2009 Press Releases
Green Campus Week is launched at UCC
16.03.2009
UCC launches Green Campus Week today (Monday, March 16th 2009). The Green-Schools (Eco-Schools) Programme is an initiative of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and run by An Taisce in Ireland.
16.03.2009
UCC launches Green Campus Week today (Monday, March 16th 2009). The Green-Schools (Eco-Schools) Programme is an initiative of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and run by An Taisce in Ireland.
Its aim is to create an international environmental education programme to promote the environment.
There are currently over 23,000 schools in 43 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America taking part in the scheme with 3,200 schools in Ireland registered for the programme. UCC is one of the first third level institutions to work towards achieving a Green Flag for its environmental management on campus. Schools and colleges that have successfully completed all the elements of the programme are awarded the ‘Green-Flag’.
Recent research on the economic value of the Green Schools programme to schools in Ireland has revealed a saving of a minimum €2 million in waste, electricity, water and fuel costs this year. The results reveal a minimum of 12 tonnes of waste diverted from landfills in Ireland every school day by schools undertaking the programme, 3.7 million units of electricity saved this year in addition to 200 million litres of drinking water plus 500,000 litres of transport fuel. Because the programme also involves the wider community, the overall savings could substantially more.
In UCC a committee of both staff and students have been meeting for the past two years working towards reducing the impact of the waste we generate, the energy and water we use, and the methods of commuting.
UCC Green Campus Awareness Week will showcase the work that the Committee has undertaken to achieve the Flag and also highlight the input required from staff and students to ensure the success of the programme.
Green Campus Week continues until March 20th and is organised by the UCC Green Campus Committee in conjunction with Buildings & Estates Office; EnviroSoc; Áras na Mac Léinn; The Students Union; An Taisce.
PROGRAMME
Monday, March 16th
Go Green for La Féile Pádraíg!
Wednesday, March 18th
There are currently over 23,000 schools in 43 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America taking part in the scheme with 3,200 schools in Ireland registered for the programme. UCC is one of the first third level institutions to work towards achieving a Green Flag for its environmental management on campus. Schools and colleges that have successfully completed all the elements of the programme are awarded the ‘Green-Flag’.
Recent research on the economic value of the Green Schools programme to schools in Ireland has revealed a saving of a minimum €2 million in waste, electricity, water and fuel costs this year. The results reveal a minimum of 12 tonnes of waste diverted from landfills in Ireland every school day by schools undertaking the programme, 3.7 million units of electricity saved this year in addition to 200 million litres of drinking water plus 500,000 litres of transport fuel. Because the programme also involves the wider community, the overall savings could substantially more.
In UCC a committee of both staff and students have been meeting for the past two years working towards reducing the impact of the waste we generate, the energy and water we use, and the methods of commuting.
UCC Green Campus Awareness Week will showcase the work that the Committee has undertaken to achieve the Flag and also highlight the input required from staff and students to ensure the success of the programme.
Green Campus Week continues until March 20th and is organised by the UCC Green Campus Committee in conjunction with Buildings & Estates Office; EnviroSoc; Áras na Mac Léinn; The Students Union; An Taisce.
PROGRAMME
Monday, March 16th
- An Taisce Green Schools / Green Campus Information Stand in the Áras na Mac Léinn restaurant area
- An Taisce Cleancoast, National Spring Clean and Green Home Information
- The Farmer's Market
- Afternoon Talk 2 pm:
- Peak Oil Association Colin Cambell in G8 Kane Building.
- Evening Talk 7pm:
- Groundwork John Griffith in West Wing 5
Go Green for La Féile Pádraíg!
Wednesday, March 18th
- An Taisce Green Campus Information Stand
- Drummers in amphitheatre 1pm -2pm
- Environmental Awareness Survey – win €50.00 Voucher for Cafe Paradiso!
- Lunchtime Talk 1.10pm Béarra meeting room, Áras na Mac Léinn:
- Green Schools & UCC Ellen Murphy / Rachel Boyle, An Taisce
- An Taisce Green Campus Information Stand
- Try and win an Electric Car Competition - Eco Eating information with the car to set up in the courtyard.
- A native tree planting day
- Green Code Competition (slogan) with great prizes!
- Lunchtime Talk 1.10pm Béarra meeting room:
- Energy & Water Use in UCC Maurice Ahern, UCC Buildings & Estates
- An Taisce Green Campus Information Stand
- Lunchtime Talk 1.10pm Béarra meeting room:
- Sustainable Travel in UCC Stephan Koch, UCC Commuter Manager
- All week EPA exhibition in the Boole Basement on waste reduction, carbon reduction and other environmental information.
- Know your Carbon Footprint campaign
- Free daffodil plants from Envirosoc community garden
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