The Smart Sandyford Business District in Dublin has become the new home of a landmark smart bench.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has installed the world's first solar powered smart bench which includes cycling equipment in the Dublin suburb.

This new product forms part of the County Development Plan's aim to be carbon neutral through reduced dependence on fossil fuels.

An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Shay Brennan said: "dlr have consistently shown leadership by being a national test-bed for a wide range of energy innovations, from internal systems to public amenities."

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dlr has been leading the way in dual usage municipal infrastructure, installing the first public lighting poles to be used for charging Electric Vehicles and delivering LED upgrades across the region.

Approximately €1.1m was spent on deep retrofit energy housing upgrades over the last year to bring homes to A rating. New housing is being designed to nZEB and Passive House standards and current pilots include deep energy retrofits of different house types that can be replicated elsewhere.

The local authority has also won the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland Sustainability Award for the last three years.

(CM/JG)