Episode 2 of 3
The focus of this evening’s episode is reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from energy and water used in the home. We also keep an eye on the costs of energy and what you can do to reduce both emissions and bills.
The three competing families will be assessed by two scientists – monitoring their energy will be Dr Paul Deane (UCC), while evaluating the emissions from their household water will be Professor Fiona Regan (DCU).
The scientists have set the families four pledges in each category to help them reduce their emissions – for example, taking one less weekly car journey and keeping showers to five minutes or under.
The Ryans have had a bad start – but can they do better with their energy and water pledges?
With Naomi’s love of her garden and the garden hose quite apparent, it looks like water conservation is going to be a challenge. But so is keeping showers to five minutes or under, with Naomi thinking the boys should all cut their times so she can have more time for her routine. She also doesn’t approve of Dave’s strategy of toilet flushing – ‘if it’s yellow let it mellow’ – which she finds disgusting. Naomi doesn’t escape when it comes to energy either – one of the pledges is to swap the tumble dryer for the clothes line. But Naomi thinks a clothes line will ruin the aesthetics of her garden. Can a gift from Dave change her mind? And will eldest son Lucas’ gaming arcade in the bedroom stop them from getting a high score?
The McGettigans in Donegal struggled with the food pledges and they also like very long showers. Son Eoin is known to sing several country songs in the shower before he’s done. Mum Shauna also loves to flush the toilet, but it’s the washing machine that’s causing a lot of energy problems here. Shauna loves washing clothes – whether they need it or not. So after a visit from scientist Paul Deane – they start the Sniff Test. Chief sniffer is poor Eoin, whose job it is to smell the armpits and sweaty areas of everyone’s washing to determine if it needs a wash or not. Will he really smell his Dad’s work-shirts? The other problem the McGettigans have is their use of transport – two diesel cars, with Mum Shauna clocking up nearly 1000 km a week. Can they reduce their car usage and meet their pledges? Not easy in rural Ireland.
The Kellys were top of the heap at the end of the first episode, but can they keep that momentum? When it comes to energy and water – they’re all at sea. They don’t know how much water or electricity they use. They do know that the two Johns, Dad and John Jnr, use the most shower water, with John Junior known to take 20-minute showers.
In fairness to John Junior, he gets those showers down to five minutes or under – with the help of his mum and her stopwatch. Meanwhile Dad John gets reprimanded by his two youngest daughters for letting the tap run hen he’s brushing his teeth – another of Prof Fiona Regan’s pledges. The Kellys too use their cars a lot – but Abbey chooses to cycle to football training instead of getting a lift. Are the kids in this house the driving force of change? And can their parents keep up?
Presenter Maia Dunphy travels to County Mayo to meet the Pollagh River Restoration group and to Galway to experience the Knocknacarra Cycle bus, an organised and stewarded cycle each morning serving two local national schools. She also updates viewers on the impact of their pledges to take on the same challenges as the competing families at rte.ie/whatplanetareyouon.
What Planet Are You On? is produced by Vision Independent Productions for RTÉ and is made with the support of Science Foundation Ireland.