Ballynagran lies in the heart of County Wicklow the ‘Garden of Ireland ‘and has a wealth of gardens and woodlands such as Deputy’s Pass, Mount Usher Gardens and Kilmacurragh Gardens and Arboreteum within its vicinity.
The Ballynagran Community has embarked on an ambitious and generous project to become an Energy Plus Community within the next fifteen years, focusing on energy consumption in buildings, transportation and food production.
Included within the Ballynagran Community Energy Plus Project are the Townlands that are within 3km of the area and this 'greater' area includes approximately 600 homes. Many of the homes are located in the village of Glenealy on the western edge of the community.
The overall mission of this project is to dramatically reduce the energy use of this rural community and eventually to create an energy independent region.
The long term objective is to produce locally a surplus of energy from renewable resources in order to create an energy independent community. Hence the logo
Ballynagran lies in the heart of County Wicklow the ‘Garden of Ireland ‘and has a wealth of gardens and woodlands such as Deputy’s Pass, Mount Usher Gardens and Kilmacurragh Gardens and Arboreteum within its vicinity.
The Ballynagran Community has embarked on an ambitious and generous project to become an Energy Plus Community within the next fifteen years, focusing on energy consumption in buildings, transportation and food production.
Included within the Ballynagran Community Energy Plus Project are the Townlands that are within 3km of the area and this 'greater' area includes approximately 600 homes. Many of the homes are located in the village of Glenealy on the western edge of the community.
The overall mission of this project is to dramatically reduce the energy use of this rural community and eventually to create an energy independent region.
The long term objective is to produce locally a surplus of energy from renewable resources in order to create an energy independent community. Hence the logo
An area comprising approximately 3500 hectares is included in this project.
Among the townlands are:
Ashtown, Ballinaclogh, Ballinacooley,Ballinameesda Lower, Ballinameesda Upper, Ballinclare, Ballinteskin, Ballydowling, Ballyfree East, Ballygonnell, Ballykeppoge, Ballykillavane, Ballymanus Lower, Ballymerrigan, Ballymoat, Ballymoney, Ballymurrin Lower, Ballymurrin Upper, Ballynabarny, Ballynagran, Ballynerrin Upper, Bonabrocka, Carrigmore, Coolacork, Gormanstown, Hawkstown Lower, Hawkstown Upper, Kilbride, Kilcandra, Kilnamanagh Beg, Kilnamanagh More, Newtown, Roscath.
An area comprising approximately 3500 hectares is included in this project.
Among the townlands are:
Ashtown, Ballinaclogh, Ballinacooley,Ballinameesda Lower, Ballinameesda Upper, Ballinclare, Ballinteskin, Ballydowling, Ballyfree East, Ballygonnell, Ballykeppoge, Ballykillavane, Ballymanus Lower, Ballymerrigan, Ballymoat, Ballymoney, Ballymurrin Lower, Ballymurrin Upper, Ballynabarny, Ballynagran, Ballynerrin Upper, Bonabrocka, Carrigmore, Coolacork, Gormanstown, Hawkstown Lower, Hawkstown Upper, Kilbride, Kilcandra, Kilnamanagh Beg, Kilnamanagh More, Newtown, Roscath.
This project is intended to provide stimulus for the Ballynagran energy plus area through the following benefits for the local community.
Environment – establishing an energy plus community to create a more sustainable environment.
Employment – two persons currently unemployed will be hired to carry out much of the energy audits proposed.
Health – Wicklow is a high risk radon region, and the measurement of radon will identify where remedial measures are required.
Educational – a database detailing the energy use of all houses will provide a valuable research resource.
Image and Reputation – and energy plus community will draw both national and international interest to this region.
This project is intended to provide stimulus for the Ballynagran energy plus area through the following benefits for the local community.
Environment – establishing an energy plus community to create a more sustainable environment.
Employment – two persons currently unemployed will be hired to carry out much of the energy audits proposed.
Health – Wicklow is a high risk radon region, and the measurement of radon will identify where remedial measures are required.
Educational – a database detailing the energy use of all houses will provide a valuable research resource.
Image and Reputation – and energy plus community will draw both national and international interest to this region.
Community WindFarm - An Option
Feasibilty study completed.
Potential for wind farm identified.
Potential Locations examined
Ideal location identified
Comprehensive public consultation will take place
Economic implications of big or small to be examined
Comparison with alternative renewable energy sources to be outlined
Actual long-term return to community to be detailed
Established in March 2011 at the Beehive
Operated in line with the country market model
Open during Spring, Summer and Autumn on Saturday Mornings
Centre of the Ballynagran Energy Plus Community District
Hub for social interaction and trade in the community
A venue for local people to engage in entrepreneurship and commerce
Facilitates micro producers the option of selling their produce on a commission basis
Amenity for the people of Wicklow
An ideal location to showcase local artisan producers
Plans to offer local schools the opportunity to sell produce at the market
Transition year students business module studies - real experience
Benefits the community
The most fundamental element of Zero CO2e Living
Could the local community possibly benefit from Wicklow's most abundant resource ?
Community Forest
an interesting proposition because:
Dovetails with other Ballynagran Energy⁺ Projects
Long-term community economic development.
Community economic participation
Local employment
Sharing of materials & machinery
Local-level decision making
Educational spin-off
Benefits the community
The link to the InterReg website is here InterReg IVB North-West Europe
We have assembled some information about InterReg and the Zecos Project - see this link Our Partners
The link to the Zecos website is here Zecos Website
They have also administered additional funding through Ballynagran Environmental Community Projects and Works Grant Scheme (BECWGS).
Some additional information about the BECWGS can be accessed here. Ballynagran Grants
And the link to the Wicklow County Council website is here Wicklow County Council
Funding has been secured from Wicklow County Council in association with Greenstar Ballynagran Landfill Community Fund for the first phase of the project.
This involves completing an energy audit of every participating home in the study area, retrofitting the local primary school with Passive House Standard materials and an environmental educational programme.
The first year's effort will provide a very sound basis for subsequent phases which will see the upgrading of homes and business to significantly reduce their energy consumption.
Such works could be done by a Retrofitting Cooperative, owned and operated by the local community, providing sustainable "Green Collar" employment.
Studies into the possibility of establishing a Community Forest, a Community Allotment Scheme and a Community Wind Farm are about to begin.
The feasibility of establishing community electric-car-charging points and expanding the current walking trails are also being explored.
Community WindFarm - An Option
Feasibilty study completed.
Potential for wind farm identified.
Potential Locations examined
Ideal location identified
Comprehensive public consultation will take place
Economic implications of big or small to be examined
Comparison with alternative renewable energy sources to be outlined
Actual long-term return to community to be detailed
Immediately adjacent to the Ballynagran Energy
to be a centre of Excellence for renewable energy technology and design
Read Wicklow County Council's Strategy for the Campus
Download Wicklow County Council's Exec-Summary- Vision for the Campus
Wicklow County Council aims to develop Wicklow County Campus as a Centre of Excellence in Enterprise, Education and Innovation in County Wicklow.The Council's objective is that that the campus acts as a catalyst for Economic Development in the County.
The Council is committed to placing :
If you wish to participate in the project and avail of the free energy audit, radon test, light bulbs and other community benefits, please contact us through our website
or just click Join Your Community.
If you are already a member of this online community Join or Create a Group that interests you at Join or Create a Group
Established in March 2011 at the Beehive
Operated in line with the country market model
Open during Spring, Summer and Autumn on Saturday Mornings
Centre of the Ballynagran Energy Plus Community District
Hub for social interaction and trade in the community
A venue for local people to engage in entrepreneurship and commerce
Facilitates micro producers the option of selling their produce on a commission basis
Amenity for the people of Wicklow
An ideal location to showcase local artisan producers
Plans to offer local schools the opportunity to sell produce at the market
Transition year students business module studies - real experience
Benefits the community
The most fundamental element of Zero CO2e Living
Could the local community possibly benefit from Wicklow's most abundant resource ?
Community Forest
an interesting proposition because:
Dovetails with other Ballynagran Energy⁺ Projects
Long-term community economic development.
Community economic participation
Local employment
Sharing of materials & machinery
Local-level decision making
Educational spin-off
Benefits the community
The link to the InterReg website is here InterReg IVB North-West Europe
We have assembled some information about InterReg and the Zecos Project - see this link Our Partners
The link to the Zecos website is here Zecos Website
They have also administered additional funding through Ballynagran Environmental Community Projects and Works Grant Scheme (BECWGS).
Some additional information about the BECWGS can be accessed here. Ballynagran Grants
And the link to the Wicklow County Council website is here Wicklow County Council
Funding has been secured from Wicklow County Council in association with Greenstar Ballynagran Landfill Community Fund for the first phase of the project.
This involves completing an energy audit of every participating home in the study area, retrofitting the local primary school with Passive House Standard materials and an environmental educational programme.
The first year's effort will provide a very sound basis for subsequent phases which will see the upgrading of homes and business to significantly reduce their energy consumption.
Such works could be done by a Retrofitting Cooperative, owned and operated by the local community, providing sustainable "Green Collar" employment.
Studies into the possibility of establishing a Community Forest, a Community Allotment Scheme and a Community Wind Farm are about to begin.
The feasibility of establishing community electric-car-charging points and expanding the current walking trails are also being explored.
Immediately adjacent to the Ballynagran Energy
to be a centre of Excellence for renewable energy technology and design
Read Wicklow County Council's Strategy for the Campus
Download Wicklow County Council's Exec-Summary- Vision for the Campus
Wicklow County Council aims to develop Wicklow County Campus as a Centre of Excellence in Enterprise, Education and Innovation in County Wicklow.The Council's objective is that that the campus acts as a catalyst for Economic Development in the County.
The Council is committed to placing :
If you wish to participate in the project and avail of the free energy audit, radon test, light bulbs and other community benefits, please contact us through our website
or just click Join Your Community.
If you are already a member of this online community Join or Create a Group that interests you at Join or Create a Group
