New ‘energy-smart’ plaza to engage Dubliners with renewable energy

24 Sep 2012

Gerry Wardell, director of Codema, pictured with Pat Rabbitte, TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, at the launch of the Ace competition

Dublin Lord Mayor Mr Naoise Ó Muirí is set to announce a design competition this evening for a new ‘energy-smart’ feature that will be installed in the city centre to inform people about renewable energy and sustainability.

The installation is being led by the Ace initiative that is promoting the uptake of renewable energy throughout north and west European countries.

The smart energy feature is set to be placed in Barnardo Square, which is located off Dame Street and beside the entrances to Dublin Castle and City Hall.

As for the competition, it will be open to the public, as well as designers, planners, ICT professionals, creative thinkers and visual communicators to come up with a physical concept to inform and inspire people about renewable energy.

Dublin City Council is planning to invest €150,000 in the energy-smart plaza. The energy agency Codema will also be working on the project. Another aim is for the physical installation to have a virtual component to show how ICT and sustainability can converge to create an energy-smart city.

In total, €1.5m will be invested in Dublin through Ace, 50pc of which will be covered via the EU Interreg IVB programme.

“This feature must highlight the smart link between renewable energy supply and demand but it must also grab the attention of passersby,” said Ace project manager Edel Giltenane. 

She said the design competition would be a blank canvas so people could communicate the smart feature via art, technology, light or sound. 

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

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