Dublin colleges unite: The work of four Dublin colleges - UCD, TCD, DIT and DCU - to reduce energy consumption was highlighted this week at Green Week in Trinity College Dublin.
The project (www.e3.ie), which was officially launched last May, aims to reduce the energy consumed in 30 key buildings by more than 10 per cent over three years. This would result in savings in energy costs of over 315,000 per annum and a reduction of 3,230 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
An energy management bureau called €3 is in charge of monitoring the project which is part-funded by Sustainable Energy Ireland.
Staff and students are encouraged to be energy-aware by closing windows before leaving at night, switching off lights, computer, printers when not required, turning down radiators before opening windows and optimising the power management mode on computers.
Green Week at Trinity College also included tree and bird walks, a debate on waste collection charges and a competition for a waste reduction/recycling idea (won this year by Daithai Ó Gradaidh for his suggestion to install a canbuster, a manual can-crusher that reduces the volume of cans to facilitate more recycling).
Tomorrow at 10.45 a.m., Frank McDonald, environmental editor of The Irish Times will give a lecture in the College Chapel, TCD. Meanwhile, the Green Society at University College Cork is holding a Green Week, starting on Monday. Their main focus is a campaign for action on climate change and environmental destruction.
On the KIngfisher Trail
Anyone keen on planning a short energetic break or active family holiday away from the urban and suburban sprawl should check out the Kingfisher Cycle Trail. A fully signed cycle route, which runs at approximately 230 miles through Fermanagh, Leitrim, Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan, the trail "loops around lakes and islands, winds by rivers and streams and passes through woods, forests and country parks", according to its promoters. The Kingfisher Cycle Trail is one of the principal tourist packages that is available through the Green Box, Ireland's first area-based eco-tourism project.
The focus of the Green Box, which was launched last year, is to promote "responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the welfare of local people". Contact www.greenbox.ie or www.cycletoursireland.com or 071-9856898for more details.
Sustainable solutions
A 10-week evening course which explores the root causes of unsustainability (such as the over-use of fossil fuels, long-term debt, etc) and potential solutions (strong, healthy local communities, farmers' markets, etc) begins on February 22nd at 7 p.m. in the Cultivate Centre, 15-19 Essex St West, Temple Bar, Dublin. The course, which is run by , the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability FEASTA, should be suitable for community group leaders and others keen to increase their awareness of sustainability issues. Cost €80. Contact communication@feasta.org or 01-6746396. See also www.feasta.org
