A Dublin firefighter behind the world’s first zero carbon fire station was among 23 winners at the third annual Green Awards last night.
Neil McCabe’s green plan for Kilbarrack station has saved Dublin Fire Brigade some €50,000 per year.
The project includes collecting rainwater to reduce water consumption by 14,000 litres per week. He reduced the station’s energy consumption by 80 per cent through retrofitting and introducing energy efficient boilers.
He also improved local biodiversity by developing four ecogardens in the underused land around the station.
Mr McCabe was given the green leader of the year award for his ideas and initiatives, which are to be applied to other fire stations.
Some of Dublin’s best known venues were among the other winning businesses and organisations recognised for promoting and implementing green initiatives.
The 50,000-seat Aviva stadium, which opened its doors less than a year ago, was was given a green building award. Dublin’s other main stadium, Croke Park, was named as green medium sized enterprise of the year.
Ireland’s top tourist attraction, the Guinness Storehouse, was recognised for its environmental efforts in the green entertainment and leisure category.
The highly successful Dublin Bike scheme was given a green communications award, while Dublin City Council was named as the greenest council.
Among other awards were the green college prize to University College Cork and greenest travel initiatives to Microsoft Ireland.
