Its long overdue but we have finally registered and been accepted as an official Transition Town!

We come in at number 111 between Transition Town Brooklyn in New Zealand and Transition Town Wingecarribee in Australia.

As of today there are 114 official transition towns and over 800 communities adopting the process including 40 in Ireland alone.

Following hot on the heels of the UK Industry Peak Oil task force report “The Oil Crunch” the Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC) has published a report specifically for local government called “Preparing for Peak Oil: Local Authorities and the Energy Crisis”.

Below are the actions that it recommends local authorities undertake:

• Conduct a detailed energy audit of all council activities and buildings.
• Develop an emergency energy supply plan.
• Introduce rigorous energy efficiency and conservation programmes.
• Encourage a major shift from private to public transport, cycling and walking.
• Expand existing programmes such as cycle lanes and road pricing.
• Reduce overall transport demand by using planning powers to shape the built environment.
• Promote the use of locally produced, non-fossil transport fuels such as biogas and renewable electricity in both council operations and public transport.
• Launch a major public energy-awareness campaign.
• Find ways to encourage local food production and processing; facilitate reduction of energy used in refrigeration and transportation of food.
• Set up a joint peak oil task force with other councils and partner closely with existing community-led initiatives.
• Coordinate policy on peak oil and climate change.
• Adopt the Oil Depletion Protocol.

You can download the full report here or read a more comprehensive review at Transition Culture.

The International Energy Agency‘s long awaited World Energy Outlook 2008 report has been published. You can read the executive summary here.

Over the past year the IEA has been reviewing the production figures and reserve data of the worlds oil fields. Once a skeptic of Peak Oil it is now warning of a severe supply crunch without major new investment. Fatih Birol, chief economist of the International Energy Agency (IEA), has said that fresh sources of oil equivalent to the output of four Saudi Arabias will have to be found simply to maintain present levels of supply by 2030. Continue Reading »

Below are details on our forthcoming “Future Proof Your Business” seminar. Booking is not essential but places are limited. Admission is €20, payable on the day. Download the flyer here.
Tel: Paul Brennan, 056 4440593
Email: paul[at]futureproofkilkenny.org
Thursday 27th November, Butler House, 9:30am-2pm, 20€, Lunch Provided

With oil prices falling and a recession around the corner now is the time to protect your business against future volatility in energy prices and global economic uncertainty. In its 2008 report the International Energy Agency warns that “sources of oil to meet rising demand, the cost of producing it and the prices that consumers will need to pay for it are extremely uncertain”. The UK Industry Peak Oil task force expects a permanently decreasing global oil supply from 2011-2013. This seminar will focus on the impacts that Peak Oil will have on local business in terms of energy, supply-chain disruption and economic turbulence. What participants will gain is an understanding of the issues, guidelines on adapting their business model to these changing circumstances, and case studies of renewable energy projects within Kilkenny. Continue Reading »

At 7pm this coming Wednesday, Trish Fox will hold a ‘facilitated’ swapping of clothes, books, shoes, bags, CDs and whatever else you want to pass on to a new owner. Its not just an ordinary jumble night and from what she has told me sounds like a lot of fun.

Everything is placed in the middle of the room and names are pulled out of a hat. You have a strict amount of time in the centre to retrieve just one item you want. Things speed up later with names being drawn out in twos and threes.

With snacks provided it promises to be a lot different than rummaging around at the car boot sale on a Sunday morning. If you are interested contact Trish at 0857112976.