Commerce and community meet to consider sustainability

Businesses, industry, as well as community organisations and interested individuals were all well catered for at a sustainable energy event hosted by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and the Mullingar Sustainable Energy Community at IMR’s premises at the old tobacco factory on the Dublin Road in Mullingar last Wednesday.

The event featured displays by companies and organisations playing apart in the shifts towards sustainability and the programme had several excellent presentations including a particularly interesting description by Alan Barry of Lidl of the immense number of measures being undertaken by the supermarket chain to move to a completely carbon neutral position.

Mr Barry explained how the solar array on the roof of its distribution centre in Mullingar is the largest in this country and one of the largest such arrays in Europe.

Other speakers spoke of the new technologies in use; the growing efficiency of wind power and the efforts being made in agriculture to reduce emissions.

There were also talks from various sources on the funding opportunities available for all sectors – including householders – aiming to increase their sustainability.

“We’re looking to understand how industry plays a role within a sustainable energy community and that’s why we joined up with the Sustainable Energy Community of Mullingar to create that partnership and then obviously, hopefully work together going forward over the next number of years because we are part of the Mullingar ‘ecosystem’,” explained David McCormack, director of sustainable manufacturing with IMR.

“We are heavily involved in Europe and European funding schemes, and we are doing this collaboration as part of the EU’s Sustainable Energy week.”

As well as featuring trade stands by firms in the green energy field, the event included speakers describing various case studies, and also talks on what funding schemes are available.