Paul McDonnell

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I am originally from county Wexford. I have a BA undergraduate degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering from the Institute of Technology Waterford. In my second year of college I completed my college placement as a student facilities engineer in bausch and lomb in Waterford. I recently completed the CMVP course which consisted of helping companies confidently and cost effectively implement cost saving measures. Last year, we started construction for our first home in Wexford, so that has kept me busy over the last couple of months.

Where did you work prior to joining CoolPlanet?

Prior to joining CoolPlanet, I spent four years as a Facilities Project Engineer at Bausch & Lomb in Waterford. I was involved in the day-to-day running of the plant and working on facilities-based projects. I worked on projects involving a variety of utilities (CHP, Compressed air, Steam, Nitrogen generation, Chilled water, LPHW Systems, AHU / HVAC systems). I enjoyed my time there and was fortunate enough to work in a wide range of areas.

What does your job entail?

Initially, when I started working for CoolPlanet I was employed as an Energy Manager, that role required me to work alongside clients to develop savings models and demonstrate savings through M&V plans and reports. I soon made the transition to project management, where I oversaw projects in Ireland and across Europe. I enjoyed this role and the work involved in delivering these projects.

I was recently promoted to Associate Director as part of the operations team. My role now is to lead a team of project managers and project engineers to deliver energy-efficient projects for our clients. This involves working on solution development, project delivery and ongoing development of our current client relationships. I work closely with clients to understand their needs and engage with them to find the best solutions for them.

What do you enjoy most about working for CoolPlanet?

For me, one of the reasons why I enjoy working for CoolPlanet is having the opportunity to work on new projects across different countries. It’s great having the chance to work on cutting-edge technology and produce innovative solutions with the solutions team. I enjoy the challenge of delivering projects in different countries and enjoy the travel associated with it.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was growing up I wanted to be an airline pilot, I was always interested in planes and following flight radar trackers.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I am interested in most sports! I play hurling and football with my local team Rathangan. We have training twice a week. It's a great way to socialise and see the lads as well. I would also do a bit of farming on the weekends at my home house, that would involve dosing calves and helping move cattle. I would also help out at my in-laws farm so that keeps me busy in my spare time.

Tell me three things about you?

1. I would be good for DIY jobs
2. I grew up on a farm and still do some farming myself on weekends.
3. In order to capture the process of building our house, I recently bought a drone.

What is your life mantra?

To be honest with you, I don’t really have a life mantra. I would say that I make sure everything I do is of high quality both personally & professionally. I’m always working to progress and upskill where I can both at home and work.