Butler House, 16 Patrick St, Kilkenny  8pm Tuesday 7th July

We are delighted to welcome Richard Douthwaite to Kilkenny next Tuesday evening for a public talk. Richard is an economist, journalist and author specialising in energy, climate and sustainability issues. He is the co-founder of the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability (Feasta), an economics think-tank based in Ireland. His books include The Growth Illusion (1992), widely regarded as a classic, Short Circuit (1996) and The Ecology of Money (1999).

To begin the evening Brian Dillon of Future Proof Kilkenny will give a brief overview of local currencies with a particular focus on the paper currencies being adopted around the world including the “Kenmare Youro”. This will be followed by an in-depth analysis of Ireland’s economic outlook from an energy perspective by Richard.

Richard has been invited to Kilkenny by Mayor Malcolm Noonan for a workshop on Wednesday morning with the Chamber of Commerce and other interested parties on how to set up a local currency in Kilkenny. We hope that representatives from the business community, local authority, credit union and tourist board will attend. For further details on this workshop and to book a place contact brian[at]click2go[dot]ie.

Mullins Mill, Kells, Thurs July 2nd, 7.30pm

An evening workshop on the economic, social and environmental benefits of planting, harvesting and using timber to heat your home or business. This workshop will appeal to foresters and farmers, fuel merchants and local business, home owners and renewable energy supply companies. The presentations will be followed by an open discussion on the viability of establishing a wood co-operative with the involvement of potential end users and those wishing to get a foot hold in the wood fuel supply chain.

This event is being organised by Future Proof Kilkenny in association with Glas Energy.

Presenters

Martin Ecker, HDG Bavaria

The tradition of heating with wood in Bavaria.
With a long standing tradition of heating homes efficiently and effectively with wood, Martin will give an overview of how its done Bavarian style. From planting to harvesting, seasoning to splitting you will get a first hand view of the tried and tested methods of log wood heating.
http://www.hdg-bavaria.com/

Colm Byrne, Glas Energy

Combustion technology for efficient wood burning
Suppliers and installers of wood burning boilers, Colm from Glas will give an overview of the most efficient methods of converting your wood fuel to useable heat for the home or business. He will also discuss the economics of the equipment and the SEI grants available.
http://www.glas.ie/

Cathy Fitzgerald, Art & Ecology

Cathy will talk about her experiences turning a small monoculture spruce plantation into an ecologically & economically sustainable real forest.
http://ecoartnotebook.com/

Alan Holman, Lightfoot Forestry.

Alan will give an overview of the services his company can provide from, extraction and  harvesting to firewood production, packaging seasoning and storage.
http://lightfootforestry.wordpress.com/

Chris Hayes, Professional Forester

Chris will give an overview of planting and maintaining continuous cover forestry for wood production.

Brian Dillon, Future Proof Kilkenny

Brian will give a short talk about community supported enterprises and why we should consider investing our savings locally, such as in a wood cooperative, rather than in financial institutions.
http://futureproofkilkenny.org/

Martin Rafter, BNS Rural development.

Martin will be available after the presentations to discuss the Nexus project. The Nexus initiative was established by Kilkenny leader partnership, SEI and CRESCO, to establish a local value chain based around the supply of wood fuel for district heating in the callan region.
http://www.bnsrd.com/

Mayor Malcolm Nooan tests out the 'Smoothie Bike' at GreenDay

GreenDay is set to become Kilkenny first Local Green Fair. The local expo had its first day out under the glass roof of the Workhouse Sq at MacDongh Junction on Saturaday 20th June. This bright airy space gave visitors and exhibitors alike a relaxing atmosphere to savour everthing on display.

The GreenDay local fair is the first opportunity to give local green businesses a platform to showcase their products and services in Kilkenny. There was a good cross section of products on show from Solar technology to gardening providers, from energy monitoring to Tidy Towns.

Future Proof Kilkenny would like to thank MacDongh Junction for providing a great venue and in particular to Shay Bollard who brought the event together like a true pro, and with whom we look forward to working with again.

Amongst all the goings on young Hal kept everyone refreshed with great smoothies from the bicycle powered Smoothie Maker! Big thanks to Tisha and her valiant crew for that.

Picking the winning ticket at the Casey Technology Stand

To celebrate the ‘Green Day’ BureauScope.com / Casey Technology held a ‘Green quiz’ at their stand, and for the prize, sponsored €50.00 worth of plants supplied by Shane Phelan at the New Park Garden Centre. Everyone who came to talk to us was invited to take part.
The winner is Carmel McGuirk. Origionally from Co. Dublin but now living in Kilkenny. Carmel told Aisling [Casey Technology] on Monday morning that she was delighted that she had won the prize, her husband is very into-gardening and has previously bought plants from Shane Phelan . (086- 2113280) and she, [Carmel] never had won anything before.

As part of next Saturday’s Green Day in MacDonagh Junction we will be holding a series of free short talks and films above Gloria Jean’s coffee shop in the workhouse square. Its a broad mix of subjects from home energy to local food production to waste and recycling - something for everyone! Below is the fold is the full program. Continue Reading »

This is very short notice but if you are in Kilkenny this afternoon it is well worthwhile visiting the exhibition at Lyrath Estate on renewable energy solutions. Everything from rainwater harvesting, to pellet boilers, to solar panels, to where to buy decent dry timber is on show. The exhibition is part of the Irish Bioenergy Association’s “Banking on Biomass” conference. More details available here.