2022 – 2023 Global Citizenship Energy
We currently have 6 green flags for our school and we are working on our 7th one at the moment. We have flags for our work on litter and waste, conservation of energy, conservation of water, travel and transport, biodiversity and global citizenship litter and waste.
This year we are working on the theme of Global Citizenship Energy. The very first step was to elect a new committee. All children were invited to put their name forward to be on the committee. Some classes held elections where the children interested gave speeches and the class voted for their favourite. Other classes put names in a hat. The environmental review was carried out next. Here the Green Team did a class energy survey and an energy audit of the school. A global awareness survey was also carried out. This year the focus was on Sustainable Development Goal number 7 – Affordable and clean energy for all. The global connections the children have were also researched.
Once the environmental review was completed the Green Team got working on their action plan. They set up a Green Schools notice board for all to see and organised “energy monitors” for each class. A low energy day was organised and all children dressed up in green for this and had great fun. Classes made posters, made windmills, conducted science experiments, played with electrical circuits, examined food and clothes labels and examined maps to see where their food and clothes come from.
As part of our action plan the ESB metre was read regularly. 5th and 6th continued to monitor bins and water usage. Battery collection was continued and ethical production and consumption was studied by 3rd and 4th class. A fun morning was had in November when speakers from Meath County Council spoke to 3rd to 6th classes on the Sustainable Development Goals.
As part of our journey this year, we want to raise awareness of climate change, sustainable development, ethical consumption and global goal number seven.
The Green Team asked all the children along with their teachers to devise a Green Code to depict our theme Global Citizenship Energy. The Green Team looked through all suggestions and choose the ones they liked best. Ms. Mulvaney was asked to choose the winner from the Green Team’s selection. Isobel in 3rd class was chosen as the winner and as a result 3rd and 4th class got homework off for an evening. Our new code is “Stick together, change the weather!”.
Top Energy Saving Tips for Parents
- When using your thermostat, reduce the temperature by 1 degree Celsius and you can save 10% of the total energy used.
- Use LED bulbs
- Use A rated energy efficient appliances.
- Close windows when heating is on.
- Switch appliances off completely. Don’t leave them on standby.
- Only turn on lights when needed. Remember to turn off when leaving the room.
- Only boil the amount of water needed in the kettle.
- Have a shower rather than a bath.
- Dry the clothes on the clothesline rather than a tumble dryer.