Climate change could have "severe implications" for the Irish economy if its effects on water supply are not addressed, an expert has warned. Water supplies could be stretched by climate change Dr Conor Murphy, climate change expert and hydrologist, outlined his fears to the annual Engineers Ireland Conference in Limerick.

The head of a wind energy lobby group has said that the industry in Ireland needs to invest

A new hybrid mail service aims to increase the efficiency of direct marketing and reduce the carbon footprint of companies. The PDQit system enables companies to send documents to be printed, enveloped and then posted direct from a computer across the UK and Ireland, which can save users as much as 60% on annual postage expenditure, according to Precision Marketing. Andy Percival, PDQit managing director, said: "For simple marketing pieces, hybrid mail is a quick, responsive solution. "It lets agencies and mailing houses get campaigns to market much more quickly.

A conference has been discussing the role of Irish local authorities in combating climate change. Environment minister John Gormely and experts from the Environment Protection Agency were present at the conference which addressed the implementation of national and regional climate change policy and the need for energy efficiency and emissions management. According to Kilkenny county manager Joe Crockett, the four main areas responsible for CO2 emissions in Ireland were industry, agriculture, energy and transport.

DUNDALK, Ireland: When the fearsome Cuchulainn was transformed by the rage of battle into a Celtic Incredible Hulk, according to Irish mythology, the warrior's intensity melted snow for 30 feet around him. That was an impressive generation of alternative energy from this Achilles-like hero so closely associated with Dundalk, but this town on Ireland's east coast is turning to less ephemeral kinds of power as it tests technologies to reduce the country's thirst for fossil fuels.

The Electricity Supply Board has urged government to consider various ways in which different modes of transport could be powered by electricity as a way of reducing Ireland's carbon emissions and meeting EU targets. Speaking at the Irish Management Institute national conference, ESB chief executive Padraig McManus said that the ESB was working towards having zero net carbon emissions by 2035. He estimated that it would take 2,000 megawatts a day to power all of Ireland's cars, noting that this could easily be supplied by electricity companies during the night, when demand is low.

Water will become an increasingly important commodity, with societies finding success in large part due to how smartly they address supply and demand. Comhar: Charging households directly for their water could solve shortages That is according to Comhar Sustainable Development Council, a national forum and advisory body set up by the Irish government in 1999. It warned that the Greater Dublin Area would run out of water in less than ten years unless action is taken now.

A Euro 500m gas storage plant has been approved by the Irish Planning Board. An Bord Pleanala approved construction of the facility in the Shannon Estuary, between Ballylongford and Tarbert in County Kerry. It is believed that the plant will be capable of supplying around 60% of the country's gas needs and will feature five large storage tanks. The tanks will also be used to store strategic reserves of gas, which could be used in the event of a world energy crisis.

An inspection on May 25, 2005, found an illegal waste transfer station where waste was being stored, sorted and disposed of, located on the abandoned Ballyhill Road at Nutts Corner. Samuel Maginty, trading as A1 Skips, was found to have also carried out earthworks to extend the site using controlled wastes. He was fined