Green Schools Theme 2 – Energy Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny.

Green SchoolsTheme 2 – Energy

Scoil Chiaráin Naofa,Ballyragget,Co. Kilkenny

Green Schools Committee• Pupils are selected to represent each class from

second to sixth.• To become a committee member the pupils are

“interviewed” by their teachers. • There must be a willingness to work, to bring

news from meetings back to class and generally buy into the Green Schools ideals.

• We are always reminding the pupils that everybody is responsible for caring for the environment in our school.

Green Schools Committee• 2nd Class – Oran Watters• 3rd Class - James Ryan• 4th Class - John Ryan, Eoin Southgate • 5th Class - Kieran Walshe, Jason Phelan • 6th Class - Michael Bergin, Jack Morrissey • Waste Monitors – Jason Phelan, Mick Kelly• Energy Monitors – Kian Drennan, Aaron Kirwan• Green Schools Co-ordinator – Ms. Stone

The members of the committee were chosen by the Green Schools co-ordinator. These members in turn inform their fellow class mates about decisions taken at Green School committee meetings and developments relating to the action plan through presentations and/or assemblies.

Green Schools Committee• Meetings are held once a month during school time.• Responsibilities are shared as follows:

– 2nd Class & 3rd Class = Performing the lighting audit and ensuring lights are switched off in any room that is unoccupied

– 4th Class = Reading the Electricity Meter every Friday, recording the reading in the Log Sheet as well as the amounts of units (Kilowatts) used that week and updating the trend graph (see slide)

– 5th Class = Performing the Appliance Audit, ensuring all appliances are switched off when not required, assist 2nd and 3rd class representatives with “lights off” surveillance

– 6th Class = Checking the level in the oil tank every Friday and recording in the Log Sheet and updating the trend graph (see slide), performing and recording findings from pupil surveys on energy awareness

– Waste Monitors = Continue work in ensuring all recyclable items are placed in the appropriate bins and that the bins are ready for collection on every Friday (recyclable/waste on alternate weeks)

Environmental ReviewThe Current Situation

• Heating = We currently use oil to heat our school building. The heating system is fitted with a temperature gauge that allows the system to operate if the temperature drops below a set level. It is possible to operate the system manually also.

• Electricity & Lighting = We have a standard electrical system in place in the school. All rooms use standard fluorescent tubular lights (90 watt).

• Recycling / Waste Management = Waste Monitors are in place since last Green Flag application to ensure we are recycling appropriate materials (including phones, ink, etc. at our recycling station in the school corridor)


• We are a radon free school.• We currently have a C1 Energy rating (see attached)• Doors to outside areas are kept closed at every

opportunity to ensure there is no heat loss, particularly at winter time.

• Heating system is also serviced annually.


• As a result of our Green Survey, we also found out the following:– We use up a lot of our electrical energy with computers and

interactive whiteboards– The heating system is well managed with heating only required

for certain parts of the day, even on cold days– Our waste monitors perform their duties well

Environmental Review• To begin our work, we conducted two audits of our school:

– A lighting audit – An electrical appliance audit

• We also commenced an investigation into the following:– How much oil were we using for heating our school each week?– How much electricity were we using to power our school each

week?

• Waste Monitors were re-trained in ensuring all appropriate material is recycled and that they were given the opportunity to speak to all classes about their role and what each pupil must do to help.

How much heating oil are we using each week in our school?

From March 2012 until June 2012

How much heating oil are we using each week in our school?

From August 2012 until

October 2012

How many units of Electricity are we using every week in our school?

From March 2012 until June 2012

How many units of Electricity are we using every week in our school?

From August 2012 until

October 2012

Lighting SurveyType of Light Estimated Hours of Use

Area of School Fluorescent Tubes

Incandescent Bulbs

Floodlights Per day Per week Per year

2nd/3rd Class 6 3 15 549

4TH/5th/6th Class 6 3 15 549

Green room 6 1 5 183

Staff room 4 1 5 183

Resource Room 6 2 10 366

2nd/3rd toilets 6 ½ 2 ½ 95 ½

5th/6th toilets 1 ½ 2 ½ 95 ½

Mens toilet 2 ½ 2 ½ 95 ½

Womens toilet 2 ½ 2 ½ 95 ½

2nd/3rd wet area 2 1 5 183

Main corridor 7 2 10 366

Outside (inc. over doors)

5 3 0 0 0

Boiler room 1 0 0 0

Office 1 0 0 0

Strong room 4 0 0 0

Shed 1 1 0 0 0

Shed 2 (Lawnmower) 1 0 0 0

TOTAL 61 3 15 75 2745

Electrical Appliance SurveyAppliance Quantity Hours per Day Hours per

weekHours per year Total Energy use

(€)

CD Players 4 1 5 915 12.81

Computer with Monitor 21 7 35 6,405 89.67

Computer with Monitor and printer

1 7 35 6,405 269.01

Dishwasher 0 0 0 0 0

Freezer 0 0 0 0 0

Heater 32 2 10 380 79.80

Kettle 1 1 7 266 67.03

Microwave 1 15 mins 1 38 6.91

Oven 0 0 0 0 0

Overhead projector 3 17 85 3230 90.44

Refrigerator 1 24 168 8736 31`7.99

Television 3 0 0 0 0

Toaster 0 0 0 0 0

Photocopier 1 1 5 190 6,65

Washing machine 0 0 0 0 0

DVD/video players 3 0 0 0 0

Draughts and Insulation Survey

At the beginning of the school year in year 2 we examined the school to find out where we might be losing heat and wasting energy. We

discovered the following areas which need improvements:

Finding Action required

Loose handles on the windows in Ms. Stone’s and Mr. Brennan’s room.

Ask the school caretaker to repair the handles.

M. Stone and Mr. Brennan sometimes open the windows if the room is too hot.

Turn down the heating in the room instead of opening windows.

The blinds are not pulled on cold nights.

Pull down the blinds on cold evenings when leaving school to conserve energy.

Not all pupils close the door when they leave the room or out to the yard.

Committee representatives need to remind their class to close doors.

Energy QuestionnaireWe conducted an energy questionnaire to find out how much energy we are using at home and to get our parents to think about ways to save energy at

home. We sent energy saving tips home with the questionnaire and published the results on our school website with a reminder to parents on how they can

save energy. These were the results:

Energy Questionnaire results contd.

Action PlanAction Who is

responsible?Target Time Scale

Introduce energy saving awareness, with emphasis on saving electricity and gas.

Whole school effort

Ongoing

Over two years reduce use of oil and electricity (Target set at 10% reduction)

Whole School Effort

During school years 11/12 & 12/13 and ongoing.

Collect meter readings to graph and compare

4th Class Committee Reps


Check oil tank levels to graph and compare



Lessons for Green Schools Committee on fossil fuels, greenhouse gases, ozone layer, acid rain, deforestation, climate change, renewable energy.

Green Schools Co-ordinator

During school years 11/12 & 12/13



Have monthly Green School Committee meetings and ensure goals are set and met

Green Schools committee


Appoint “energy detectives” to turn off lights and close doors at breaktimes

2nd / 3rd Class Committee Reps


“Standby Detectives” switch off everything at home time



Continue reducing litter/waste and ensure all appropriate material is recycled

Waste Monitors During school years 11/12 & 12/13 and ongoing.

Recycle batteries and mobile phones

Waste Monitors During school years 11/12 & 12/13



Develop a Green Schools Notice Board and keep it updated

Green Schools committee


Keep school garden tidy and maintained

6th Class During school years 11/12 & 12/13 and ongoing.

Feed the birds at our school garden

4th / 5th / 6th Class


“The main goal is to first create awareness and then act

on it”

Curriculum LinksSubject Class Group Environmental

Issue covered

Science / Geography

2nd & 3rd classes Renewable/ non-renewable energy.

Science 4th – 6th classes How to save energy

Maths 4th – 6th classes Data – Usage of energy monitoring

Art All classes Green Code Poster Competition

History 4th – 6th classes How did ancient societies use energy?

SPHE All classes Creating awareness of the need for a clean environment for everyone

OtherExamplesWill be usedthroughout

Energy Action Day• We held an Action Day on Friday, October 12th. • At the start of the day, we took a meter reading and

did the same at the end of the day.• During the day, we did not use any equipment that

needs electricity as much as possible, for example, interactive whiteboards and computers, CD players, etc.

• We also tried not to turn on any lights in any part of the school.

• We found that we significantly reduced the amount of energy we used on a normal school day.

• 5 units of electricity, no change in oil level!

Making contact with the school community and wider community• Our Parents Association have been a great help in

promoting our Energy Saving message.• We text parents regularly with information and

updates an dour website is updated to keep the community informed of our progress.

• We have displayed posters in local shops, etc. to promote the Energy Saving message.

• We undertook a walk to school day (if possible for those not travelling by bus)

• We have used local media to promote our message also.

Our Green CodeWe have three key parts to our Green Code

• Lighting“When we are all out, switch it off!”

• Heating“Keep your head, don’t lose the heat!”

• Recycling/Waste Management“We work as a team to keep it clean”

Our Green Code• The Code was put together by the Green School

Committee• It is on display in the main corridor of our school

and on our website• Other relevant Green School information is

displayed along with our Green Code

What has this done for our School?

• The Green Schools Programme has had a real positive influence on our school population

• Everyone is consumed by their individual responsibilities and perform them without prompting

• Parents have been very supportive of the children’s efforts

• The parish community have also been very co-operative towards the schools effort to create a cleaner environment in our locality.

Green Schools Theme 2 – Energy Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny.

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Transcript of Green Schools Theme 2 – Energy Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny.