INFORMATION ON OUR FIRST GREEN FLAG

INFORMATION ON OUR SECOND GREEN FLAG

INFORMATION ON OUR EFFORTS TO SECURE A FOURTH GREEN FLAG

March , 2009

Ursuline Secondary School obtain their 3rd Green Flag!

On the return from the mid-term break, the word arrived from An Taisce that the School had been successful in its bid to gain a third green flag for the school.  The previous two flags were earned for the reduction in the amount of waste in the school and a reduction in energy usage.

The third flag has been earned for the reduction of the amount of water used in the school. The Green Flag committee, under the chairmanship of Sixth Year student, Aisling Barry, highlighted the need for a reduction in water usage from the return to school last September and used the catchy slogan “Slow the flow of H2O” to get the whole school on board. The school also became a pilot school in North Tipperary for the use of hippo bags in cisterns and they certainly have helped in the water reduction project. The water meter indicates a 40% saving.

Obtaining the third green flag is an enormous achievement as not only is there a focus on the water reduction but also on keeping the waste recycled and energy reduced. Great credit is due to the hard-working Green School’s committee, which is drawn from all classes in the school. 

The flag will be presented in the Croke Park Conference Centre on Thursday, March 5 and Aisling Barry and Thoran Sorell will represent the Green School’s Committee at the ceremony.

November, 2008

Ursuline Secondary School strive for their 3rd Green Flag!

Hippos in the Ursuline!

With current educational cutbacks and the recently introduced water bills for all schools; the Ursuline Secondary School Thurles, have taken matters into their own hands in a water-reducing pilot project.

In partnership with the Environment Section of North Tipperary County Council, the Ursuline’s Green Schools Committee, led by Ms.Mary O’Flynn have inserted the ‘Hippos’ into each of the toilets cisterns in an effort to reduce their water consumption by approximately 3 litres. This environmentally friendly initiative conserves our water resources, and saves money on metered water bills. Made from durable Polyethylene, the Hippo opens up into an open-ended box, which sits in the cistern underneath the float. A small hole also allows slow circulation and prevents stagnation.

The research so far has shown a dramatic decrease in the schools water usage, recording a 20% decrease to date.

The school has already received 2 green flags, one for recycling and the other for energy, over the past 4 years and are now hoping to receive a 3rd, for their efforts in reducing the schools water consumption. Everyone from teachers to students have got involved in this latest battle, while continuing to devote themselves to recycling and energy reduction, by making environmentally conscious decisions, in school and at home, while informing others along the way.

By Thoran Sorrell, Vice Chair

ACTION DAY! 25th November 2008

Vice Chairperson: Thoran Sorrell, Chairperson : Aisling Barry, Secretary: Grainne Fahy

Supporting Green Day with Green Accessories: