Energy

Lighting Lights use electricity. In Scoil Mhuire we try to ensure that this energy is not used in a wasteful manner. All lights in our school operate on a sensor system and switch off if no movement is detected. The lights adjust to outside daylight. All lights in toilets have motion timed sensors. The perimeter security lights are 8W and are controlled by a photocell. We encourage that lights are switched off when leaving the room and if they are not necessary when in the room. A member of the Energy Squad in each classroom is responsible for switching off classroom lights when they are not necessary. Signs with our NRG Moose are placed on the light switches in shared areas to remind us to switch them off when finished. Our Code is “C.B.S., hear our shout. Don’t forget the lights go out!” Light sensor on a classroom ceiling

Electrical Appliances Electrical appliances use electricity even when in stand-by. We try to prevent this power being wasted. This saves our school money and helps the environment. Each class has an Energy Squad member who is responsible for ensuring electrical appliances are switched off when they are not in use and at the end of the day. We have a “Switch it off. Plug it out” policy to eliminate the “red-eye”. During the day, we switch off the computer monitors when the computers are not in use. Our photocopier has an energy saver mode. We record our meter readings and try to beat our previous results. Our Code is “You switch it off. You plug it out. That’s what it’s all about.” Our meter gives us separate day and night readings

Heating Originally our school heating used oil. Oil is a non-renewable source of energy. We now have a biomass system. This system uses wood pellets, a renewable source of energy. The G.P. area, used by the public at night, has its own programme which can be set automatically. This means that just the area in use, and not the whole school, is heated. All classrooms and corridors have pre-set thermostats. The heating controls adapt automatically to outside temperatures. All outer doors have slow closing hinges. Some have p.v.c. porches. We keep outer doors shut to prevent heat loss. Our old windows have been replaced by double- glazing and fit tightly. We do not put classroom furniture in front of radiators as this would block the heat. If we are leaving our classroom to go to lunch or the gym, we close the classroom door. If windows are left open to ventilate the classroom, radiators are switched off. All windows and doors are closed at home-time and the blinds drawn during cold weather. Our Code is “Keep the school sweet. Save our heat.” NRG Moose reminds us to shut doors in shared areas. Our biomass boiler Wood pellets for the biomass heating system

W.E.E.E. The Green Schools Committee took part in an initiative organised by W.E.E.E. A representative came to our school for a day and gave a workshop to all classes in the school. After the talk, we had a W.E.E.E. Recycling Day and collected two bins full of electrical appliances. We had hoped to fill just one! We received a reconditioned P.C. as a reward for our efforts. Filling the bins with unwanted electrical appliances

S.E.I. We are a designated flagship project for biomass heating systems. We have been given a plaque by S.E.I. for this. The plaque is on the wall beside the front door. Go to to read more about our biomass heating system. Plaque from SEI

Energy Rating Our school underwent an energy efficiency assessment. We received an energy rating of B3. This was a fantastic result as our school is over 50 years old.

Low Energy Day Low Energy Day is held every year in our school. The aim is to make us more aware that we take instant energy for granted and to help us realise the amount of energy used by our school on a daily basis. On Low Energy Day, we switch off lights (and hope for a bright day). We switch off all electrical appliances (except those used by the office). Some teachers bring flasks of tea!! No kettles allowed…. The photocopier gets a well-deserved break. It’s back to the past. No interactive whiteboard or computers for the day! School as it was in our parents’ time. At rest, we use the same amount of energy as a 20W lightbulb! Imagine what we use when we’re active. Some of the reminder signs for Low Energy Day

NRG Moose Meet our NRG Moose. During Green Week, the Green Schools Committee organised some competitions. One was to design an energy mascot for our school. We had lots of creative and imaginative entries. This is the winning entry and was designed by a sixth class student. You’ll find NRG Moose on signs around our school. He reminds us to shut doors, to switch off lights and to plug out appliances. Our mascot, NRG Moose