Horizons

Building carbon neutrality:A scaled-down version of an eco-house powered solely by renewable energies will be one of the attractions at the Irish Sustainable Building Show from September 20th to 22nd at the RDS Simmonscourt in Dublin.

Billed as Ireland's first carbon-neutral exhibition, the organisers plan to offset the show's carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits from Ecocem. Launched earlier this year, Ecocem is a low-carbon cement, manufactured from a byproduct of steel-making blastfurnace slag. To achieve its carbon-neutral status, Ecocem offsets any carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacturing process through purchasing carbon offsets which support environmental projects in the developing world.

As well as exhibition stands, the show will have seminars on biofuels, climate change, and construction and building energy ratings. The show runs alongside the annual Building Exhibition organised by the construction industry. Free online registration is available on www.sustainablebuildingshow.com;see also www.ecocem.ie.

Green listening

Tune in to RTÉ Radio 1 on Thursdays at 8pm over the coming weeks to find out ways you can reduce your impact on the environment. The Green Light is the title of a new series presented by Ella McSweeney, the first show of which went out this week with a report on the concrete industry. Future programmes will look at chemicals used in the home, recycling and where our waste goes, rivers and drinking water, plastics, alternative energies and organic food. E-mail environment@rte.ie for details.

Be a marine life-saver

Beach litter is more than just an eyesore for seaside visitors; it is also a threat to many vulnerable marine species. It is estimated that, globally, more than a million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles die every year from entanglement or ingestion of plastics. Next Saturday, Salthill beach in Co Galway will be the focus of the Marine Conservation Society's annual beachwatch litter survey and clean-up. If you would like to join in this volunteering effort, call 091-585100 or e-mail atlantaquaria@eircom.net.

Athenry initiative

A new environmental network has been founded in Athenry, Co Galway.

"We are a volunteer group interested in educating small communities on how to be more environmentally aware," says chairman Patrick Creed. The group will hold its first meeting on September 22nd and 23rd. Newcomers welcome. For details, e-mail athenryenvnet@ gmail. com or see www. athenryenvironmentalnetwork.com.

Take Duncan Stewart's advice

Finally, a little advance notice for a green building forum. Architect and TV presenter Duncan Stewart will lead a seminar on energy-proofing your home at Cultivate, Temple Bar, Dublin on Saturday, September 29th, from 10am-5pm, tickets €60. A Green Building evening course, using Patrick Waterfield's The Energy Efficient Home, will run in the same venue on Wednesdays at 7.30pm from October 3rd to November 7th. Details: 01-6745773 or www.cultivate.ie.

EcoWeb

www.respect2007.com

Find out more about this weekend's Cross-Border Energy Trade Fair in the Food Hub, Drumshambo, Co Leitrim.