Electric motorway that uses an electromagnetic field to induce charge or to propel vehicles along. Be it new electric vehicles which may only have limited speed and range will have the benefit of been able to travel motorway at speeds of up to 120 km/ph while topping up their charge to allow them to go further off motorway. Or Existing vehicles that can have a modification made that will allow them to switch from fossil fuel while on the motorway. Renewable and sustainable energy can ensure 0 carbon emissions. Electric motoring is reported to cost as little as 1p per mile. This system can be easily installed by incorporating a road cutting saw, Track decoiler, asphalt dispenser and a road surface finisher on a 40 ft rig. Distances of between 10 and 50 KM of road could be laid in a day and as only one lane would require the track minimum disruption would be caused to the public. The vehicle modification could be produced in mass in Ireland and be fitted by registered garages around t More...

This is a proposed solution to a problem which i am sure many people who regularly travel the length and breadth of ireland especially on secondary roads have encountered, namely the scourge of the drinks bottle. I propose a levy or deposit on all plastic drinks bottles to encourage consumers into the habit of recycling, This deposit scheme would be implemented using barcode identifiers on all plastic bottles and would be implemented from a notable future date eg 11/11/11. Initially there would be an outlay to the producers of such drinks bottles in upgrading equipment but this would be recouped over time once the scheme had gained traction. I propose collection areas , a minimum of two in each county geographically located to optimise collecting capacity ,more in more populus counties. These would be simple collection cages the size of a lorry container, similar to a setup i observed in australia some 20 years ago with tin drinks cans ,the only difference being a barcode scan More...

The basis of my idea is that Ireland should strive to a target of having zero garbage waste in the country. I believe that in this day and age nothing should have to go into a landfill. To achieve this I believe that the state should build recycling plants throughout the country. The key point of my idea is that people on welfare would be used to work in the recycling plant to sort through the rubbish. This may sound a little extreme but let me briefly explain how I believe this will work. I think that anyone who has been on welfare long term would be required to work for one week in every month in the recycling plant. This should not impact the individuals ability to continue to search for a full time job as the system would allows the individual 3 weeks to do so. I believe that in the week that the individual works in the recycling plant that their welfare payments should be doubled or that they should receive the minimum wage. This additional income would be a huge help to those str More...

Instead of the spirit of ireland - becoming the powerhouse of electricity generation for Europe (through wind power)- have the HydroSprite Emer-ald! If we focus on developing ALL our water facilities; from grey water collection in house design (for sustainability & state coffers) to wave power (instead of landslide inducing windfarms) off our atlantic coast, we would be maximising our most plentiful natural resource...more effectively than windpower. This would create jobs in all areas and several sectors: ie our well educated science graduates, plumbers, builders, electricians and many more. The wave power part would have the effect of providing the nation with a desperately needed sustainable, desireable product to export: energy. It would do so without the same major objections which have faced the wind generation industtry such as unsightly, damaging to the local housing/population etc. The grey water collection bit would help our nations households, schools, hospitals & oth More...

I'm an architect and I guess I'm just galled at where we find ourselves now. Using my work experience and knowledge of the situation I'm proposing a method by which we may get to grips with the property problem in its different manifestations and create mass employment, change the nature of our properties positively, engage more with green issues and liberate the population to soome degree from this huge debt burden which is being placed on their shoulders. Society in general would be the chief beneficary of this solution not any vested interests.

My proposal is to develop an online showcase of Irish eco friendly businesses – a one stop shop for Irish produced eco-conscious products. In a competitive world-market, the online resource will showcase and market Irish eco friendly products to consumers, retailers and the media at a global level, delivering growth and exposure for Irish business, significantly increasing exports and boosting Ireland’s reputation for eco-friendly products.

Ireland is a country with a bountiful supply of rainwater. This is not unique among the world's nations but what possibly is quite exceptional is that most citizens have access to clean, safe and, it must be said, quite delicious water from taps across the land. As a well-travelled people, Irish people will aware that this luxury is exactly that, one enjoyed by a minority of the world's people and therefore one to be treasured by us all. At the time of this piece, Government plans are afoot to apply a price to this treasured resource, with the objective of ensuring we are all aware that this is a finite resource. What I propose is a nationwide initiative to build a water fountain in every village, town and city in Ireland. The fountains would be designed and constructed at a local level, supported by a national central committee consisting of a civil engineer, architect, an expert from the civil service. The fountains would serve a twin purpose:- to give residents, visitors, all com More...

Public Buildings should be retrofitted with energy efficient building services, systems, and materials. This is an initiative that will be both environmentally and economically friendly. It will boost badly needed construction sector jobs and has the opportunity to be cost neutral through the correct planning and design through the energy saving over a period of time. Recent observer has cited that every €1 billion spent on such retrofit projects will create 8000 jobs. If my proposal were to be selected, i would put the money towards a feasibility study to prove the concept.

It is my belief that the Government will introduce a property tax which will effect every private residence in this Country. My proposal is a method of determining how much tax each household should pay. The significance of my proposal is that it gives the house owner an opportunity to effect how mush property tax he/she will have to pay. This will be based on the energy consumption of each house and the following is how I see it working: 1. There will be a three year lead in to the introduction of the property tax. 2. This will give each house owner the opportunity to have their house rated in terms of energy usage. The rating of each house will be carried out by Building Energy Rating Assessors. 3. The property tax will be based on the energy consumption opf the house. So the more energy efficient the house is the less property tax will be payable. 4. House owners can have work carrie don their homes like upgrading the heating systems, installing new energy efficient double/triple g More...

My plan is to use school sites (National Schools and Educate Together fit the profile best) to demonstrate how building can be made carbon neutral and cost effective. The proposal is to make primary schools an example of energy efficiency through the strategically planned and well designed use of photovoltaic Solar Panels and Vertical Wind Turbines. The two technologies will compliment each other and reduce the reliance on carbon fuels. The operating hours of a school are consistent with the production profile of solar energy, as the building are typically not in use after dark. During the highly productive months of the summer the energy can be sold into the grid. If i were to be selected as i successful promoter of a project, i would put the prize money towards a feasibility project to evaluate the business model.