Why I'd turn off the lights

Went to a talk about Dublin city energy last night, given by sustainability engineer Joe Hayden of Codema as part of the city library science week programme.

I'd heard about Codema before (City of Dublin Energy Management Agency), but hadn't realised the company was set up by Dublin City Council, and that there were some 15 other similar companies, set up by local authorities around the country.

Joe Hayden gave an interesting presentation about Ireland's energy use and our dependence on imported fossil fuels: 90% of our electricity, for instance, is generated from imported oil, gas and coal. As a result, Joe argued that 'peak oil' has major implications for Ireland, and arguably of more immediate importance than climate change. Especially as Ireland is the last customer at the end of a very long oil and gas pipeline, making our supplies increasingly vulnerable.

Dublin city spends (if took Joe's figure down right), €20,000,000 a year on energy alone. But an estimated 20% of all our energy use in Ireland is 'wasted'. That's a lot of money, and it doesn't include the money and fuel 'wasted' or lost, because of the inefficiencies involved in converting oil and gas to electricity, and the inevitable losses that happen when electricity is piped down the National Grid.

So, it was reassuring to see the ILAC library staff turning off all the PCs and lights as we left. Even if, 200 metres away on O'Connell Street, Dublin's new Christmas lights tree was left burning night.

It's made of very low energy LEDs -- cheaper and even more energy-efficient than the compact fluorescent lights being championed by the Minister for the environment. But that's another story.

Image: from http://www.dublinblog.ie/

The perfect Christmas present?

I have a couple of suggestions (below) that might help you to buy the perfect Christmas presents. . . suggestions prompted by thoughts about what we spend our money on each Christmas. Especially, as your local Chamber of Commerce wants you to get out and 'shop for Ireland' this Christmas and help rescue the economy.

(Lord save us, they've even turned the lights on a whole month early . . . low-energy lights, but still, hardly the right message, and this from a Green coalition.)

Irish households already spend rather a lot of money at this time of year -- regularly topping the list of big spenders. According to the latest Deloitte survey, even with the current recession and cutbacks, we still expect to spend more than our European neighbours: nearly €1400 all told, and half of that will go on presents.

Except that, up to one-third of those presents are not appreciated. That amounts to about €250 million in wasted money. Not to mention all the time wasted in crowded shops trying to decide what to buy. Simpler and cheaper, you might think, just to take some rubbish and wrap it, with a gift tag saying: Bin this!

So, instead, here are a couple of simple gift ideas that might help you to choose the perfect present.

The first tip, though it may sound obvious, is to buy something the person wants. And if you don’t know or you're too shy to ask, then simply take a lesson from the three Wise Men, and give them gold (in other words: money, or a gift voucher). They will make sure to buy the present they want.

The second tip, is to give something 'insubstantial' -- an 'experience' rather than a 'thing'. Could be a golf lesson, tickets for a gig, a night at the theatre, or a voucher for a massage. Let's face it, most of us already have enough stuff, but we all like a night out from time to time, or a special treat.

Give insubstantial gifts like these, and you're essentially buying people (or at least, some of their time), rather than things.

You don't waste time or money or packaging or wrapping, it's more sustainable and, perhaps most importantly at the moment, you'll be directly supporting Irish jobs. What's not to like.

Image: this year's Beauty and the Beast pantomime at Galway Town Hall Theatre.

Where are the Irish science bloggers?

Irish scientists seem to be a particularly shy species.

Unlike their counterparts elsewhere, who will blog at the drop of a hat, scientists in Ireland are keeping a low profile. Perhaps they are just too busy doing research and writing reports? Or perhaps they are blogging anonymously??

I've started a list of science bloggers over at my Science@Culture bulletin, but have found very few Irish ones. Those I have tripped over include a teacher, TV producer, UCD's science librarians (!) and, intriguingly, someone from within the walls of Science Foundation Ireland. But no researchers as of yet.

If you know of any, do pass on the details. I'm keen to make this a comprehensive list of Irish science blogs.

Green me

Here's a new website, online community, directory and eco-project that has been winning awards and grants from State agencies, and is well worth a look.

GreenMe, based in Co Leitrim, provides "straight-talking, uncomplicated and convenient tips on how to green your lifestyle" and will help you achieve a more sustainable way of living, with "no guilt trips or sacrifices" -- something that chimes well with the approach I've taken in the new book.

The site includes a comprehensive online directory with 8,000 business listings across 17 sectors, from DIY to eco fashion, plus news, gossip, weekly tips and the all important blog.

Which is where yours truly comes in: delighted to report that I've joined the team of guest contributors, alongside renewable energy expert Robert Kyriakides, architectural engineer Les O’Donnell, sustainable designer Nicola Jones, and food writer Ollie Moore.

Are we too posh to push?

George Lee, RTE's economic editor, is an excellent economic analyst. So I was surprised to discover that he doesn't seem to know the value of money.

How else to explain the fact that he spent €6,000 on a high-tech gizmo to do his walking for him?

George, as revealed on Ryan Tubridy's radio show, has bought a Segway, and is using it to commute. (Using it illegally on bicycle lanes, what's more -- Segway Ireland recommends sticking to private property, until the legislation changes.)

Yet, for a fraction of the cost, George could have another sophisticated two-wheeled commuting vehicle, and one that would be legal too. But, when I debated this with George (listen to the podcast here), and suggested he use a bicycle, and could save over €5,000, and what's more would not need to charge it overnight, his answer was... his other car is a Merc.

George, it seems, is too posh to push. And he is not alone. Irish streets are clogged with like-minded motorists.

Yet, visit any European city -- Amsterdam being the extreme -- and you will see lots of posh business people (and no doubt lots of economists) who are happy to use a bicycle for short journeys.

So what is it about the Irish? Why are we so wedded to cars and status symbols? And how can we persuade more people to ditch the Merc and discover the joys, and savings, of a bicycle?

That's just one of the topics I'll be exploring in a special science cafe in Galway later this month. Hope to see you there.