Four schools in Galway have been chosen to take part in an €7 million energy efficiency pilot programme to reduce energy consumption.
Laurencetown NS, Dunmore Community School, Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew and Colaiste Mhuire, Ballygar will be upping their energy efficiency this year by retrofitting the schools with upgrades for doors and windows, lighting and heating systems, insulation and the use of renewable technologies.
Galway East TD Seán Canney said that it is important for public services to show leadership when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint.
“We need to take action on climate change and it is absolutely right that the public service should show leadership in this way.”
More schools are expected to join in this pilot programme ahead of a major retrofit of schools beginning in 2022 according to Deputy Canney.
The goal is for each school taking part in this pilot programme to cut its total energy emissions by 33%.
Sean Canney said that the benefits of cutting energy usage go beyond environmental concerns “Reducing energy use helps lessen our carbon footprint. It also means that we can use the money saved to spend on teaching.”
The programme is jointly funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and the Department of Education and Skills with the support of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
The SEAI supports schools with energy efficiency learning through student workshops and resources, with more than 50,000 students taking part each year.
It has also provided energy management expertise to more than 700 schools to date and provided a system of reporting and monitoring energy data for more than 2,000 schools last year.
photo: Holy Rosary College/facebook
