Eco Logical with Brian Redmond: Recent Episodes
KCLR
Join Brian Redmond for a look at the greener side of life, from food to fashion, electric vehicles to home heating and more issues impacting and influencing the environment around us.
With more than 50,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads and increasing interest from consumers in buying them, we talk all things Electric Vehicles on this week’s episode of Eco logical.
While there are growing numbers of electric vehicles on our roads, there are many people who are in the research stage of considering purchasing an electric vehicle, so to find out more about them and to give us a sense of what it’s like to drive an electric car we sent Eco logical presenter Brian Redmond on a test drive.
Daragh Keany, Sunday World Motoring Journalist joined Brian to tell us more about the EV market, how it has been increasing in popularity and what we need to think about when buying an EV.
Anthony Mannion and James Power of Laharts Garage joined Brian to chat about the different range of electric vehicles that are available, they chat through some of the common questions that they get about driving electric vehicles, batteries and charging networks around the country.
Chris Kelly of Easy Go Charging Network chats to Brian about the different charge points, the rollout of the charging network across the country and whether it is on track.
This week on Eco Logical it’s all about business, we’ll be looking at why it’s important to reduce emissions, how to do so and how we can promote sustainability in the way we work.
James Hogan, Programme Manager with the Clean Technology Centre, Munster Technological University joined Brian to chat about why businesses/organisations need to be looking at their emissions and how they can become more sustainable. James highlights that many businesses can reduce costs by carrying out assessments/energy audits.
John Purcell, CEO of KCLR and Deirdre Dromey, Producer of KCLR’s The Bottom Line joined Brian in Studio to speak about working towards making KCLR a Carbon Neutral organisation. They chat through beginning the process, why KCLR are working towards this goal, what’s involved and what are the benefits.
There are 135,037 farms in Ireland. (Census 2020) and the recently published Government Agri Food Strategy 2030, wants the sector to become carbon neutral by 2050, proposing the expansion of tillage, organic production, horticulture and forestry in a bid to meet our climate commitments. With every farm decision now under the microscope in terms of its implications for the environment, this week on Eco Logical we’re turning our focus to how farm diversification can contribute to sustainability.
Barry Caslin, Energy & Rural Development Specialist with Teagasc chatted about the work he does in the areas of rural development and renewable energy, providing information to farmers and helping farmers to create enterprises outside of the main role of the farm.
Rod & Julie Calder Potts of High Bank Organic Farm in Kilkenny and Ambassadors for Farming for Nature are farmers who have diversified their farm, creating an enterprise that is both ecologically and economically viable. They joined Brian to chat about their farm which has been producing organic apples since the 70's and the ways they work to enhance biodiversity on the farm.
Matt O'Keefe, Presenter of The Farm Show on KCLR spoke to Brian about the agriculture industry and the environment. Matt shares insights on national herd numbers as well as the evolving technologies aimed to reduce emissions within the industry.
Week four on Eco logical and we’re talking tourism and travel.
Sustainable travel, green tourism, eco-friendly, leave no trace, carbon-footprints have become buzz words for a generation. But what do they mean? Can we holiday in an ecological way? In our fourth episode of Eco logical we take a look at Eco Tourism.
Roisin Finlay, General Manager at Sustainable Travel Ireland joined Brian to chat about the sustainable travel industry and how it has grown over the last number of years. Roisin discusses the difference between eco-tourism and sustainable travel and how all business involved in tourism need to be aware of their impact on the environment and their local communities.
Someone who knows a lot about both the environment and indeed Eco Tourism is former Green Party Minister, Mary White who owns and operates Blackstairs Eco Trails. Mary spoke with producer Ethna Quirke about her work within Backstairs Eco Trails as well discussing the importance and objectives of eco-tourism.
Mike Bookle of Kilkenny Eco Tours joined Brian in studio to chat about his business, how it began and how the River Nore offers lots of historic, cultural, and ecological features for visitors to experience. Mike also discusses the health of the river and his experiences of testing the water in the river through Nore Vision.
This week on Eco logical we are all about food waste, with tips and advice on how to reduce food waste while at the same time saving money.
Ireland generates in the region of 1 million tonnes of food waste per year, worldwide that figure is estimated to be around 1.3 billion tonnes. Food waste alone is responsible for 8% of the world’s global carbon emissions and costs Irish householders approximately €700 per year.
Co-Owner of Thrive Café Helen Demetriou joined Brian in studio to chat about reducing their own carbon footprint and working to educate local people on living more sustainably. Thrive which is located in Tullow, Co. Carlow is all about food that is fresh, local and organic with a focus on balancing meals that are of right proportion of macro nutrients with portion sizes.
Craig Benton also known as Dr. Compost is an expert in both home and commercial composting and has been the lead Master Composter Trainer with Stop Food Waste.ie since the programme began and is now the facilitator for the Greater Dublin Area.
Originally from the US, he started training composters in Seattle in 1984 and over his career has trained more than 1,000 people in composting and food waste prevention. Craig chatted to Brian about composting and provides some practical solutions to reduce household food waste.
Fast Fashion is one of the world’s biggest polluters with over 100 billion items of clothing being produced globally each year, using thousands of different chemicals. Yet 3 out of 5 items end up in landfill within 12 months. This week our focus is on Fast Fashion and how we can produce and shop more ethically and sustainably.
Sustainable Fashion Designer, Zoë Carol Wong of zoecarol.com spoke with Brian about living sustainably and how it has always been part of her life with her mum being very ecologically aware. Zoë tell us about how her love for fashion began, and how her business has evolved over time to become more sustainable using raw materials and talent that is sourced locally.
Making sustainable fashion choices when shopping for that next special outfit doesn't need to be difficult, with many stores now stocking sustainable brands or clothes made from sustainable materials. Michelle Harding, Buyer at Pauls of Kilkenny chatted to Brian about the changes that they are seeing within the industry as well as from consumers.
Fianna is a clothing company specialising in sustainable active wear. Founders, Conor, Eoin and Conor chatted to Brian about their business, how it began, why being a sustainable accessible brand was important and their plans for the future.
Finishing this week’s programme, we hear what climate change means to children and what tips and advice they have to help in the fight against it.
Welcome to the first episode of eco logical on KCLR. In this 10-part series Brian Redmond, takes a “person on the street” look at what little changes we can all make to do our best for the environment.
Anthony Mannion, Volkswagen Sales Manager at Laharts Volkswagen chatted to Brian about the Motor industry, the changes they are making to be more environmentally friendly from their showrooms right down to ensuring the sales process is now a paperless process. Anthony provides insight into the Electric Vehicle market and how consumer behaviours are changing.
Fiona Smiddy, Founder and CEO of Green Outlook spoke to Brian about how seeing the effects of the climate crisis during her travels was the catalyst for her starting up her business. A former chartered accountant, Fiona set up Green Outlook to offer customers a range of eco-friendly products and to provide information on how we can make more sustainable choices in our lives.
Jannette O’Brien, Environmental Awareness Officer with Carlow County Council joined Brian to provide insights into the role our local authorities play in protecting the environment through awareness and enforcement. Jeanette speaks about the importance of taking the “myth” out it, getting to speak with people and “to empower people to be the change that’s needed”.
Eleanor Duggan, owner of The Little Green Grocer joined Brian in studio to chat about the concept behind their business, and how they live their lives is very much reflected in their business. Eleanor also chatted about sourcing sustainable products locally and how there are some great growers based around Kilkenny.