Where Ballymun goes, the world follows, in model for green future

THE Dublin suburb of Ballymun will be the international 'model, for how to build large-scale, environmentally friendly communities which reduce people's dependency on fossil fuels, a conference was told yesterday.

And residents who will move into 400 homes due to be constructed this year will save themselves up to €355 a year because the houses are designed to use as little fuel as possible.

The Greener Ballymun conference heard yesterday that a series of environmental initiatives, undertaken as part of the regeneration of Ballymun, had led to the suburb winning 29 awards and proving itself to the ahead of the rest of the country when it came to building energy-efficient homes.

"If we come back here in 10 years' time it will be a model city, not just for Ireland but for Europe," environmentalist and broadcaster Duncan Stewart said.

Daunting

"This is going to become an extremely sought-after area. Rising energy costs and bringing down our greenhouse gases is a huge, daunting challenge. Energy will be a key issue.

"We've left a huge legacy of mistakes behind us. We need to look at all our new developments and find ways to make buildings more energy efficient."

Ballymun Regeneration, which is spearheading the redevelopment project, plans to build 400 new homes which will lead to lower fuel bills for householders because of their high energy rating, which are above current building standards.

"We have 400 homes going out to tender in the next six weeks, most of which would be three-bedroom homes," senior executive architect with Ballymun Regeneration, Darragh Lynch, said.

"We want to future-proof these houses. With these houses, residents will save about €355 a year on heating bills. They're better insulated, the buildings are airtight and the ventilation system moves air through the house.

Environment Minister John Gormley said 2008 was the largest programme of demolition since work on regenerating the suburb began, and that 87pc of replacement would be completed or at the construction stage by the end of the year.

"You are a shining example to other communities," he said.

Paul Melia
Irish Independent

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