Cloughjordan EcoLearn presents “The Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles – Are We Getting Close?”
If it’s true that we are what we measure, then it’s time to measure what we are. Many of us aspire to live sustainably, but how do we know if we are really living up to our aspirations? How do you measure sustainability?
Simply put, each of us needs an ‘amount’ of the environment to produce the goods and services necessary to support our particular lifestyle. Each person’s fair share of planet Earth is called an ‘Ecological Footprint’ (EF) and has become an accepted measure of sustainability. EF can be calculated for individuals, for communities and for countries.
Cloughjordan Ecovillage is a community on a journey to living sustainably. It’s the reason we exist. We have pioneered ways we can reduce our EF but we are continually learning to go further and share what we have discovered along the way. We have had our EF measured by Tipperary Energy Agency and are proud to say that we have the lowest Ecological Footprint of any community recorded in Ireland, less than half that for other settlements.
Cloughjordan EcoLearn invites you to spend a day in our community, sharing insights into the everyday choices we make, the impacts our lifestyles have on the planet and how the community lives and works together. Thankfully there are many ways that you, as an individual, can make a difference – in the home, in your garden, at work, in your community. One person can indeed make a difference but 100 people working together can make a much bigger difference. In our experience, a commitment to sustainability leads to a better quality of life, not the hardship some people might expect.
The EcoLearn Day will be conducted in an interactive way, combining input with active participation and sharing. It is open to anyone who is interested in the issues being examined and does not require any prior level of knowledge. The day will include a guided tour of the Ecovillage and a visit to one or more houses.
The day starts at 11:00am and runs to 5pm with a lunch break, allowing people to travel by train from the Dublin area and return on the same day. The rail fare from Dublin is €9.99 each way if booked three days in advance.
The venue is 15 minutes walk from Cloughjordan station: simply turn left and follow the road. The pedestrian entrance to the Ecovillage is halfway along the Main Street of Cloughjordan and the Resilience Centre is then the first building on the right as you walk down the hill. If you travel by car, please park on Main Street and walk the last few metres. Early arrivals will find great coffee, tea and cake at Sheelagh na Gig bookshop.
For those who wish to stay over, there is hostel accommodation on-site and in local B&B’s. On Sunday morning an optional outdoor community Meitheal is planned.
The Ecovillage is located in the heart of Cloughjordan and received the Gold Award for best ‘Socio-Economic Project’ at UN International Awards for Liveable Communities in Xiamen, China, Nov 2013. It now has 100 residents living in 50 high-performance green homes; over 20,000 newly planted trees and Ireland’s largest renewable energy district heating system. Django’s Hostel is welcoming overnight guests, The Riot Rye Bakery is producing award-winning breads and WeCreate Workspace, a unique creative and technological workspace for eco-entrepreneurs, is open for business.
The Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles – Are We Getting Close?
Hosted by Cloughjordan Ecovillage as part of its EcoLearn programme
Date: 11am-5pm Bank Holiday Saturday 1 August 2015
Location: Cloughjordan Ecovillage Resilience Centre, off Main Street
Cost: €30 with €5 reduction if you travel by train (or cash back at registration, if you prebook online).
Lunch: not included
Parking: on Main Street
Accommodation: Django’s Hostel
Enquiries: 087 2624154 or mail to <learning@thevillage.ie>
Online booking: http://www.thevillage.ie/learn-with-us/ecolearn-2015-programme/
