Had a great conversation.

Have you checked what type of server your blog is on and where it is hosted? Are you hosted in a carbon-neutral datacenter? All very specific and easily doable.

Telling me the computers that run my blog are on 24×7 is no different to saying the computers that run financial transactions on my bank account are running 24×7 or that the computers which keep planes from dropping out of the sky as they pass over my house on the way to Dublin Airport are on 24×7. I’m part of a technological age and, like everyone else, I have an environmental footprint. If there are specific things I can do to reduce that footprint then I’ll do it. That means turning off stuff I don’t need at night. It’s the cumulative effect of “ah sure it’s only using as much power as the kids hall light” mindset around the world which needs to change.

this is an idea that we support completely. and was put into practice by the green lord mayor of galway at the time. the idea of waste fat/grease being used as biofuel.
http://www.galwaycity.ie/GeneralNews/NewsArchive/MainBody,2267,en.html

At the green party convention 2007 there was a live televised debate on the issue. the original motion being the greater implementation of biofuels at a national level was not passed (needed 2/3 majority to pass) and the message sent out was mixed.

but to sum up.
Biofuels will never be the solution to climate change and energy problems. it effects food supplies
ref: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/03/biofuels.renewableenergy

it does not reduce carbon output.
although they produce less Carbon when used as a fuel, the Carbon created in producing the crops, processing and transporting the fuels is larger than the carbon saved.
I have also heard that the energy used in processing the crop is roughly the same as the energy output from the fuel where as the earth processes oil naturally through the heat and pressure of the underground caverns.

that was the last I heard of it on a national level from the green party.

I think at the moment its still a wait and see technology. the government are investing in renewable energy research through the SFI thanks to Min. Eamon Ryan.
ref: http://www.sfi.ie/uploads/documents/upload/SFI_EnergyStrategy_final.pdf

the guardian has a nice sum up piece on it
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jan/21/biofuels.alternativeenergy

and there is still research being done on it with shell focusing solely on biofuel ( but i think thats just them worrying abour affecting traditional energy supply in combustion form as opposed to electric form and affecting their markets e.g.http://www.verdeautos.com/site/index.shtml)

Just like we will debate the possibility of nuclear as an option. we will also continue debating biofuels as an option as part of a basket solution to our energy needs

Some, mainly the more comfortably off, will ignore or be cynical, but others are doing the ‘home planting’ – using raised beds because of poor soil, changing light bulbs – even at the extortionate Irish price of low energy bulbs (they are 50p sterling in England), composting, recycling and so much more.

CorcaDhuibhne have set up a Transition Town Group and a Slow Food Branch. Aiming to reduce energy use and be sustainable both, for the benefit of their pockets and ‘the world’. A Community Allotment has been created by Kerry CoCo for the people in landless Dingle town and they are investigating an Archimedes screw water turbine for power generation.

Broadband and the DIngle MAN will help with remote working, saving workers a 90 mile journey to Tralee or Killarney where most jobs are based.

So the publicity surrounding Earth Hour was, for me, a ‘Glittering Spike’ that opened up the chance for me to ask people I know little about, ‘Did you do Earth Hour?’

Just my Truppence worth

earth hour = win.

I hate commenting with political linkage but its very relevant.

http://trevorsargent.ie/2009/03/07/sargent-addresses-green-party-annual-conference/

his website deals with all his campaigns and such. including allotment schemes, getting kids learning how to grow food in schools and how to combat climate change through all this.

Yes I do leave my main machines on 24×7 for reliability just like the machine your blog runs on. Every PC I’ve ever had die, did so during power-up. At idle they consume about the same as the hall light left on for the kids.

There’s clearly a great deal of interest around the country in getting access to growing space. Why shouldn’t there be? It’s very close to a basic right.

I still can’t think of any very compelling reasons against providing land for people who want an allotment or similar common space for growing, yet the chief obstacles, ignorance, suspicion and apathy remain hard to overcome.

I’m personally fed up because of having to watch a three-quarters grant (not for the purchase of land but for the development of a social amenity), more than big enough to set up any kind of allotment, sail away into the mist in one North Cork town because no-one – and we banged on enough influential doors – could come up any kind of disused corner at all to lend, rent or give away.

But in general, I’m delighted that the inertia has been overcome and that we’re beginning to benefit from the consequences of more gardeners among us. The restoration of proper order, in my view.

Levels of carbon dioxide last year reached a global average of 384.9 ppm in the atmosphere, up 2.2 ppm on 2007, compared with a previous annual increase of 1.8 ppm.

Let’s see if Earth Hour 2009 does any better than 2008.

I agree with you suggestions but I disagree that it’s all a waste of time. We sat around and talked about living without electricity. I think a little quiet time focusing on what is the best action to take is not wasted.

My nine year old recently wrote to Mary Macaleese (sp) suggesting the whole country give up electricity and cars for a month for lent and was delighted to get a reply. She is concerned about climate change and the economy.

Yesterday we talked about the time my partner and I had both lived for periods of time without electricity in the house and some of the thing we had enjoyed about it. I think she is quite fearful about these issues and it was reassuring for her to hear something positive.

So often we are driven by fear and the media and the government (and guests often collude in their use of fear to control public action. Taking that hour out from ‘the grid’ was a powerful antidote for this family.

I certainly identify with your frustration and i know you are a man of action. Quiet time was good for us, please don’t knock it.

All the best Dave

That’ll show them world leaders and will get them to change their policies I’m sure!

Fantastic to see it happne and maybe all those derelict building sites around the country can be put to better use than for building more future tenements.