Pilot Triple SECgoes Stoneybatter Festival with a Cosybatter Walk & Talk Tour

On Saturday, June 22, 2024, the Cosybatter Walk & Talk tour took place as part of the Stoneybatter Festival, highlighting local initiatives towards energy efficiency and sustainability.  

The 2-hour tour provided practical, real-world examples of energy efficiency improvements, making the information accessible and actionable for attendees. The participants, guided by members from Triple SEC, engaged deeply with the content, asking questions and discussing their own experiences. 

The route featured the following stops, gatherin 22 participants eager to learn from the experiences of their neighbors and local institutions: 

1. Council Greening Interventions: Kicking off at the Scouts Hall, the group then explored the Council’s biodiversity and climate adaptation projects. 
2. Bikebunker Storage Unit: Part of a pilot scheme, this stop highlighted innovative bike storage solutions. 
3. Local Church: Participants visited a church that recently installed new infrared heating, a significant upgrade after months without heat. 
4. Geothermal Explorations at a Campus: This stop focused on the campus's efforts in geothermal energy. 
5. Retrofit in Progress in Cabra: At the house of Triple SECmember Ger from Connecting Cabra, the group observed a retrofit project in action. 
6. Victorian Redbrick House: A Triple SECmember of Phibsboro Climate Club shared best practices for retrofitting these historic structures. 
7. Steph's Cottage: The final stop showcased solar energy installations and Cosybatter's new collaboration with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, presented by tour organiser Stephanie Dickenson. 

In addition to the tour, the Stoneybatter Festival’s Eco Hub was well attended with other activities, including a clothes and books swap and a repair café. Cosybatter, Connecting Cabra, and Phibsboro Climate Club were among the many groups present, bringing a strong sense of community and collaboration into the festival activities. 

The walking tour, designed to showcase various sustainability efforts, began with a warm welcome from key speakers from Triple SEC and next to being informative it was also a stepping stone for future actions and events of the initiative. Many attendees signed up for the Cosybatter newsletter, ensuring continued engagement and information sharing. Plans are already in the works to replicate the tour in shorter forms, tailored to specific areas, to keep the momentum going and inspire more residents to join the effort towards a more sustainable future. 

Overall, the Cosybatter Walk & Talk underscored the power of community-driven action in addressing climate change and promoting energy efficiency. 

For more information on upcoming events and actions, visit the Connecting Cabra website. 

If you want to learn more about the Stoneybatter Festival, have a look at their website. Stoneybatter Festival website. 

Here is relevant info about the four pilots from the Cititzen-led renovation Phase I. As well, you can now check out the six new pilots that have just been selected for the Citizen-led renovation Phase II.