Output from Cork Environmental Forum Energy Plenary Sep 2006

Here is the first draft of output following the Cork Environmental Forum Energy Plenary of 20th September 2006.

I have tried to group and combine the five pages of output produced!  Please check that in doing so I have not missed out your contributions and also let me know if you had additional ideas following the plenary.  In would also be great to have website references that provide additional information or examples for our output.

Thanks for your participation.

Have a Plan

HAVE A POLICY.  What are we trying to achieve at a high level, for example: “ New complimentary energy technologies must not contribute systematically to climate change”.
MEASURE WHERE WE ARE NOW.  How much energy is being used, what is it being used for, how important is that usage.
SET AMBITIOUS GOALS - “Realistic” goals assume we will continue to do the same thing, but do it slightly better.  Ambitious goals encourage innovative thinking and a new way of doing things.
PRIORITISE - Split into Must do, Should do and Could do.  Be clear about where the priorities are and also that following a review, priorities may change.  Ideally moving one item up is balanced by moving another down.  Also be clear on the criteria used to prioritise items.
DEVELOP INTEGRATE PLANS to deliver the goals according to the priorities.

Plan Implementation

Recognise that good ideas are not enough
REVIEW PLANS - measure progress, identify where lack of progress is due to poor implementation or innappropriate goal or priority.
REWARD WHAT IS WANTED - assist people in opimising their own energy use.
CREATE AWARENESS AT ALL LEVELS - from primary schools to communities to business and the public sector.
SELL IT - make it fashionable to reduce energy use or to look at it more positively, increase energy productivey.

Include in the Plans

DEVELOP MIX OF RENEWABLES - there is no direct replacement for oil and gas, we need to try everything.  While in time we need to move to totally renewable energy, in the meantime we need to develop complimentary energy supplies that work well with existing fossil-fuel based energy.
DEVELOP DEMONSTRATION SITES - there is an opportunity to do this with the Docklands project. Use to demonstrate different technologies and ideas and to inspire people.
DEVELOP ENERGY STORAGE - as supply is likely to become less predictable we need to have some backup storage.  This could include oil/gas, energy stored by pumping water up to a high lake and releasing it at times of need. etc.
ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - for example, growing plants for plastics using fertiliser from sewerage.
ENCOURAGE BUSINESS TO BE LOCAL TO EMPLOYEES - nobody wants to commute and it is becoming increasingly stressful and expensive - both for the comuters and for the county in developing a transport infrastructure.  Work towards small mix-used settlements that are viable in themselves.
WORK TOWARDS ECO-CITIES AND TOWNS - make city centre living desirable for all, not just the younge.  Develop food and energy local to where it is needed.  Reserve space for allotments, CHP plants etc.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS ARE EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICE - lead by example.
IMPROVE ACCESS TO LOCAL FACILITIES - without cars.  For example, football pitches located close to towns are being sold and moved further out of town.
PLANS TAKE ACCOUNT OF SEA LEVEL RISE - especially Cork City and Bantry.
SUPPORT COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS - for example, communities who want to develop their own energy supplies
SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORT CHOICE - integrated transport policy that provides a practical alternative to the car.  One way to encourage use would be to make public transport free and funded from further tax on car use.  Link car tax to emissions.
WE COULD BE THE NEXT CALIFORNIA - lead the country in addressing the threats and opportunities posed by increasing energy prices.  We do not have to wait for central government to tell us what to do.
INCENTIVISE RESEARCH INTO
NON-FOSSIL FUEL PLASTICS - plastic is an extremely useful material but we want of find a way of making it without the use of oil.  This technology already exists but needs to be further developed.
ELECTRONICS TO REDUCE ENERGY DEMAND - in particular stop use of energy when in standby mode.
WAVE POWER - as we have huge potential in this area.
OTHER TYPES OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY - become world leader.
TAX USE OF OIL-BASED PLASTICS AND OTHER CARBON PRODUCTS - introduce carbon tax.
ENCOURAGE SMALLER WASTE CYCLE - reduce the distance that packaging travels from production to use to waste/reuse/recycling.  Encourage multi-purpose delivery service. Where waste cannot be reused, encourage energy recovery from waste.
MAKE BETTER USE OF OUR PORTS - see as part of an integrated transport policy. In particular rail-links to ports. Encourage new transport services, fishing and boat building.