Environmental Awareness

GREEN SCHOOLS is (i) an international environmental education programme, (ii) an environmental management system and (iii) an award scheme that promotes and acknowledges long-term, whole-school action for the environment.

Activities under the Green Schools initiative are co-ordinated by the Green Schools Committee, the main aim of which is to continue our Green Schools programme and maintain our Green Flag status, which must be renewed every second year.  Transition Year is at the core of the committee but there are representatives from each Year in the school.  There is an on-going programme to promote recycling in the College and to reduce litter.  The house-keeping and maintenance staff are fully involved in these programmes.

Two particular environmental awareness weeks are set aside each year to promote care for our indoor and outdoor environments.  Activities include posters, clean up programmes, visiting lecturers and competitions.

In seeking our second Green Flag we have been asked to focus on energy conservation.  Surveys of electricity and gas consumption have already been carried out.  This project is led by Mr. Cathal Copeland, who is a key member of the Green Schools initiative in Blackrock College.