Energy

2024 marks a new chapter for the Green-Schools Energy theme. The Energy theme followed on from Green-Schools Litter and Waste, however in recent years we have been working on updating the Energy theme and some schools may not have worked on this theme. As we go forward, we will look to work with those schools and introduce Energy as a theme. This theme looks to encourage schools to learn about energy in Ireland, how it's made, and how it gets to the school. We also look at how to reduce energy consumption and raise awareness of climate change issues.
Sustainable Development Goals

In 2023/24 Green-Schools students saved a combined 18 million kWh of electricity – That’s enough to make 58 million cups of tea!

Find out more about this theme, upcoming events and competitions, and theme resource clicking on the button below.

What is Energy?

Science defines energy as the ability to do work.

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. 

Facts & Figures

What You Can Do

Useful Links

Working on Green-Schools has helped to create awareness about the energy we use in our lives and where this comes from. The children realise that we can all help to save energy-even by taking small steps in our day to day lives and they have also taken this message home!

Scoil Naomh Úna, Shielbaggan, New Ross, Co. Wexford

Energy is Awesome! By CBS Primary Mitchelstown

Resources

We have an extensive range of resources covering all themes.

Case Studies

We have an extensive range of resources covering all themes.
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Scoil Íde, Artane

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.

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Moneygall National School

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.

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Duiske College, Graignamanagh

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.

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St Marys Woodside N.S.

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. 

News

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