Energy Sources
We get the energy we use on a daily basis from different sources. They are divided into two main groups – renewable (an energy source that we can use over and over again) and non-renewable (an energy source that once used up cannot be replaced in a short period of time).
Non-renewable Energy
Most of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels such as gas, oil, peat, coal and petrol. This energy is used every day in homes, businesses, schools and for travel. Millions of years ago energy from the sun was absorbed by plants, some of which were eaten by animals. When the animals and plants died, they were covered with mud and waste and became part of the earth’s crust. For millions of years, they were squeezed together and heated from the centre of the earth until they turned into the fossil fuels that we use today. Crude oil (petroleum) is a naturally liquid fossil fuel, natural gas and propane are normally gases, and coal is a solid. Coal, oil, natural gas, and propane are all considered fossil fuels. Peat, a ‘young’ fossil fuel that takes several thousand years to mature, is also an important non-renewable energy source in Ireland. We turn some of these fuels into electricity to light and heat buildings and to heat water. A lot of appliances in our homes need electricity to work.
Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases which are causing climate change. Greenhouse gases cause the earth to heat up by trapping the sun’s heat in the earth’s atmosphere. Climate change is causing the earth to become warmer.
This year saw our very first Green Schools Energy school of the year awards. We came together in Portlaoise to celebrate students, teachers, parents and caretakers, who have empowered a positive change and recharged our awareness and knowledge of one of our most integral Green- Schools topics Energy.
Students will practice rapid idea generation using design-thinking principles. They will brainstorm as many ideas as possible to answer the question: How can we get young people (our peers) interested in conserving Energy?
Working in small groups, students will collaboratively generate, improve, troubleshoot, and refine ideas for promoting Energy conservation and awareness.
This template can be used by Green-Schools Committees to select the class that will be working on the Green-Schools project.
Moneygall National School is a mixed primary school in Offaly. There are 70 students and five teaching staff. They were awarded the Green Flag for Energy in May 2016.
The committee includes teachers, the caretaker, and at least one student from each year. Students and staff volunteer each new school year, while any members from previous school years can remain on if they wish.
Scoil Íde is a girls primary school located in Artane, Dublin. There are 185 students and 20 teaching staff. They were awarded their Green Flag for Energy in May 2016.
St Marys Woodside N.S is located in Sandyford, Co Dublin. The school has approximately 27 Teachers and 254 students. They achieved their second flag for Energy in May 2022.
Join the Daily Swaps Challenge! What? A week-long challenge where your Green-Schools Committee will organise and promote a school-wide campaign to make small daily swaps help save water and energy. …
To celebrate the launch of our brand-new Bookworm Journey, during Global Goals Week we’re inviting children to get creative and design a bookworm of their very own! The Bookworm Journey …
Sign up for a Regional Energy Workshop near you! Registrations are now open for the Regional Energy Workshops! Our Energy Workshops have returned for 2026! Similar to last year, we …
