Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 4:30pm

Energy-saving contest launched for local firms

The Midlands Gateway Chamber will commence the Gateway Sustainability Challenge for the business community in the Midlands on April 1.

The project is designed to help businesses to start saving money on their energy waste and water bills. The short term goal of the project is to improve the competency of all businesses in the Gateway Region in terms of sustainability.

The particular focus of this phase of the project is to up-skill and strengthen awareness of all businesses in the region on matters relating to energy, waste and water usage and their costs.

The longer term objective of the project is to overcome the challenges of regional sustainability poised by Irelands only polycentric Gateway.

This is a three-year project broken down into sustainable bite-sized phases. Phase 1: Pilot programme (March 2010 to Oct 2010); Phase 2: Inter-town Gateway Sustainable Challenge (2010 to 2011); Phase 3: Inter-EU Sustainable Challenge (2011 to 2012)

Dominic Doheny President of the Midlands Gateway Chamber said: "That the overall purpose of the challenge is to strengthen the position of the Midlands Gateway Region as a front runner in terms of EU and the regions energy revolution.

" As the potential for EU wide investments in sustainable energy currently remains largely untapped, we hope that the Challenge will provide a forum to focus the regions entrepreneurial spirit and ensure the Midlands Gateway achieves essential public, private, and EU investment in sustainable business developments."

The competition will have three categories - energy, water and waste.

And an overall category sustainability which includes all three. The winners will be chosen by measured cost saving reductions in energy , water and waste verified by metered readings and invoices together with demonstrated management systems implemented over the course of the study.

The finale of the Sustainable Challenge will take place in October 2010 where the winners of the various categories will be announced.

"Sustainability needs cross party support and commitment from all levels of industry and on a business and domestic front if it is to make progress" Paul O'Reilly commented.

For more information on the Gateway Sustainability Challenge please contact Karen Cunningham on 087 948 0007 or info@midlandsgatewaychamber.ie