Lifestyle Green 2008 Officially Launched

The second LifestyleGreen Show sponsored by NIE Your Energy was launched this week. This year’s event, on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14, September will take place with event partner, Castle Espie, at their popular Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) centre on the shores of Strangford Lough.

As one of the UK’s leading conservation organisations, which boasts the largest collection of ducks, geese and swans in Ireland, WWT actively saves wetlands for wildlife and people across the world. Perhaps one of the finest examples of wetland habitats in Europe, Castle Espie is a tranquil and family friendly oasis. Visitors will find out more about Irish wetlands, and how they can preserve this rare heritage for future generations.

NIE Your Energy will once again ensure visitors receive a free energy-saving bulb. The Forest Service Northern Ireland, will also give a free tree sapling to help offset carbon expended on each journey to the centre.

“The LifestyleGreen Show last September was the first of its kind anywhere in the UK or Ireland. The unique event aims to draw members of the general public who may not normally be attracted to green events. The analogy of ‘four seasons in one day’ seems an apt way to sum up the impact of climate change. We are already in the danger zone. All our actions today are inextricably linked with the environment around us - and, ultimately, the legacy we leave for our children and our children's children. It’s time to do something positive and I believe dedicated eco-events like this create an educational and captivating platform to do just that. The show will offer the opportunity to participate, debate and leave with more than food for thought about how, individually and collectively, we can all mitigate the dire consequences of runaway climate chaos and become part of the change for a better future.”
Gill McNeill, Event Organiser

“NIE Your Energy will be joining forces with a range of other renewable and energy saving organisations to host the NIE Your Energy marquee. Reducing your carbon footprint, or in other words reducing your impact on the planet and climate change, is in the news a lot these days. Visitors to the NIE Your Energy marquee can find out how we can help them reduce the size of their footprint. As a starting point, NIE Your Energy will be giving out thousands of free energy saving bulbs to visitors to the Show. We will also have details of grants and schemes to help with the cost of things like household insulation, helping people reduce their energy use and therefore their carbon footprint.”
Wilma Stewart, NIE Your Energy

“Highlighting positive action to combat climate change underpins the ongoing work of the World Wetlands Trust. We are pleased to host The LifestyleGreen Show this year.”
James Orr, WWT Castle Espie Director

Attractions at Castle Espie this autumn will include everything from ancient crafts to renewable energy, a first in Ireland in sustainable building techniques and food for body and mind in the health and slow food zones.

Additionally, talks and debates on ethical living and the opportunity to learn old skills will be complemented by live music, stilt walkers, clowns, craft-making - and much more!

Normal Castle Espie admission charges will apply, with no extra cost for LifestylGreen Show admission A family day out with a difference!

Belfast Telegraph in Energy Saving Bulbs Giveaway

Following suit with mainland newspapers, such as the Sun who carried a similar campaign, which saw newspaper sales increase by 408 000 copies, taking the daily circulation to almost 4m. The Sun turned half of its front page green for the promotion, which offered the eco-friendly lightbulbs to readers who bought the paper at more than 4,000 independent newsagents and stores including Tesco, Asda, WH Smith, Sainsbury's, Somerfield and Morrisons.

The Belfast Telegraph campaign runs in a similar way with many newspaper outlets giving a free bulb with the purchase of a paper today (Wednesday 16 April). The campaign hopes to give away enough bulbs to reduce Northern Ireland CO2 emissions by 500t per annum.

Adding her weight to the campaign the Minister for Social Development in Northern Ireland backed the campaign adding how she hopes to help further reduce energy consumption in the province, which has the highest CO2 emissions in the UK.

"The less we use today, the more will be available for future generations. From April, I will increase my Department's spending on fuel poverty by a further £0.5m bringing the Department's commitment to tackling fuel poverty to £35.4m. Alongside this, I will future-proof all new social houses against fuel poverty by ensuring that those built from this month will be required to meet standards that will mean that they will be 25% more energy efficient. My department will continue to examine the potential for extending innovation partnership arrangements with Northern Ireland Electricity and others to speed up the replacement of Economy 7 heating systems, targeting those with particular health needs and piloting renewable energy technologies as a means of tackling rural fuel poverty."
Margaret Richie, Social Development Minister

MSC Napoli Dismantling Nears Completion

The dismantling of the MSC Napoli nears completion at Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. The project has kept 80 shipyard workers busy, essentially "building a ship in reverse", the project has recovered 60 000 tonnes of ship-grade steel which will be reused in other building projects worldwide. Once the drydock is cleared it will be then used for a project constructing 60 wind turbines for a wind farm off the south west coast of Scotland.

Picture: Upgrading the Network

Translink are upgrading the rail network in Northern Ireland between Ballymena and Coleraine in an attempt to improve travel times and comfort.