Watt Footprint marks five years redefining energy efficiency

Watt Footprint set out to find a new way to engage with energy, not as a utility, but as an opportunity for change, says one of the founders.

Paul Mahon, CEO and co-founder along with Paul O’Reilly, was speaking as the company marks its fifth year. “I am immensely proud that we are setting new standards in efficiency and making energy management accessible to every business,” he said.

Watt Footprint was founded in 2020 by Mr Mahon and Mr O’Reilly, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was born from the belief that energy efficiency should be accessible to every business, and now, with some 850 clients, the platform provides real-time insights from energy monitors, combined with bill data and the expertise of the Watt Watchers team remotely tracking trends, spikes, and inefficiencies, to deliver immediate reductions in energy use and costs.

Watt Footprint unites a fragmented energy industry offering a full suite of services from energy monitoring, ESG reporting, grant acquisition, energy rate optimisation and project managing energy upgrades.

In five years Watt Footprint has saved more than 44 million kilowatt hours and €9 million for clients in Ireland, the UK and UAE.

Paul O’Reilly, co-founder, said: “Joining forces with Paul Mahon, we combined decades of industry experience with a smart future-focused edge to transform Watt Footprint into the digital company it is today. In 2016, I published a book on how to save energy called Watt Footprint, which is probably more topical today than it was 10 years ago, so this anniversary is a celebration of our growth, and of the meaningful change we continue to create.”

In 2024, Watt footprint secured package led by BDO and the Davy EIIS Fund. It has expanded its team to 45 energy specialists, including engineers, auditors, and software experts. Over the five years, Watt Footprint has grown from a local startup into a global business, with offices across Ireland plus London and Dubai.

With support from LEO Westmeath and Enterprise Ireland, Watt Footprint has plans to expand further into international markets.

Paul Mahon concluded: “We are excited about what is ahead. With new markets, enhanced technology, and a growing team, Watt Footprint is poised to lead the next wave of innovation in the energy sector.”

Energy Platform

At the core of its offering is the Watt Footprint Energy Platform, a web and mobile app that gives live visibility across electricity, gas, carbon, and solar, helping businesses identify waste, optimise performance, and make measurable savings.