An Taisce Green Schools Energy Project sponsored by ESB Electric Ireland were announced at an event in Tailors Hall, Dublin attended by Minister of State for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Fergus O’Dowd. St. Thomas SNS were awarded a runners-up prize of 2000 euro sustainability fund.

The project is targeted at national schools that are already in the An Taisce’s “Green Flag” programme and brings local businesses and schools together to demonstrate the practical application of energy efficiency.

Some members of our Green School Committee conducted a site visit and energy efficiency audit at Colgate/Palmolive Ireland and proposed a range energy-efficient suggestions including: turning appliances off standby, changing to CFL light bulbs where possible, turning machines off when not in use in the factory and encouraging staff to walk and cycle to work. We had previously visited Cross Refrigeration in Tallaght where we saw lots of energy efficient lighting and the “Greenest Fridge in Ireland”. We passed all our ideas to Colgate and as result they have become more energy efficient.