(Poelker) Green in Dublin

You’ve probably heard that Ireland is green, and it’s true. Driving through the country you’ll get snapshots of emerald beauty, fields full of cattle and grass and trees and all of that. In Dublin, it’s hard to walk a block without seeing Kelly Green storefronts and more than a few of the tourists meandering around don the hue. What you might not think of when someone mentions “green” in Ireland is the environment.

I don’t claim to be an expert on environmentalism in the city of Dublin or on the subject in general, but I’d like to point out a few environmentally friendly practices I’ve noticed in Dublin.

Shopping for groceries in Dublin has given me one of the best insights into Irish life. If we are what we eat shouldn’t a city defined by its grocery stores? I visited a Dunnes’ on Great George St. a few blocks from Trinity to stock up. I filled my basket with some frozen meat pies (an Irish meal I’m particularly fond of) some sandwich supplies, and a case of 330 mL bottles of Stella Artois (I’m getting used to the small size). As it turned out, I couldn’t fit everything in my book bag, and asked for a bag. To my surprise, it cost €0.70! The practice is intended to cut down on the cost, both economic and environmental, of producing millions of plastic bags that will be thrown away almost instantly. What’s more, the bags are a lot sturdier than what you’ll get at Wal-Mart, so you don’t have to worry about spilling cans of food and watching them roll across a steamy, crowded parking lot.  

Several pints of Guinness or Smithwicks has an inevitable result: a visit the W.C. After relieving yourself and washing your hands, you’ll notice Dublin’s public bathrooms have an excellent way of preserving (the call of) nature. More often than not they feature a Dyson Airblade. Excuse my brand-consciousness, but these hand dryers are great! A confined, quiet stream of air flows into an ergonomically designed space that fit your hands comfortably. You then move your hands up and down in order to dry them completely. Given their attractive look and the occasional LED countdown timer, it feels like the space age. According to their website, “it uses up to 80% less energy than warm air hand dryers,” saving the business money and the customer tie. 

 

 

In addition to the gas powered public transportation (which is excellent) Dublin has implemented a public bike program much like those in Paris and Amsterdam. Dublinbikes, launched in 2009, is a cheap way of traveling that gives people an alternative to greenhouse gas travel. 44 stations across the city feature a group of somewhat funny looking bikes, in specially designed racks. I’ve yet to try it, but you can get a three day pass for only €2, which is a hell of a deal. 

I should also note that of the people who do drive, most use smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. This is practical solution to the cost of gas (aprox. €1.57/L) as well as the usually narrow streets. 

 

As far as the campus of Trinity College goes, students are constantly reminded to treat the earth with respect. Throughout the campus there are “Big Belly” solar trash compactors. These do two environmentally saintly things: Use solar power, and compact the waist into a manageable size. Informational cards in the rooms make it clear that we are expected to recycle and compost properly. We even have two separate trashcans (general waste and recycling), a concept many American dorm buildings find difficult to implement. I find myself choosing to recycle much more often than usual. 

 

It shouldn’t be news that the United States is way behind in its green practices and I realize New Orleans is still re-building some of the infrastructure required to treat Earth properly, but the small but important aspects of Dublin culture have made me realize that it can be done. As a modern European city (if only in recent decades) Dublin has embraced ecological responsibility, and I’d like to see some places in America get with the times.

For more information on Dublin’s Environmental Policies, visit the city page