the awards, said:
“SEAI’s Product of the Show Awards recognise the technologies and services that are turning Ireland’s energy ambitions into practical, real-world solutions. I want to commend all of our awardees for their role in helping to decarbonise Ireland.”
Alan Dillon Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment who presented the Awards at the SEAI Energy Show commented:
“Innovation will be critical to achieving Ireland’s climate and energy targets. The products and services recognised at the SEAI Energy Show 2026 highlight how Irish and international companies are responding with solutions that are efficient, sustainable and ready to deploy today.”
In addition to healthcare, EC Fan Retrofits can be applied to AHUs across a wide range of sectors, including pharma, data centres, hospitality, commercial and industrial environments.
This third SEAI award reinforces Aubren’s position as a leader in sustainable HVAC retrofit technology. As organisations in Ireland and internationally look for practical ways to decarbonise buildings and infrastructure, Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit Solution provides a proven, scalable approach that delivers measurable energy savings, lower carbon emissions and long-term operational benefits. To find out more about how our retrofit solutions could benefit your organisation contact Aubren today.
About Aubren:
Aubren Limited designs, manufactures, and delivers high-performance air management systems from its advanced facility in Portlaoise, Ireland. Through innovative retrofit solutions, Aubren helps clients reduce energy use, carbon emissions, and operational costs.