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May 2009
Guardian Angel National School Wins Green Energy Project

Last September the An Taisce Green Schools Energy project sponsored by ESB Independent Energy (ESBIE) was launched in our Lady of Victories, Ballymun. Since then schools and businesses, including many ESBIE customers, have been very busy. In total 28 schools linked up with a business in their locality to complete a project on energy efficiency in a business environment.

Schools were asked to develop a project that best illustrated the practical application of energy efficiency by engaging with a local business. Schools and businesses signed up via ESBIE’s website – www.esbie.ie
This project, runs alongside the core Green-Schools programme which involves almost 3,000 schools throughout Ireland, is supported by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The Green-Schools programme offers schools and their wider communities a flexible seven-step approach for schools to implement an environmental management system, based on the models of ISO14001 or EU EMAS – Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. In Ireland, schools initially focus on the theme of Litter & Waste. When this theme is successfully dealt with and the school has completed the programme, (i.e. achieved the Green Flag), they are introduced to the next and subsequent themes (i.e. energy, water, school travel). This initiative is focused entirely on Energy
All the projects submitted were of a very high standard and were a great credit to all the schools and the businesses who participated. It was a very difficult task to select a winner but after much deliberation an overall winner was chosen. Guardian Angel National School, Blackrock who completed their project in association with Pfizer , Dun Laoighre was announced the overall winner. The school has won a sustainability prize fund of €4000. The Energy committee from the school visited Pfizer and conducted an energy audit. The committee came up with some simple solutions for Pfizer to implement immediately to help save energy and money. The school will design posters and stickers for Pfizer to place on PC’s and light switches to remind people to switch them off, and opening the blinds in the offices to let natural light in and switch off the lights and many other simple ideas.

The three runners up schools who each won a sustainability prize fund of €2000 were Cross National School,who were linked with ESB Moneypoint. The school got a tour of Moneypoint power station, taking notes on how they think the plant could reduce energy. They came up with great suggestions, some of which have been taken on board and already introduced by ESB Moneypoint.
St Patricks Girls National School, Limerick were linked with Musgraves Wholesalers, a short walk away from their school. The girls realised that Musgraves are doing the exact same work as they are on their Green-Schools project. “We have the same goals and targets and are both constantly trying to do better”
Queen of the Universe National School, in Bagnelstown, were linked with Tesco in Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow.
Each pupil was armed with a clipboard and a list of questions to ask. The children were very impressed by Tesco’s energy awareness and initiaves.

The prize giving took place in The Tailors Hall in Dublin. Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Michael Finneran TD and Liam Molloy, Managing Director, ESBIE presented the prizes to the winning schools.

For further information please contact:

John Conlon
ESB Independent Energy
Tel: 01 8867343
Mobile: 0871246779