Aubren, a leading innovator in HVAC retrofit solutions, has been awarded two top honours at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Energy Show 2025, held in Dublin on March 26-27, 2025. The company’s award-winning EC Fan Retrofit Solution—developed to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of existing HVAC systems—claimed both the Best Energy Efficiency Award and the coveted Overall Product of the Show title, marking a significant milestone for the Portlaoise-based engineering firm.

From left to right: Michelle McEvoy, Sales Manager at Aubren; Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insights at SEAI; Thomas Grattan, Application Specialist at Aubren; Aubrey Nuzum, CEO at Aubren; Martin Greene, Contracts Coordinator at Aubren.

Aubren Celebrates Double Win at 2025 SEAI Energy Show 

The SEAI Energy Show is Ireland’s only multidisciplinary, all-inclusive business event for the energy sector—a must-attend for energy professionals seeking to network, learn, explore business opportunities, and experience the latest innovations in sustainable energy technologies. Against this dynamic backdrop, Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit Solution claimed both the Best Energy Efficiency Award and the coveted Overall Product of the Show title, marking a significant milestone for the Portlaoise-based engineering firm. The retrofit solution was selected from a highly competitive field, beating out all other entries.

Representatives from all 7 SEAI Awards.

Aubren was officially presented with the awards during a formal ceremony held on July 10th at SEAI headquarters, 3 Park Place, Hatch Street, Dublin 2. The celebratory event included an awards presentation, lunch, and a photo session for promotional use.

The event was hosted by Tom Halpin, SEAI’s Head of Communications. The awards were presented by Margie McCarthy, SEAI Director of Research and Policy Insights. Also in attendance was Helena Buckley, SEAI Marketing and Communications Manager. Representing Aubren were Aubrey Nuzum (CEO), Michelle McEvoy, Thomas Grattan, and Martin Greene.

The SEAI Product of the Show Awards recognise innovation, technical excellence, and sustainable impact across the energy sector. Entries are rigorously assessed by a panel of independent experts based on product design, performance, real-world impact, and contribution to energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

Aubren’s EC Fan

Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit emerged as a standout in a competitive field, recognised for its ability to significantly reduce energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and operational costs in aging HVAC infrastructure. The retrofit solution replaces inefficient, belt-driven fans in Air Handling Units (AHUs) with advanced electronically commutated (EC) fan technology from ebm-papst— delivering energy savings of up to 70% and enabling building-wide CO₂ reductions of up to 50%. This makes it an ideal solution for organisations committed to long-term energy conservation and sustainability targets.

“This recognition from SEAI is a tremendous honour and a validation of the incredible work our team has put into developing the EC Fan Retrofit Solution,” said Aubrey Nuzum, CEO at Aubren. “At a time when energy efficiency and carbon reduction are not just business imperatives but societal ones, we’re proud to be leading the charge.”

Aubrey Nuzum, CEO at Aubren

The retrofit includes intelligent fan control and management systems that precisely regulate airflow and ensure fans operate only when needed, thereby minimising energy waste. In multi-fan configurations, redundant performance is built in—the system automatically compensates to maintain airflow if a fan fails, helping sustain peak efficiency.

Aubren’s advanced fan selection process ensures the optimal fan is chosen for each unique application, reducing over-specification and the need for excess spare parts, while simplifying maintenance. Smart performance monitoring and predictive maintenance tools help detect potential failures early, improving system reliability and reducing unplanned downtime.

In addition to its technical strengths, the retrofit features advanced propeller technology for improved air movement and acoustic control—creating a quieter, more comfortable indoor environment. The long-term durability of the retrofit extends AHU lifespan by 10–15 years, significantly cutting lifecycle costs and reducing the environmental impact of equipment replacement.

“Congratulations to Aubren Ltd. on winning the SEAI Energy Show ‘Product of the Show’ award for their EC Retrofit Fan. This prestigious award recognises exceptional innovation, performance, and contribution to sustainability, setting new benchmarks in sustainable energy products or service.

Innovation, new product development and cutting-edge technology is the lifeblood of any industry, particularly so in the energy sector. Thankfully, continued investment in R&D has seen a wave of pioneering products and systems come to the market” said Tom Halpin, Head of Communications at SEAI “We need people and organisations to continue to lead the charge. A decarbonised Ireland will mean warmer homes, cleaner air, cheaper and more secure energy, in a prosperous and resilient economy.”

The judging panel was particularly impressed by the solution’s use of smart control technology, ease of integration, and potential to make a meaningful contribution to Ireland’s national sustainability goals. Its lifecycle benefits—including reduced equipment replacement, lower noise levels, and longer AHU lifespan—position it as a model retrofit solution for commercial and institutional buildings.

Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insights at SEAI, announcing the winners at the official awards lunch.

The Best Energy Efficiency Award is given to companies offering outstanding solutions that improve energy performance in buildings, industry, or transport. Winning the Overall Product of the Show, however, reflects a consensus among judges that Aubren’s solution set a new benchmark in innovation, performance, and sustainability within the sector.

This double win not only underscores Aubren’s engineering leadership but also highlights the company’s growing influence in advancing sustainable HVAC solutions worldwide. As organisations around the globe seek to decarbonise buildings and infrastructure, Aubren’s EC Fan Retrofit stands out as a smart, scalable technology that delivers measurable energy savings and environmental benefits across markets.

The July celebration at SEAI’s headquarters served as recognition—not only of Aubren’s innovation—but of the global movement toward cleaner, more efficient energy systems. With its award-winning retrofit technology, Aubren continues to support clients in Ireland and internationally as they transition to more sustainable operations.

About Aubren:

Aubren 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. By outsourcing product design and fabrication to Aubren, customers can focus on other key aspects of their business.

As the official distributor and approved integrator of ebm-papst products in Ireland, Aubren is pleased to share the release of the ebm-papst Sustainability Report for the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The report describes the goals ebm-papst have already achieved and those they are working hard to implement. The report outlines ebm-papst’s ongoing efforts in improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and adopting sustainable practices across their global operations.

Key areas covered in the report include:

• Commitment to Energy Efficiency and CO2 Reduction: ebm-papst is focused on optimizing energy use through renewable sources and innovative product design, aiming for climate-neutral operations by 2025/26 financial year.
• Sustainable Product Development: Their HighSpeed compressors exemplify the integration of resource efficiency, with products designed to be durable, lightweight, and energy-efficient, contributing up to 35% energy savings depending on the application.
• Circular Economy and Resource Conservation: The company is prioritizing the circular economy by utilizing sustainable materials, reducing waste, and integrating recycling practices into its operations and supply chain.
• Digitalization for Sustainability: By leveraging digital technologies like IoT and AI, ebm-papst is creating smart systems that drastically reduce energy consumption and improve operational efficiency. For instance, a pilot project using AI for testing new operating profiles enabled the reduction of fans’ energy consumption by as much as 60%.
• Collaborative Approach: Sustainability at ebm-papst involves working closely with customers, suppliers, and partners to develop new business models and shared solutions that benefit both the environment and the market. As an approved integrator of ebm-papst products, Aubren plays a key role in bringing these sustainable solutions to our clients in mission critical environments.

Learn More

To read the full ebm-papst 2023 Sustainability Report, follow the link below:

[Download the ebm-papst Sustainability Report Here]

Aubren remains committed to supporting sustainability through the integration of energy-efficient technologies from partners like ebm-papst.

The sustainability reporting is based on the international standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The sustainability activities contribute to ten of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here is an article from ebm-papst summarizing what this means.