A new State computer server strategy could reduce CO2 emissions by 18,000 tonnes
AS the emergency budget looms, and, with the Irish Government looking to cut spending, there is an opportunity for the State to save between €20m and €30m, as well as reduce carbon emissions by 18,000 tonnes, if it commits to an overhaul of its IT systems.
Right now, the average server in any business or State department operates at around 10pc capacity, and many organisations keep several servers, each for specific functions such as email, web hosting, accounts, sales and human resources.
A new revolution is sweeping the computing world under the term ‘virtualisation’, which allows firms to own fewer servers, spread the load and create ‘virtual’ machines to handle a sudden spike in demand. So, instead of seven machines running at 10pc capacity each, organisations can have two servers running at 50–60pc capacity.
The impact of this means that organisations require fewer servers, reducing maintenance and electricity costs significantly as well as the environmental impact.
Globally, computer emissions are estimated to account for 2pc of CO2 emissions, equivalent to the impact of the airline industry.
A further revolution in ‘cloud computing’, whereby IT infrastructure can be accessed remotely over the internet to internet data centres rather than in-house, could pave the way for further cost savings.
A parliamentary question tabled by Fine Gael’s spokesperson for Small Business and Labour Affairs, Damien English TD, last month to every minister revealed that there are an estimated 4,608 servers across Irish State departments, including 52 in the Department of the Taoiseach, 154 in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, 1,288 within the HSE, 376 in the Department of Agriculture and 510 in the Department of Justice.
A subsequent question about whether any of these departments intend to deploy virtualisation to reduce the number of servers, found only one department — the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources under Minister Eamon Ryan TD — had plans to move to virtualisation.
Data centre expert Stephen McCarron of Dublin-based Hosting365 has looked at the number of servers currently being run by the Irish Government, and he estimates the Government could save the Exchequer at least €23m per annum.
“The running costs of these servers would be €23m a year just in maintenance; this ignores the cost of buying the machines and housing them securely.
“If you are running 4,600 servers, the electricity bill alone to keep them switched on and cooled would be €7m per annum. So, the Government is paying €500,000 a month to run these servers.”
The environmental impact of this, McCarron reckons, could be enormous.
“This would be the equivalent of a small town’s worth of CO2 emissions. There would be 18,000 tonnes of carbon dumped every year by the Government’s own IT infrastructure. If the Government moved to cloud computing, the output of carbon could be reduced to 200 tonnes per annum, he says.
English says the environmental and budgetary aspects of the current swathes of Government servers need to be addressed.
“These things are like smelters, they use that much energy. The people I’ve been talking to estimate a minimum of €20m in savings, this could rise to €60m. That would be by rearranging servers and getting better use out of them.
“This wouldn’t cost any jobs, it would not entail any reduction in front-line services and, in fact, would free people up to provide citizens and businesses with better services.”
English says that Colm McCarthy, who heads up An Bord Snip Nua, in his previous role at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General brought attention to the vast number of servers used within Government departments.
“This should be looked at in a strategic way. Minister Eamon Ryan TD was the only minister who indicated his department may move to a virtualised environment. A Government plan is needed because this is one area that would deliver an immediate return for the economy,” English says.
Fredrik Sjostedt, director of EMEA product marketing at VMware, says a move to virtualisation would require literally little more than a software upgrade and would safeguard existing IT investments.
“It is important to maintain and keep the investment you’ve already made. The difference is you use what you have more effectively. If these machines were operating at 10pc of capacity, then you don’t need to buy new servers for some time if the devices are modern,” Sjostedt explains.
Microsoft Ireland’s server group manger, Bill O’Brien, says the savings of €20m in running costs and 18,000 tonnes of emissions would be conservative.
“Without looking at the exact calculations, broadly speaking there are huge savings to be made.
“We’re only at the start of the virtualisation journey. Servers are a good place to start and, in fairness, many departments have started. There’s a lot more to do, but it’s great area to save time, energy and space,” O’Brien concludes.
John Kennedy
© Silicon Republic Ltd 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wasting Valuable Resources by Exporting Electronic Waste from the EU
With our current daily diet of bad news on the economy, loss of jobs, banking crisis, and shortage of money, why do we continue to export valuable materials to third world countries, materials we then have to replace with costly virgin supplies.
A report from UK-based energy and climate consultancy, AEA Technology, estimates that the following yields would be possible from the 9 million tonnes of e-scrap generated each year in Europe:
2.3 million tonnes of ferrous metal
1.2 million tonnes of non-ferrous metals including-
652 000 tonnes of copper,
336,000 tonnes of aluminium,
162,000 tonnes of heavy metals,
12,000-27,000 tonnes of lead,
6-8 tonnes of mercury
Plus
1.2 million tonnes of plastics
156,000 tonnes of flame retardants
336,000 tonnes of glass.
All of these materials could be used in manufacturing within the EU and the cost of buying raw materials to replace them combined with the loss of employment in the recycling industry is enormous
The EU Commission estimates that 54% of WEEE produced in the EU is shipped to sub-standard treatment facilities inside and outside the EU,
Only 33% of the e-scrap in the EU is reported as collected and properly treated in recycling/recovery facilities, while 13% goes to landfill ,
According to a study by the Dutch environment ministry VROM, 28% of Dutch businesses/collectors and exporters were found to be exporting e-scrap illegally from the Netherlands. A UK study shows that 10% of WEEE was being shipped illegally to non-OECD countries.
Each year, 9.3 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment are placed on the market in the EU-27 and some 9 million tonnes of e-scrap is generated.
Forecasts are that, by 2020, 12.3 million tonnes of e-scrap will be generated each year in the EU (up to 24 kg per EU inhabitant).
There has been strong growth in the electronic equipment market with worldwide revenues growing by 11%, 8% and 7,7% in 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively. The largest growth has been in computers, mobile phones, refrigerators, televisions and air-conditioners, as well as hot consumer products such as MP3 players, digital televisions, etc.
The UN Environmental Programme estimates that, each year, up to 50 million tonnes of e-waste is generated worldwide and that the figure is growing at a rate of 3-5% per annum.
More than 90% of the 20-50 million tonnes of e-waste generated globally every year ends up in Bangladesh, China, India and Pakistan.
Speaking at the ICM “International Electronics Recycling Congress” in January this year, Timo Mäkelä, Director, Sustainable Development and Integration of the European Commission’s Directorate-General, Environment said “ when more material is collected and recycled within the EU, there will be more revenue for the waste treatment and recycling sector and, not unimportant in these difficult economic times, more jobs. Recycling creates five to seven times more jobs that than incineration and ten times more jobs than disposal at landfills”
This of course is when the materials are processed in the EU, when e-scrap is exported there is a 100% loss of employment to the EU recycling sector
For more see this months Recycling International
http://www.electronic-recycling.com/
A report from UK-based energy and climate consultancy, AEA Technology, estimates that the following yields would be possible from the 9 million tonnes of e-scrap generated each year in Europe:
2.3 million tonnes of ferrous metal
1.2 million tonnes of non-ferrous metals including-
652 000 tonnes of copper,
336,000 tonnes of aluminium,
162,000 tonnes of heavy metals,
12,000-27,000 tonnes of lead,
6-8 tonnes of mercury
Plus
1.2 million tonnes of plastics
156,000 tonnes of flame retardants
336,000 tonnes of glass.
All of these materials could be used in manufacturing within the EU and the cost of buying raw materials to replace them combined with the loss of employment in the recycling industry is enormous
The EU Commission estimates that 54% of WEEE produced in the EU is shipped to sub-standard treatment facilities inside and outside the EU,
Only 33% of the e-scrap in the EU is reported as collected and properly treated in recycling/recovery facilities, while 13% goes to landfill ,
According to a study by the Dutch environment ministry VROM, 28% of Dutch businesses/collectors and exporters were found to be exporting e-scrap illegally from the Netherlands. A UK study shows that 10% of WEEE was being shipped illegally to non-OECD countries.
Each year, 9.3 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment are placed on the market in the EU-27 and some 9 million tonnes of e-scrap is generated.
Forecasts are that, by 2020, 12.3 million tonnes of e-scrap will be generated each year in the EU (up to 24 kg per EU inhabitant).
There has been strong growth in the electronic equipment market with worldwide revenues growing by 11%, 8% and 7,7% in 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively. The largest growth has been in computers, mobile phones, refrigerators, televisions and air-conditioners, as well as hot consumer products such as MP3 players, digital televisions, etc.
The UN Environmental Programme estimates that, each year, up to 50 million tonnes of e-waste is generated worldwide and that the figure is growing at a rate of 3-5% per annum.
More than 90% of the 20-50 million tonnes of e-waste generated globally every year ends up in Bangladesh, China, India and Pakistan.
Speaking at the ICM “International Electronics Recycling Congress” in January this year, Timo Mäkelä, Director, Sustainable Development and Integration of the European Commission’s Directorate-General, Environment said “ when more material is collected and recycled within the EU, there will be more revenue for the waste treatment and recycling sector and, not unimportant in these difficult economic times, more jobs. Recycling creates five to seven times more jobs that than incineration and ten times more jobs than disposal at landfills”
This of course is when the materials are processed in the EU, when e-scrap is exported there is a 100% loss of employment to the EU recycling sector
For more see this months Recycling International
http://www.electronic-recycling.com/
Monday, March 16, 2009
Data Loss Prevention: Keeping Sensitive Data Out of the Wrong Hands
Data security breaches pose a serious threat to business, according to a report from consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The recent Survey revealed that more than two-thirds of organisations do not maintain an inventory of user data or a list of locations and jurisdictions where this information is stored.
The survey found that only half of all companies have a policy that addresses the protection, disclosure and destruction of data and, although many organisations operate a security encryption policy while transmitting data, very few use encryption for data which is “at rest” i.e. information in databases, file sharing and storage, laptops and back up facilities
According to PwC, companies cannot afford to take data security lightly. Identity theft is rampant, accounting for about one-third of consumer complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission last year- whether you’re a security leader or a business line executive—now is the time for you to start better protecting your company’s customer data, core intellectual property, trade secrets, and regulated data.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Ciaran Kelly of PwC Ireland said: "With consumers and regulators demanding more control over sensitive data than ever, it is clear that now is the time to start better protecting your company's customer data."
In Ireland It is the legal responsibility of ICT data controllers to comply with Data Protection legislation. EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC specifies the general obligations of data controllers as to how personal data is handled. The Directive is transposed into Irish law as the Data Protection Act 2003; this in turn adds to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1988.
While managing and protecting current data is important, companies also need to be extremely careful when disposing of IT equipment that contains sensitive data. There are many reports of computers, with their hard drives intact, being found in open markets in the third world and there is also a market for used data tapes. Deleting files or even reformatting a hard drive does not remove the information, as this can be restored using readily available software
The problems associated with data security for end of life equipment can be eliminated by using reputable IT recycling companies, who can provide certified data destruction services as part of their asset management or equipment recycling processes.
Apart from a company’s responsibilities under the Data Protection Act, there is also a continuing responsibility under the Waste Management Act 1996 (amended 2001) for IT equipment, until it has been proven that it has been disposed of properly. If the cannibalised remains of a company’s equipment are disposed of illegally, it is the company that is responsible, not the person who took it away for disposal.
When replacing or disposing of end of life IT equipment, companies need to ask their new equipment vendor, waste service provider or facilities manager, what exactly happens to their equipment once it leaves their control.
The recent Survey revealed that more than two-thirds of organisations do not maintain an inventory of user data or a list of locations and jurisdictions where this information is stored.
The survey found that only half of all companies have a policy that addresses the protection, disclosure and destruction of data and, although many organisations operate a security encryption policy while transmitting data, very few use encryption for data which is “at rest” i.e. information in databases, file sharing and storage, laptops and back up facilities
According to PwC, companies cannot afford to take data security lightly. Identity theft is rampant, accounting for about one-third of consumer complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission last year- whether you’re a security leader or a business line executive—now is the time for you to start better protecting your company’s customer data, core intellectual property, trade secrets, and regulated data.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Ciaran Kelly of PwC Ireland said: "With consumers and regulators demanding more control over sensitive data than ever, it is clear that now is the time to start better protecting your company's customer data."
In Ireland It is the legal responsibility of ICT data controllers to comply with Data Protection legislation. EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC specifies the general obligations of data controllers as to how personal data is handled. The Directive is transposed into Irish law as the Data Protection Act 2003; this in turn adds to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1988.
While managing and protecting current data is important, companies also need to be extremely careful when disposing of IT equipment that contains sensitive data. There are many reports of computers, with their hard drives intact, being found in open markets in the third world and there is also a market for used data tapes. Deleting files or even reformatting a hard drive does not remove the information, as this can be restored using readily available software
The problems associated with data security for end of life equipment can be eliminated by using reputable IT recycling companies, who can provide certified data destruction services as part of their asset management or equipment recycling processes.
Apart from a company’s responsibilities under the Data Protection Act, there is also a continuing responsibility under the Waste Management Act 1996 (amended 2001) for IT equipment, until it has been proven that it has been disposed of properly. If the cannibalised remains of a company’s equipment are disposed of illegally, it is the company that is responsible, not the person who took it away for disposal.
When replacing or disposing of end of life IT equipment, companies need to ask their new equipment vendor, waste service provider or facilities manager, what exactly happens to their equipment once it leaves their control.
Monday, March 9, 2009
99% of scrap mobiles contain personal data
Would you give all your personal information to any old person who happened to ask for it? Your phone numbers, addresses, bank account details, passwords or other sensitive detail.
Data security issues surrounding old computers are well documented. Most people would not think that the same issues apply to that old mobile phone when dropping it into the local collection box or freephone envelope. The reality is that people donating mobile phones for reuse need to be certain that the company handling their phone has a data security policy that guarantees the removal of any information contained in the phone memory. Removing the sim card does not delete the information from the phone memory
Regenersis, one of Europe’s largest mobile phone recycling and reuse companies, believes the vast majority of discarded mobile phones contain sensitive data. The UK firm studied a random sample of 2000 handsets processed during the first week in December last year and discovered that 99% contained some form of personal data including: contact details; SMS messages; pictures; music; videos; calendar entries; e-mails; notes; mailing lists; and to-do lists. In some cases, extremely sensitive information was found, such as bank details, addresses and confidential e-mails.
Mark Franklin, Managing Director of Regenersis, explains: ‘We processed over 2 million handsets in 2008. Data clearance of these handsets is critical to ensure the security of those who entrust their unwanted mobiles to us. This can often take as long as 30 minutes depending on the complexity of the handset, so only the most reputable firms bother to do this essential work.
Our advice to consumers is to check with the recycling firm to confirm that all data will be removed. If it isn’t, then think twice before sending them your handset as your data could end up in the wrong hands.
Data security issues surrounding old computers are well documented. Most people would not think that the same issues apply to that old mobile phone when dropping it into the local collection box or freephone envelope. The reality is that people donating mobile phones for reuse need to be certain that the company handling their phone has a data security policy that guarantees the removal of any information contained in the phone memory. Removing the sim card does not delete the information from the phone memory
Regenersis, one of Europe’s largest mobile phone recycling and reuse companies, believes the vast majority of discarded mobile phones contain sensitive data. The UK firm studied a random sample of 2000 handsets processed during the first week in December last year and discovered that 99% contained some form of personal data including: contact details; SMS messages; pictures; music; videos; calendar entries; e-mails; notes; mailing lists; and to-do lists. In some cases, extremely sensitive information was found, such as bank details, addresses and confidential e-mails.
Mark Franklin, Managing Director of Regenersis, explains: ‘We processed over 2 million handsets in 2008. Data clearance of these handsets is critical to ensure the security of those who entrust their unwanted mobiles to us. This can often take as long as 30 minutes depending on the complexity of the handset, so only the most reputable firms bother to do this essential work.
Our advice to consumers is to check with the recycling firm to confirm that all data will be removed. If it isn’t, then think twice before sending them your handset as your data could end up in the wrong hands.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Recycling Computers
A dramatic improvement in productivity from newly developed software requires ever faster computers to run the latest office applications. This leads to the replacement of IT equipment, which may still have a useful life in lower spec environments.
Disposing of obsolete electronic equipment can be a problem as it is regarded as one of the more hazardous types of waste we generate. However, it is possible to have IT equipment recycled properly and even channelled through reuse programs for local schools or charities.
There are three main streams for disposing of obsolete IT equipment
1. Generate revenue for your company
2. Donation to reuse programs for schools or other charities
3. Recycling by properly registered recyclers, to recover materials for reuse
Generate Revenue for your company
There may be many reasons for companies to dispose of almost new IT equipment, especially in the current climate. Reputable companies specialising in IT recycling generally offer an asset management service and return value for high spec working equipment.
Donation to reuse programs.
Donating obsolete IT equipment, especially computers, is fraught with danger - for the donor because of data security and licensing issues and for the recipient because of the suitability of the equipment for their applications (if it works in the first place). Using a custom designed reuse program overcomes these problems as data security and licence issues are managed correctly and the recipient receives equipment which is suitable for their needs and guaranteed to be working correctly.
Recycling by properly registered recyclers
Electronic waste is regarded as one of the more hazardous wastes we generate and must be handled correctly to minimise the impact on our environment. The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, sets out the criteria for the correct disposal of electronic waste and while householders can avail of compliance schemes to dispose of WEEE, companies in a B2B environment have a legal responsibility to dispose of obsolete electronic equipment according to the directive. In Ireland this is covered by the Irish WEEE Regulations of 2005.
IT equipment, when handled properly, is almost 100% recyclable and service providers should be able to provide a full downstream report of the final destination of all of the different materials contained in the recycled equipment. Under the Irish Waste Management Act of 1996, amended in 2001, companies are responsible for the proper disposal of their waste. This responsibility does not end when the material is collected, it carries on until the waste has been either processed or disposed of in the correct manner. A certificate of Recycling or Destruction from a licensed recycler fulfils this responsibility. There are more than enough reports of IT equipment turning up in third world countries, creating major environmental and health problems, to demonstrate what can happen when unscrupulous “waste brokers” are used to manage electronic waste. See the latest Greenpeace/SKY TV report here
Things to look for when recycling IT equipment
1. Make certain that the company you use is properly licensed
2. Request a certificate of Recycling/Destruction
3. Use a company with a defined system of data destruction
4. If your equipment is to be donated to a third party, make certain that your licensing responsibilities are managed correctly
5. If you are recovering value from your equipment or donating for reuse, make sure your recycler offers safe collection for your system to ensure that it arrives at the recycler in the same working condition in which it left your office.
6. Creating and managing your own computer disposal program can be a costly exercise for a small business, better to use a licensed recycler who can do it for you at a reasonable cost, and manage your environmental responsibilities at the same time.
7. Newer high spec IT equipment does have a value and your service provider should be able to realise this value on your behalf
Disposing of obsolete electronic equipment can be a problem as it is regarded as one of the more hazardous types of waste we generate. However, it is possible to have IT equipment recycled properly and even channelled through reuse programs for local schools or charities.
There are three main streams for disposing of obsolete IT equipment
1. Generate revenue for your company
2. Donation to reuse programs for schools or other charities
3. Recycling by properly registered recyclers, to recover materials for reuse
Generate Revenue for your company
There may be many reasons for companies to dispose of almost new IT equipment, especially in the current climate. Reputable companies specialising in IT recycling generally offer an asset management service and return value for high spec working equipment.
Donation to reuse programs.
Donating obsolete IT equipment, especially computers, is fraught with danger - for the donor because of data security and licensing issues and for the recipient because of the suitability of the equipment for their applications (if it works in the first place). Using a custom designed reuse program overcomes these problems as data security and licence issues are managed correctly and the recipient receives equipment which is suitable for their needs and guaranteed to be working correctly.
Recycling by properly registered recyclers
Electronic waste is regarded as one of the more hazardous wastes we generate and must be handled correctly to minimise the impact on our environment. The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, sets out the criteria for the correct disposal of electronic waste and while householders can avail of compliance schemes to dispose of WEEE, companies in a B2B environment have a legal responsibility to dispose of obsolete electronic equipment according to the directive. In Ireland this is covered by the Irish WEEE Regulations of 2005.
IT equipment, when handled properly, is almost 100% recyclable and service providers should be able to provide a full downstream report of the final destination of all of the different materials contained in the recycled equipment. Under the Irish Waste Management Act of 1996, amended in 2001, companies are responsible for the proper disposal of their waste. This responsibility does not end when the material is collected, it carries on until the waste has been either processed or disposed of in the correct manner. A certificate of Recycling or Destruction from a licensed recycler fulfils this responsibility. There are more than enough reports of IT equipment turning up in third world countries, creating major environmental and health problems, to demonstrate what can happen when unscrupulous “waste brokers” are used to manage electronic waste. See the latest Greenpeace/SKY TV report here
Things to look for when recycling IT equipment
1. Make certain that the company you use is properly licensed
2. Request a certificate of Recycling/Destruction
3. Use a company with a defined system of data destruction
4. If your equipment is to be donated to a third party, make certain that your licensing responsibilities are managed correctly
5. If you are recovering value from your equipment or donating for reuse, make sure your recycler offers safe collection for your system to ensure that it arrives at the recycler in the same working condition in which it left your office.
6. Creating and managing your own computer disposal program can be a costly exercise for a small business, better to use a licensed recycler who can do it for you at a reasonable cost, and manage your environmental responsibilities at the same time.
7. Newer high spec IT equipment does have a value and your service provider should be able to realise this value on your behalf
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
National Tree Week March 1st -7th
Have you ever wondered why people say ‘touch wood’ to ward off bad luck? The answer is that the Celts worshipped trees and believed they could ward off evil spirits by touching the wood of the tree.
The theme of this year’s national Tree Week is ‘Our Trees – Our Culture’, celebrating the important role trees have played in Irish culture throughout history. Over 500,000 trees have been planted as part of National Tree Week during the last 25 years and once again, this year, Coillte has supplied an additional 15,000 trees for planting, which will be distributed to schools and community groups by every local authority nationwide.
The theme ‘Our Trees – Our Culture’ was chosen in celebration of the often-forgotten role that trees play in creating who we are. From place names and people’s names associated with trees, to poetry, ancient writing and phraseology revering them, trees have played a unique part in forming the rich tapestry of Irish culture.”
Today the importance of trees in protecting our environment, and repairing some of the damage that has been done to the earth is even more relevant. The aim of National Tree Week is to highlight the role trees play in cleaning the air, preventing the build-up of greenhouse gases, providing renewable energy and a material source for buildings and furniture.”
The earliest form of writing in Ireland was Ogham, a tree alphabet, which can be found carved on standing stones. This had twenty letters, each corresponding to a native Irish species of tree. The protection of trees also formed a core part of the ancient Irish legal system, the Brehon Laws.
Names in Irish such as Cullen or Cullinane come from Cuillen – holly, Darragh or Mc Darragh from Dair (oak), Quill from Coill (wood) as well as Irish names in the English language, Ashe and, Woods.
The ash is of course inextricably linked with Ireland’s National Sport - Hurling and is annually celebrated in the All Ireland finals. Up to 500,000 hurleys are used each year and the ash is one of our most prized trees.
Throughout the week there are events taking place in each county in Ireland, For details of events in your area visit http://www.treecouncil.ie/
The theme of this year’s national Tree Week is ‘Our Trees – Our Culture’, celebrating the important role trees have played in Irish culture throughout history. Over 500,000 trees have been planted as part of National Tree Week during the last 25 years and once again, this year, Coillte has supplied an additional 15,000 trees for planting, which will be distributed to schools and community groups by every local authority nationwide.
The theme ‘Our Trees – Our Culture’ was chosen in celebration of the often-forgotten role that trees play in creating who we are. From place names and people’s names associated with trees, to poetry, ancient writing and phraseology revering them, trees have played a unique part in forming the rich tapestry of Irish culture.”
Today the importance of trees in protecting our environment, and repairing some of the damage that has been done to the earth is even more relevant. The aim of National Tree Week is to highlight the role trees play in cleaning the air, preventing the build-up of greenhouse gases, providing renewable energy and a material source for buildings and furniture.”
The earliest form of writing in Ireland was Ogham, a tree alphabet, which can be found carved on standing stones. This had twenty letters, each corresponding to a native Irish species of tree. The protection of trees also formed a core part of the ancient Irish legal system, the Brehon Laws.
Names in Irish such as Cullen or Cullinane come from Cuillen – holly, Darragh or Mc Darragh from Dair (oak), Quill from Coill (wood) as well as Irish names in the English language, Ashe and, Woods.
The ash is of course inextricably linked with Ireland’s National Sport - Hurling and is annually celebrated in the All Ireland finals. Up to 500,000 hurleys are used each year and the ash is one of our most prized trees.
Throughout the week there are events taking place in each county in Ireland, For details of events in your area visit http://www.treecouncil.ie/
Monday, March 2, 2009
Incentives for Micro-generation of Electricity
The Irish Government has announced measures to encourage the on-site generation of electricity in homes and farms across Ireland.
Among the measures is a guaranteed price of 19 cent per kilowatt hour of electricity produced. This competitive feed-in tariff will apply to the first 4,000 micro-generation installations countrywide over the next three years. Eligible installations include - small scale wind, photovoltaic, hydro and combined heat and power (CHP).
Traditionally, the electricity network was designed to accommodate the flow of electricity from large centralised plants to customers dispersed throughout the country. Micro-generation at local level now introduces two-way flows to the electricity system. Local generators will have the ability to be paid by the Electricity Supply Bord (ESB) for electricity that is surplus to their own requirements and export it back to the national grid.
The export price will be available for up to 4000 micro generation units for a period of three years. ESB Customer Supply and ESB Networks will contribute 9 cent and 10 cent, respectively, towards this tariff. Domestic electricity users registered with ESB will receive a full tariff of 19c/kWh within limits as set out above. Non-ESB customers will receive a 10c/kWh tariff for any excess electricity sold back to the grid.
The new support price is being introduced along with a number of other measures in the Government’s micro-generation programme including -
Connection
An 'Inform and Fit' connection policy to be introduced by ESB Networks to reduce the length of time and complexity of the connection process. Sustainable Energy Ireland also has clear information explaining the connection process.
Grant assistance for R & D
This pilot study includes grant assistance of 40% of the cost of 50 trial units (of up to 50kW) countrywide. Applications are being accepted by Sustainable Energy Ireland. (SEI)
Planning exemptions
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) has made small scale generation from low-carbon sources exempt from planning permission. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will continue to work with the DHELG on planning issues surrounding renewable energy installations.
For further information -Customers interested in installing microgeneration technologies and with technical queries should contact ESB Networks at 1850 372 757.
Those interested in the small and micro-scale pilot field trials, contact
Sustainable Energy Ireland
Tel: +353 1 836 9080
Email: microgen@sei.ie
Web: www.sei.ie/grants/microgenpilot
Customer Connection guide details for micro generation are available
Click Here - and - Click Here
For a full guide to connecting renewable and CHP electricity generators of all sizes to the network - Click Here
Among the measures is a guaranteed price of 19 cent per kilowatt hour of electricity produced. This competitive feed-in tariff will apply to the first 4,000 micro-generation installations countrywide over the next three years. Eligible installations include - small scale wind, photovoltaic, hydro and combined heat and power (CHP).
Traditionally, the electricity network was designed to accommodate the flow of electricity from large centralised plants to customers dispersed throughout the country. Micro-generation at local level now introduces two-way flows to the electricity system. Local generators will have the ability to be paid by the Electricity Supply Bord (ESB) for electricity that is surplus to their own requirements and export it back to the national grid.
The export price will be available for up to 4000 micro generation units for a period of three years. ESB Customer Supply and ESB Networks will contribute 9 cent and 10 cent, respectively, towards this tariff. Domestic electricity users registered with ESB will receive a full tariff of 19c/kWh within limits as set out above. Non-ESB customers will receive a 10c/kWh tariff for any excess electricity sold back to the grid.
The new support price is being introduced along with a number of other measures in the Government’s micro-generation programme including -
Connection
An 'Inform and Fit' connection policy to be introduced by ESB Networks to reduce the length of time and complexity of the connection process. Sustainable Energy Ireland also has clear information explaining the connection process.
Grant assistance for R & D
This pilot study includes grant assistance of 40% of the cost of 50 trial units (of up to 50kW) countrywide. Applications are being accepted by Sustainable Energy Ireland. (SEI)
Planning exemptions
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) has made small scale generation from low-carbon sources exempt from planning permission. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will continue to work with the DHELG on planning issues surrounding renewable energy installations.
For further information -Customers interested in installing microgeneration technologies and with technical queries should contact ESB Networks at 1850 372 757.
Those interested in the small and micro-scale pilot field trials, contact
Sustainable Energy Ireland
Tel: +353 1 836 9080
Email: microgen@sei.ie
Web: www.sei.ie/grants/microgenpilot
Customer Connection guide details for micro generation are available
Click Here - and - Click Here
For a full guide to connecting renewable and CHP electricity generators of all sizes to the network - Click Here
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