WE all want to combat climate change by promoting energy efficiency. But just how energy efficient are the products that we are using for this purpose?
The NEES (Natural Energy Efficiency and Sustainability) Project believes that it is possible to save more energy and reduce the carbon foot-print of house construction and retrofit if we look at the Life Cycle of materials and buildings and not just their use-phase.
One the houses in the Drimoleague scheme.
Around 30 people attended the Launch of Carbery Housing Association’s Private Sector Leasing initiative, Thursday April 12th at the Drimoleague Community Centre.
CHA is a non-profit company with Charitable Status and has Approved Housing Body status with the Department of Environment. It was set up in 2001, on the initiative of local residents in Baltimore, a town where holiday home developments was pushing house prices out of the reach of local people.
Marine Harvest says the expansion will create jobs in Bantry Bay.
Jose Ospina
A recent Southern Star report announced that Norway-based multinational company Marine Harvest had presented plans for a new “organic” salmon farm at Shot Head in Bantry Bay. The company said that it had lodged and application with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an Aquaculture Licence and a Foreshore Licence for the proposed development. The deadline for objections to this application is Monday the 12th of February.
The new development will apparently involve investment of € 3.5 million to secure “the highest technological standards, including the upgrading of equipment and operational practises, the continuing developing of nationwide stocking, harvesting, fallowing and rotation to international best practises”.
But a group of residents in nearby Adrigole do not see things quite so positively. They have written to Marine Minister Simon Coveney to request and urgent audience, on the basis that the notice given to the local community has been insufficient.
Hempcrete as external cladding
THE NEES (natural Energy efficiency and Sustainability Programme began as an idea developed by the Cork Centre for Architectural Education. CCAE is a newly formed architectural school and research centre on building design set up jointly by University College Cork and the Cork Institute of Technology.
The aim of the Project is to investigate the potential and feasibility of popularising the application renewable and recycled natural materials for the production and installation of products to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings. Also, to identify and promote local design and installation services available for the application of these products or based on sustainable natural processes. more »
Make room at the Inn, use empty properties…
The blogosphere in West Cork in the aftermath of the Holiday Period has been electrified by a number of news items relating to the occupation of empty buildings in Ireland.
A new kind of occupation
In particular in the Cork region, the quiet takeover of a substantial Cork office block by group describing themselves as the Cork City Centre Community Resource Centre has captured, albeit momentarily, the interest of the blogging fraternity.
