Partners blow back in from County Fermanagh
Despite the high winds across the UK last week the SMALLEST partnership made it home safe and sound after returning from a successful partner meeting in Northern Ireland.
The partnership gathered in County Fermanagh for the penultimate partner meeting of the project, where they visited a number of local communities. The partnership made a stop at Orchard Acre Farm where they learned how one family has managed to create a diverse eco tourism business in the area situated in their award winning eco barn. The barn is fully insulated using hemp to insulate the walls, rainwater is collected from the roof and used within the barn and a combination of solar PV and wood fuel are employed for heating and lighting the building. The SMALLEST partners were also invited for a tour of the Balcas CHP plant in Enniskillen to see how Balcas use waste materials to make Brites wood pellets. Balcas Ltd. is one of the largest wood production suppliers in the UK. On the second day of the meeting the partners were invited to visit the Upperlands community renewable energy project, where the community has been successful in installing a 100kW micro-hydro system.
SMALLEST Tweets Renewable Energy Advice (#renbubble)
The SMALLEST project has launched a new discussion forum for community renewable energy using Twitter as a platform. Log on to Twitter, Fridays at 10am (UK time), ask questions and get advice from renewable energy experts around Europe.
Twitter is a valuable source for renewable energy news and provides a responsive network of interested people. SMALLEST is using Twitter to host debate, questions and advice on community renewable energy.
It’s simple! To ask a question related to renewable energy log on to your Twitter account, type your question in the ‘what’s happening’ bar – adding #renbubble at the end of your question - and send it off to cyberspace.
So if you have questions on community renewable energy, an issue or problem that you would like advice on, ask our SMALLEST experts’ on Twitter.
The key word is #renbubble!
www.twitter.com
Launch of Renewable Energy Mayo
A new support service that dramatically improves access to Renewable Energy in County Mayo will be launched next week. The invaluable service will provide support for communities interested in adopting renewable energy solutions.
Renewable Energy Mayo is the result of a partnership between Mayo County Council and International Resources and Recycling Institute. It is part of a European funded programme called SMALLEST, a service which helps to make renewable energy accessible to communities across the northern periphery of Europe.
The new Renewable Energy Mayo team is based locally. Shane Mulchrone, Community Development Officer, comments: “Sustaining rural communities is a major issue in Ireland today, none more so than in County Mayo. This exciting new service will therefore allow all the communities across Mayo an opportunity to become more economically and socially sustainable through renewable energy solutions. Successful projects can result in job creation, a wealth for the community and possibly energy independence”. Mr Mulchrone, who is based in the Community and Integrated Development offices of Mayo County Council in Moneen, Castlebar, will be taking charge of engaging communities across Mayo and supporting community renewable projects through a mentoring and advisory service.
Clar I.C.H. in Claremorris has also been involved in setting up this important new support service. Áine Carr, Energy Development Officer at Clar I.C.H. explains: “We offer independent guidance and advice to householders, businesses and community groups who are interested in installing renewable energy or developing renewable energy projects”. Ms. Carr is responsible for identifying renewable energy solutions for the Mayfield Sheltered Housing Scheme which involves designing a biodiversity park at the site, along with identifying renewable energy solutions for Claremorris and the surrounding areas.
Michael Prenty, Energy Advisor at Clar I.C.H. highlights: “Providing energy advice at a local level helps householders manage their energy bills and make decisions about heating their homes”. Mr Prenty will be the first point of contact for all energy efficiency queries to Renewable Energy Mayo.
Interested community groups are invited to attend the launch of Renewable Energy Mayo on the 28th September at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris from 9am until 1pm.
If your community is interested in attending the launch or investigating renewable energy solutions please contact Shane Mulchrone on 35394 9047545 or via email at shane.mulchrone@irri.org.uk. You can also find further information on Renewable Energy Mayo at www.renewableenergymayo.com.
Community Field Visits,
Northern Ireland 13th June
The Ulster Business School (University of Ulster) is working closely with Causeway and Rural Urban Network (CRUN) to help communities across Northern Ireland to become more energy efficient by reducing their energy costs and cutting down on their spending.
Currently the Ulster Business School is involved in a ground-breaking project which offers communities in rural areas the opportunity to become more energy efficient.
A one day event featuring best practice field visits will be taking place. Site visits will include:
· Eglinton Community Hall, who have installed solar thermal panels and have recently received Big Lottery Funding to conduct an energy audit and install loft installation. This will help the community organisation to cut down on the amount of energy they are wasting and identify how they can make further savings;
· Rural Generation Renewable Solutions, Derry/Londonderry, who will be providing information about how communities can become more self-sufficient (http://www.ruralgeneration.com); and
· Ballyherny house, Limavady, will provide an opportunity first hand to see how a farmer and business man has installed a biomass boiler to provide environmentally sustainable fuel to heat a farmhouse, self-catering apartments and nearby properties, reducing reliance on fossil fuels (http://www.ballyhenry.co.uk).
The event will offer full site tours, question and answer sessions, excellent networking opportunities with lunch and refreshments provided. To reserve your place, or for further information, please contact Lynsey McKitterick, l.mckitterick@ulster.ac.uk, or alternatively by telephone: +44 (28) 90 366448, no later than Monday 6 June.
Please click here to view a press release from the event.
The Spring 2011 SMALLEST newsletter has been published!
Please click here to read about recent progress and activities in the different partners regions.
Moffat CAN Open Day- 'The CAN Opener' 23rd April 2011
Moffat CAN is a Scottish community-run not-for-profit company and charity with 102
members, launched in May 2009. Since its launch, Moffat CAN has made great progress with numerous projects ranging including recycling projects, composting, community allotment and a brand new solar powered aquaponics system which SMALLEST has helped to install. To celebrate the success so far and allow local communities to see what has been happening, Moffat CAN are holding an open day on 23rd April 2011.
To find out more about the open day, please click here.
To find out more about what Moffat CAN does, please click here.
Update! To read about the latest work at Moffat CAN, please click here.
Page 1,2.
|
