PHOTOS: Energy team visits Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire Ardee

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Pupils of Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire in Ardee are in their 23rd year of engaging with the Green-Schools programme coordinated by An Taisce. They have successfully earned each of the available ‘Green Flags’ as part of this initiative, focusing on themes such as litter and waste, travel, water, biodiversity, energy and global citizenship.

Scoil Mhuire na Trócaire was approached in September 2022 to take part in a new pilot scheme by An Taisce called ‘Primary Climate Ambassadors’. It is one of just 21 schools nationwide invited to take part in this project, and the school says it is delighted to have been offered this opportunity.

Some of the aims of this initiative include: Increasing climate literacy in senior primary students in Ireland; Combatting climate anxiety in young children through improved nature connection; Empowering students to take climate action in school, at home, and in the local community; Upskilling climate communications via public speaking and novel campaigns.

The school's Primary Climate Ambassadors have undergone their training and are working towards raising more awareness in their local community about topical issues such as energy management and climate change. The Climate Ambassadors initiative integrates with the primary curriculum, while supporting children to learn about active citizenship.

Pupils are making real choices and decisions for their school, while taking responsibility for implementing their ideas.
They are also encouraged to use their voice to inspire others to take action through engagement with their peers, their parents & guardians and their local community.

The Climate Ambassadors have been recently focusing on the theme of energy due to the current cost of living and energy crisis. They have worked with materials from the ‘Home Energy Saving Kit’ available from local libraries to learn more about energy consumption in our school. One interesting fact that they learned was that the interactive whiteboard uses the most energy in each classroom.

To help spread their message further, they approached a local organisation, Energy Team, based in Dunleer, Co. Louth. Energy Team provides energy education, assists with grant applications and manages retrofits. They offer advice on the best solutions that will reduce energy consumption, use renewable energy solutions, save money and help address the challenges of climate change.

The Energy Team visited the school recently, accompanied by Gerry Reaburn from DKIT. The children learned more about responsible energy use and even got involved in calculating their energy consumption! 

The Primary Climate Ambassadors had their own mini exhibition about the work they do in school. They also gave live demonstrations on how to use the ‘Home Energy Saving Kit’ from Ardee Library. They hope that this exhibition will give their peers and families ideas about how they can change their energy consumption for the better.

In the near future, the pupils would like to see their school provided with solar panels. Solar panels are to be provided free of charge to every school in the country as part of the budget package announced in September 2022. They hope that their school can move to using renewable energy very soon!