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3 pioneering sustainable businesses to visit and support this month
Sustainability journalist Jo Linehan spotlights some Irish businesses that are championing sustainability in new and exciting ways. If you’re looking for something a little different to do this weekend, here’s where to head…
Sometimes, the best way to spark inspiration is to immerse ourselves in a new environment. In fact, in 2020, research from New York University and the University of Miami found that having new experiences is linked to positive and happy emotions.
A new experience doesn’t have to be profound; it can mean changing your daily commute route, visiting a new coffee shop, trying a new gastropub, or booking that weekend away you’ve been promising yourself.
At its core, sustainability is all about innovation and reimagining the things we do every day. In that spirit, here is a curation of three great Irish places worth visiting, all of whom are pioneering new, diverse and inspiring environmental and social initiatives.
No matter what kind of newness, reinvigoration or reimagination you’re after this month, these sustainable spots are ready to satiate.
The biodiversity pioneer: Coffeeangel
Caffeine lovers might already be familiar with Coffeeangel, a mecca for all things coffee. Across each of its cosy locations (IFSC, Trinity College, Pembroke Street Lower, South Anne Street, Trinity Street, Hatch Street Upper, Merrion Row, Mount Street Lower and Market Road Monaghan), speciality blends, fresh, flaky pastries, moreish savoury snacks, and home barista tools and essentials are on tap.
What you may not know about Coffeeangel, though, is its commitment to positively impacting people and the planet. Not only is Coffeeangel a Pinergy partner, powering its cafés with 100% renewable energy, but every time a customer brings their own reusable cup, the team donates 20¢ to Friends of the Earth Ireland.
Earlier this year, Coffeeangel made history with a first-of-its-kind deal in Ireland, committing to investing 5% of its profits into biodiversity credits. The credits will be spent rewilding parts of Dunsany Estate in Co Meath, with the first year of the deal set to remove and store a minimum of 80,000kg of carbon from the estate’s atmosphere.
So, you can pop into one of the coffee bars (with a reusable cup, of course) and indulge, knowing every brew is giving back.
The modern local: LOCK 13 Brewpub
Take an award-winning gastropub with a morish seasonal menu, delicious cocktails, and locally brewed beer, underpin it with a sustainable ethos, and you have LOCK 13 Brewpub. This family-owned business in the heart of Sallins, Co Kildare, is redefining what it means to be a traditional pub.
For over 25 years, the Flanagan family has offered thirsty punters a curated selection of locally crafted beers, with exceptional, locally sourced food to accompany each glass. In 2016, the team decided to start creating their own beers, and in 2017, the Kildare Brewing Company launched energy-saving sensors, LED lights and 100% renewable Pinergy-powered energy to support this thriving destination.
Stop off and sample the LOCK 13 crispy chicken wings with hot sauce and sesame seeds, paired with an Electric Juice IPA, or tuck into a braised Irish beef featherblade washed down with a red ale. Book a brewery tour and sample the best of each brew on-site, or simply take a moment to stop off and enjoy the view of the canal in this cosy local.
The theme here is all about quality, from the food, drinks, and service. LOCK 13’s modern take on traditional hospitality makes this spot special.
The off-grid escape: Delphi Lodge
Picture this scene. You’re at the foot of Connacht’s Mweelrea mountain, surrounded by nothing but trees, lake and sky. Everything is quiet, and real life is far away. You’re about to head inside for a six-course gourmet meal of local produce. This is Delphi Lodge, a 200-year-old country house beloved by those who love to fish, hike, or get away from it all.
Not only does Pinergy heat and light this manor, but it also provides the electricity that runs the salmon hatchery, a project which Delphi Lodge has diligently developed to ensure salmon numbers are retained throughout the area.
A stay at Delphi can be curated from start to finish. Check in to one of their thirteen plush rooms in the main house, make it a group trip and decamp to a self-catering cottage on site, visit their nearby Silver food truck, or indulge in fine dining under the care of Chef Kevin. Stay active with countless activities on your doorstep, or simply curl up with a good read and a breathtaking view by the fire in the drawing room.
In any case, this sustainable stay offers a much-needed reprieve from life to stop, breathe and recentre in nature.
Inspired? Here’s what to do next
Hopefully, these new experiences have inspired you to make your own small but impactful changes. One of the most effective and easiest steps each of us can take is to switch to 100% renewable energy at home and work. By powering our daily lives with renewable energy, we can support Ireland’s energy transition, reduce our carbon footprint, and help build a brighter, more sustainable future for all.
That’s where the Pinergy team comes in. Pinergy is the go-to energy provider for all of these pioneering Irish businesses because it provides renewable energy and up-to-date data on energy usage via its app. Pinergy is committed to helping Ireland meet its energy targets.
Be part of positive change. Begin your energy transition journey today by visiting pinergy.ie to find a business or home energy package that works for you.