The average household can save an estimated €320 a year by more prudent use of energy and water and by making informed decisions about waste disposal and transport, the Sligo Sustainable Futures conference was told this week.
Dr Dorothy Stewart and Niamh McDonald from An Taisce outlined to the Conference at IT Sligo the experience of hundreds of households who participated in the Green Home programme and who cut fuel and waste disposal costs as a result. They did this by taking such simple measures as turning off electric appliances, having showers rather than baths, checking the pressure of car tyres and not buying over-packaged goods.
The An Taisce Green Home programme which focuses on energy, water, waste and travel, encourages participants to engage in more environmentally responsible behaviour, thus reducing household bills.
A detailed survey carried out in 2011 found that by being environmentally responsible, householders can save up to €320 a year.
Dr Stewart, in her address, probed how the economic slow-down has created opportunities for sustainable growth. “This age of austerity represents an opportunity for initiatives that harness the capacity of social capital to facilitate Ireland’s transition to a more sustainable future,” An Taisce’s Green Home programme manager told the conference.
Organised by IT Sligo lecturer Dr Liam Leonard, the Sligo Sustainable Futures Conference focused on the role of sustainability in our society, and examined the potential of the North West region as a centre of excellence for sustainable industries.
Other Guest speakers at the Conference included:
- RTE Eco Eye presenter, Duncan Stewart
- Dr John Barry, Associate Director of the Institute for a Sustainable World, Queens University Belfast;
- Frank McDonald, Environmental Editor with The Irish Times and author of Chaos at the Crossroads Revisited;
- Dr. Constantin Gurdgiev, Head of Research for St. Columbanus AG;
- Peter Doran, senior editor and writer on the Earth Negotiations Bulletin for the UN International Institute for Sustainable Development and School of Law, Queens University Belfast.
- Michael McGarrigle, board member for the Council for the West and Greenbox
- Miriam Kennet, CEO of the Green Economics Institute.
- Dr Kieran Allen, School of Sociology UCD
Image Captions:
- Above: Dr Liam Leonard, IT Sligo President Terri Scott and Duncan Stewart
- Below: Duncan Stewart presenting
