Fossil fuels, the source of much of our energy, are formed under intense pressure and heat over millions of years from the buried remains of plants and animals. By burning these fossil fuels to release heat from the chemical energy they contain, steam can be raised in a power station boiler. The heat and pressure energy in the steam is turned into work in a turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity.
However, by burning fossil fuels we are releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere faster than plants can absorb it. CO2 is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect; as more fuels are burnt, the atmosheric concentration of CO2 increases, causing the average global temperature to rise. Climate change affects the distribution of climatic regions, sea level changes and ultimately, the planet's ability to support human communities. Burning fossil fuels also contributes to acid rain, which is implicated in the loss of wildlife in lakes and rivers, the reduction of land ferility and the destruction of trees.
We need to start taking steps to reduce our energy consumption at home and in school. 




FACTS AND FIGURES

• The recommended temperature for classrooms is 18 degrees C. Every 1 degree C increase in temperature over the above figures could add up to 10% to cost of heating billls.
•  A photocopier left switched on overnight wastes enough energy to make 5,300 A4 copies.
• It is estimated that we only have enough oil in the world for another 50 years,
• On average, a car in Ireland travels 20,000km a year, releasing 2,895kg of carbon into the atmospherre.
• Ireland imported 89% of its energy needs in 2008.
• Fossil fuels accounted for 96% of all energy used in Ireland in 2008.
• Oil is the most dominant energy source used in Ireland.

We had a Green School Poster Competition. Every child in the school made a poster and the Green School committee selected a winner from each class. The following photographs show the winning posters.

Energy is fundamental to the way we live out lives today. Electricity is an amazing resource and should be used efficientaly both at home and in school. Here are a few tips to help you use energy more efficiently and save money too.

Turn Off The Lights!

• Don't leave lights on when no-one is in the room. Turn off the lights at the end of class.
• Use energy efficient lights bulbs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). These bulbs use 1/4 of electricity as normal lights bulbs and last up to 12 times longer!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Turn Off Appliancas!
• Turn off yout TV, stereo, playstation, computer, washing machine, DVD and other appliances when they are not in use. Leaving appliances on stand-by uses energy so remember to switch them off.
• Put stickers on photocopiers, computers and other appliances in school to remind everyone to turn them off.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Turn Down the Heat!
• Turning the thermostat down by 1degree can reduce your heating bill by 10 percent.
• Remember to turn off radiators in school after 12noon unless it is an exceptionally cold day.
• Close your curtains at dusk as curtains block cold air cominng in.
• Check all windows and doors to see where draughts are coming in. If you identify draughts get your parents of teaches to seal them up. Why don't you try and make a draught exckuder using old clothes!                                                                                                                                                                   Turn Off the Taps!
• A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!
• Turn off taps - wasting water wastes electricity as a huge amount of electricity is used daily in supplying water and cleaning it after use.

As part of our ongoing Green School programme we have been continuing to work on litter and waste management in the school with great success. We are keeping rubbish to a minimum and there are very few bags of rubbish being collected by our litter wardens each week. The costs of disposing of litter in the school are still being reduced and the school continues to look very clean and tidy. Our Green Flag status will be due for renewal in March 2013. To retain this status we need to maintain the work which helped us to achieve the Green Flag in the first place and we must also complete the 7-Step Green School programme on the next theme in An Taisce's list - the theme of Energy.
Our work on energy has already begun. The Green School committee have carried out an audit/survey in the school to ascertain where and what types of energy are bring used throughout the school. The survey analysed by the committee with the involvement of all pupils and staff of the school in order to identify measure which can be taken to try to improve the school's energy efficiency. Following this an action plan has been drawn up which will help us to achieve the improvements that have been identified. It is placed on our Green School notice board.