Ballynagran in Co.Wicklow has launched a plan to become one of the world’s first rural zero carbon district.

The Irish town is aiming to switch to totally green means of power, transport and production within the next ten years.

In the hopes of completely eliminating carbon emissions almost seven hundred houses will take part in the imitative. Part of the goals for the project include electric vehicles; rainfall harvesting to save on water; windmills and solar panels. The town also intends to use community allotments and orchards for food production.

Pat King, a local resident and vice-chairman of the voluntary committee behind the plan, told the Irish Examiner: "It will be particularly challenging because of the rural nature of the area. Transport will be a big issue and farming too, because agriculture is a big producer of methane

He added "But it’s going to be very exciting. There are a lot of different ideas out there and our plans will change over the years as new innovations develop."
 
The committee has been given a €150,000 start up grant which will allow them to hire a full time project manager who can then begin the energy audits.