Illumination for the nationHouseholders who use a large number of festive lights can spend up to €1,000 on electricity over the Christmas season, writes Sylvia Thompson
This year, everyone is encouraged to switch from traditional incandescent lights to Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), which use up to 90 per cent less energy and last up to seven times longer. Switching off lights in unused rooms and using timers for Christmas tree lights so that they come on at dusk and go off at bedtime are other measures encouraged by the Power of One energy-efficiency campaign in association with the electricity grid operator, Eirgrid and Sustainable Energy Ireland. For further details, see www.powerofone.ie
Say bye to the bulb
Greenpeace will undoubtedly take some credit for the forthcoming ban on traditional light bulbs. Before the Budget, the Irish branch of Greenpeace had received more than 10,000 signatures on a petition to ban energy-wasting light bulbs. Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the ban of traditional light bulbs from 2009 will reduce CO2 emissions by 700,000 tonnes every year and save householders €185 million.
Meanwhile, environmentalists expressed their disappointment at the failure of the Government to introduce a carbon levy. Such a levy would have put a tax on fuel with the highest rates applying to fossil fuels such as coal, peat briquettes and heavy oil and lower rates for natural gas and a zero rate for green energy such as wind power. Mr Gormley admitted that the Greens failed to convince Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to proceed with a carbon levy in this year's Budget, but he predicted that it would be introduced in the future. Meanwhile, the changes made to car tax in the budget to encourage people to use more energy efficient vehicles were welcomed by environmentalists.
Awarding achievement
Congratulations to Munster Wholefoods and Klee Paper, both of whom won awards for minimising packaging waste at the annual awards ceremony of the Cork Environmental Forum last night. Congratulations also to Sustain West Cork, the Bantry- based group whose achievements to date include a green directory for west Cork and ongoing practical environmental workshops. Jennifer Sleeman from Clonakilty was presented with the Outstanding Individual Award for her work on the Clonakilty Fairtrade Committee and Sustainable Clonakilty group. And heritage officers Niamh Twomey from Cork City Council and Sharon Casey from Cork County Council were given Public Sector Awards for developing biodiversity action plans for their regions. See www.cef.ie for details.
Eco-conscious kids
Eco-Unesco has extended the deadline for registration for the Young Environmentalist Awards 2008 until December 14th. Secondary school students, youth organisations or other youth environmental groups should register their intent to carry out a project on www.ecounesco.ie or by contacting Karen Sheeran on 01-6625491. Projects must be completed by February 29th.