1)
a) Retrofit our Homes
b) Retrofit our Public Buildings
c) Green our Transport
2)
a) Wind Energy
b) Biomass Energy
3)
a) So that we may learn
b) So that others may learn
Environment – establishing an energy plus community to create a more sustainable environment. Learn from and provide an example to other Communities
Employment – two unemployed persons were hired to carry out the energy audits / database work. The Retrofit Work has produced considerable business for associated industries.
Health – Wicklow is a high risk radon region, and the measurement of radon will identify where remedial measures are required.
Educational – a database detailing the energy use of all houses will provide a valuable research resource for our community and communities that want to do something similar
Financial – Eventually to generate a hopefully perpetual income stream for this community.
Image and Reputation – and energy plus community will draw both national and international interest to this region.
Glenealy School
Retrofitted to Passive House Standard
Kilbride Church
Retrofitting to Church completed
Gleneally Hall
Energy Upgrade/Boiler/ Retrofit
Local Houses retrofitted en masse
The area's major industrial energy consumer converts to renewable energy - oil to wood
Continued the retrofit of local houses
Supported many installations of timber boilers and stoves to avail of a local renewable resource
Distribution of energy monitoring meters to enable individual households in the community monitor their energy consumption
Forging links with SEAI in order for members to avail of the current grants - Details Here.
Outline Route planning has taken place
Alternative routes have been identified
Landowner permissions being sought
Compliance with legal trail requirements being prepared
Appropriate Signage has been arranged
Repair works have been undertaken
Car Pooling / Sharing
Electric Charging Points
Local Area Public E-Transport
Health – Distributed Radon detection kits to participating households - results awaited.
Financial– Produced a Web Application that allows users to calculate potential energy savings of various retrofit options.
Consultation – Produced a downloadable Wind Energy Feasability application that allows users to vary different assumptions and to test different scenarios.
Evaluation – Established base database of energy use and produced detailed interim report on energy savings.
We have assembled some information about InterReg and the Zecos Project - see this link Our Partners
The link to the Zecos website is here Zecos Website
They have also administered the Ballynagran Environmental Community Projects and Works Grant Scheme (BECWGS).
Some additional information about the BECWGS can be accessed here. Ballynagran Grants
And the link to the Wicklow County Council website is here Wicklow County Council
The web has transformed connectivity in hugely positive ways.
It has every facility of other social networks and more.
Solar Thermal or Photovoltaic energy generation for use in Community Buildings
The setting up of a Community Forest to compliment the increased use of wood-fuel. See ---> Community Woodland
A study of Local Wind Energy Options and their Feasability. See ---> Local Energy Generation
E-Transport Options have been considered but actions on this have been deferred for the time being.
Could the local community benefit from one of Wicklow's most abundant resources?
Feasibilty study completed.
Potential for wind farm identified.
Potential Locations examined
Ideal location identified
Comprehensive public consultation will take place
Economic implications of big or small to be examined
Comparison with alternative renewable energy sources to be outlined
Actual long-term return to community to be detailed
Could local community possibly benefit from another of Wicklow's most abundant resources ?
an interesting proposition because:
Dovetails with other Ballynagran Energy⁺ Projects
Long-term community economic development.
Community economic participation
Local employment
Sharing of materials & machinery
Local-level decision making
Educational spin-off
Benefits the community
A more suitable organisational structure to achieve ourOne Objective
Some of the Principles involved are:
Voluntary and open membership
Democratic member control
Member economic participation
Bulk buying
Sharing of benefits & materials & machinery
Education, Training and Information
Concern for community
A Voluntary Directory, Business Directory, Ads Directory and a Jobs Directory.
Each network could be assembled and moderated by local schools (transition year pupils). If revenue is eventually generated and is in excess of expenses the surplus could be shared with the schools.
No soldier, or politician for that matter, got women the vote, ended slavery and saw off segregation, took children off the shop floors and out of the mines and got workers the 40-hour week.
If you want to thank anyone for these great changes, for your rights and freedoms, thank the "little people" who tirelessly campaigned and protested. And won.
But they had time on their side. Sometimes hundreds of years. We don't.
The problem our generation faces gets worse over time. If not tackled now it will become irreversible and irreparably harm the prospects for future generations.
By all means campaign and protest. But we believe that what is most important is to act, to do, to change. Change will come. From below as it always has.
Our Community IsChanging. Is Yours?
