*SUCCESSFUL ENERGY WEEK REVEALS HOW €23 MILLION IS SPENT ON ENERGY LOCALLY
EACH YEAR*
A staggering €23 million leaves the Clonakilty area (and the country), each
year on Transport, Heating and Electricity energy costs, and all of this
could be replaced by locally produced renewable energy in the community
according to the results of the Sustainable Energy Renewable Energy Study
which were revealed at a public forum during last weeks Energy Week in the
town. And all this could be replaced by locally-produced energy in a short
few years according to Mr. Xavier Dubission, Energy Consultant which would
mean this money staying locally, and long-term sustainable jobs into the
future.
The inaugural Clonakilty Energy Week organised by Sustainable Clonakilty was
a great success. With an array of events organised to attract as many and as
diverse a range of people as possible from Monday 18th to 24th October, the
event attracted lots of attention and favourable comment. In organising the
week, Sustainable Clonakilty aimed to get it's message out to as many people
as possible, especially young people, about the Clonergy 2020 project. This
aims to have Clonakilty and surrounding areas providing as much energy
locally as possible in the next 10 years, by replacing the community's 95%
dependence on imported, fossil fuel energy which will become scarcer and
more expensive as time goes by.
Over 400 children from the local primary schools attended free workshops on
environment and how to cut down on waste and be sustainable during the week.
Throughout the week, energy providers were at the Waterfront to offer advice
to citizens on how to reduce their energy and their bills. "50 Mile Meals"
were available on the menus of a dozen restaurants and cafés, to show how we
can support local producers, and keep money local.
Duncan Stewart of "Eco Eye" programme spent a whole day recording local
sustainable initiatives, and addressed a crowd on the opening night,
followed by a thought provoking film at the cinema – "The Vanishing of the
Bees" which showed how pesticide use in the US is devastating bee colonies.
An Taisce reps were on hand to talk about the "Green Homes" programme which
is about basic common sense and how by making small adjustments in our
homes, we can all conserve and cut down on energy and thereby save money.
There was an interesting talk on "Sustainable Building" methods by Thomas
Riedmuller from "The Hollies Centre" near Enniskeane.
Perhaps the most important event of the week was the launch of the
Sustainable Clonakilty Renewable Energy Study. Consultant Xavier Dubission
had worked for around 6 months researching the quantities, types and sources
of all energy usage in the Clonakilty and district area. Not surprisingly,
on a par with national statistics, 95% of the transport, electricity and
heating energy sources in this area are derived from imported fossil fuels.
In economic terms, this is a staggering €23 million/year leaving this area,
and leaving the country every year on current costs. This figure stunned
many people, as they pondered on all the things that could be done with such
money if it was being kept locally and used for the economy of the area. In
his detailed report, Xavier went on to show how we could easily replace 100%
of this by designing and building facilities whereby we would produce all
our energy needs.
There are opportunities for farmers and everyone in the community to get
involved. He recalled how a delegation from Sustainable Clonakilty had
travelled to the Austrian town of Gussing two years ago, where that
community has cut out the importation of energy, and are producing all their
own and exporting some as well. That town hosts approx. 400 people each week
who come on business and on "eco tourism" trips directly as a result of how
they have transformed their area into a sustainable community. Clonakilty
could easily do the same, and if we started planning now it could be
achieved buy the year 2020.
Friday morning saw Sustainable Clon members, along with the two local
Mayors, gather to see off the Walking Bus of St. Joseph's Girls National
School. And a conference in Darrara College saw a speaker from the
Cloughjordan eco-village in north Tipperary, the Callan Nexus Project in
Kilkenny, a speaker from SEAI on Bioenergy Options, the Templederry
Community Wind Farm and from U.C.C. who gave a talk on "Biogas from Grass".
That evening saw a Pedal Power demonstration and great local music in
Shanley's.
Saturday saw many people availing of free advice and consultation with local
renewable energy providers and suppliers/installers. The annual Community
Garden Awards were also presented. The Energy Week concluded on Sunday with
glorious weather just right for the 60 or so people that took part in a
relaxed cycle from town to Inchydoney and back.
If you would like more information on any of the above contact Alison on 023
883 5241 or email: sustainableclon@gmail.com. Check out the group's
website: www.sustainableclon.com and Facebook page for details of upcoming
events.
Go raibh maith agat,
Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin,
P.R.O.,
Sustainable Clonakilty.
086-2202029
See our website: www.sustainableclon.com for up to date information on our
activities.
Join our Facebook page - Sustainable Clonakilty
