Belgrove Senior Boys' School: Green Schools

Green Schools

In 2006 Belgrove Senior Boys launched their environmental campaign in a bid to achieve Green Schools status. Our initial efforts focused on reducing waste and promoting recycling. Following an audit of our waste disposal habits, various changes were implemented such as the recycling of milk cartons and the placement of recycling bins in every classroom. A composting area was also developed in the school grounds to deal with the organic waste from our healthy lunches. The whole school community was involved in organising and maintaining these recycling systems. In an attempt to reduce our use of paper, the “Text a Parent” service was set up for the delivery of short messages to the parenting community. Similarly, the boys were encouraged to ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ rather than merely disposing of items. As part of this campaign we encouraged the recycling of mobile phones which were put to good use by the Jack and Jill foundation.

As a result of these changes we reduced our landfill waste to one bin and increased our recycling waste to two bins. Not only had we become more aware of the effects we have on our environment, but we came to witness the positive impact simple changes by us as individuals can have. In spring of 2007 we were awarded our first green flag for our achievements in Litter and Waste management.

Green Flag

Vegetable Garden

The following September we continued with our campaign, maintaining the standards we had set while focusing our attention on Energy Conservation. Again following an audit of both energy consumption and wastage in the school, a number of changes were implemented. An active campaign to conserve heat was launched, promoting the closure of doors and windows both in the main corridors and individual classrooms. The boys played an active role in ensuring that energy wastage was kept to a minimum in their classroom by switching off lights and appliances when not in use. Such changes brought about a reduction in our consumption of electricity as reflected in our bills from Airtricity. We also established a school garden, each class taking responsibility for the growth of a different vegetable. While success rates varied, we were all treated to boiled potatoes which went down well! We hope to develop an area for a permanent school garden in 2010, each class being designated a specific plot in which to grow their chosen vegetables, highlighting both the ease and value in home growing. In spring 2009 we were awarded our second green flag for our efforts to conserve Energy.

This year sees us continuing our environmental campaign, our focus on conserving Water.This again will be a two year campaign in which we will be seeking co-operation from both the school community and parenting body. Needless to say, the continual efforts of all to maintain the standards we have already set are very much appreciated and we look forward to setting some new standards in 2010.