Intelligent use of energy at school will create a new generation of engineers and scientists for the knowledge society of tomorrow - Minister O'Keeffe

The Intelligent Use Of Energy At School project which is led by the Clean Technology Centre in CIT will encourage students to reflect on everyday activities where making small adjustments will have an impact on our carbon footprint according to the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD

Minister O'Keeffe was speaking today as he launched the European Energy Savings Awards which took place at Bord Gais Headquarters, Gasworks Road, Cork.

Speaking at the awards ceremony the Minister praised the Intelligent Use Of Energy At School which aims to promote everyday energy efficiency among secondary schools students and teachers.

‘I hope that the significant achievements of schools taking part in the highly successful Green Schools programme can be built upon at European level through this new project.

‘I’ve no doubt that the awards will stir a new consciousness of environmental issues by engaging students in energy-saving activities using a hands-on and real-world approach.

‘I hope the project will lead an agenda of behavioural change in schools and in the wider community as we seek to become global players in the debate on climate change.

‘There’s so much we can do to build awareness of ‘green’ issues.

‘A project like Intelligent Use Of Energy At School will help to create a new generation of engineers and scientists for the knowledge society of tomorrow.'

Thanking Bord Gais for their support for the awards, Minister O’Keeffe said

‘We must continue to develop more effective and sustainable ways of meeting our energy needs in bringing about the green economy. 

‘When we teach students, we prepare for the future. 

‘Energy sustainability is key to that future,' said Minister O'Keeffe.

Speech by the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, at the launch of the European Energy Saving Awards, Bord Gais Headquarters, Gasworks Road, Cork

7 September, 2009

Lord Mayor Dara Murphy; Lord Mayor of Cork County Derry Canty; Chairman of Bord Gáis Rose Hynes; President of Cork Chamber of Commerce Ger O’Mahony; President of Cork Institute of Technology Brendan Murphy; executives of Bord Gáis; teachers and students.

I’m delighted to be here in Bord Gais Headquarters to launch the European Energy Saving Awards.

These awards are one strand of the Intelligent Use Of Energy At School project which is led by the Clean Technology Centre in CIT.

Last April, directors of the Clean Technology Centre Noel Duffy and Dermot Cunningham briefed me on Intelligent Use Of Energy At School and I’m pleased to be here to launch the inaugural year of these awards which I’m sure will underpin the project for many years to come.

At the outset, I want to acknowledge Bord Gáis and thank them for their sponsorship.

Intelligent Use Of Energy At School aims to promote everyday energy efficiency among secondary schools students and teachers. 

Energy consumption is a staple component of all our daily lives.

Preparing breakfast, charging our phones, travelling to school, listening to music, using the internet - these are typical examples of how we use energy. 

Intelligent Use Of Energy At School and the European Energy Saving Awards competition will encourage students to reflect on their everyday activities and make small adjustments that, together, will have an impact on our carbon footprint.

The competition will showcase students’ ingenuity, talent and ability as they compete at national and European levels.

There are two distinct strands to the Intelligent Use Of Energy At School project.

The first is concerned with developing educational material mainly in the form of handbooks that teachers can adapt in the classroom.

These are supplemented by a teacher’s guidebook, a multimedia package and an experimental toolkit which Bord Gáis is sponsoring.

In this school year, 20 pilot schools around the country - some of them in Cork - will test the teaching material. 

The basic handbooks will be available even now to all schools so that those that aren’t able to take part in the pilot plan and the review will be able to access support material without incurring costs.

The second strand is the European Energy Saving Awards which Bord Gáis is heavily supporting.

There are three categories - schools, students and video/multimedia - with three award-winners in each category.

The European Union-backed awards scheme is for secondary schools in Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Rumania, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. 

The awards have two consecutive stages - the National Awards awarded next June 2010 and the European Awards next October.

The winners of each category nationally will automatically take part in the same category at European level without any further application.

A common approach will be adopted in each participating country. 

I hope that the significant achievements of schools taking part in the highly successful Green Schools programme can be built upon at European level through this new project.

I’ve no doubt that the awards will stir a new consciousness of environmental issues by engaging students in energy-saving activities using a hands-on and real-world approach.

I hope the project will lead an agenda of behavioural change in schools and in the wider community as week seek to become global players in the debate on climate change.

There’s so much we can do to build awareness of ‘green’ issues.

We can organise public debates and greater consultation on energy issues and strengthen our networks with civil society, business sectors and policy-makers in bringing about a shift in attitudes and behaviour.

When we teach students, we prepare for the future. 

Energy sustainability is key to that future.

The environmental challenge of climate change demands that we adopt better energy efficiency practices and seek to source more of our energy from renewables. 

This economic crisis demands ‘new thinking’ across all fronts, not least in energy.

Cork Institute of Technology offers programmes in sustainable energy and chemical and process engineering.

These types of programmes are directly responsive to the needs of industry and the knowledge-intensive society this Government wants to build.

A project like Intelligent Use Of Energy At School will help to create a new generation of engineers and scientists for the knowledge society of tomorrow.

We must continue to develop more effective and sustainable ways of meeting our energy needs in bringing about the green economy. 

Finally, can I again thank Bord Gáis for their support for these awards and I wish the Intelligent Use Of Energy At School project every success in the future.

Go raibh maith agaibh.