Ashbourne Community School, Co. Meath are on their way to renewing their third green flag. The Committee consists of 2 teachers, and 22 students.
They held a sustainable development workshop in the national botanical gardens, Glasnevin to kick start their water conservation programme.
Ashbourne Community College's Mission Statement is:
“Every 15 seconds a child dies from lack of access to clean water”
Ashbourne Community College's Green Code is:
W.I.N.N.E.R ( Water Is Necessary Now Encourage Reduction )
The Goals & Activities of Ashbourne Community College's Action Plan were:
Place 500ml water bottles in Toilet Cisterns
Water meter is read weekly
Replacing taps with push down taps (The cost factor turns this action into a longterm plan)
Heighten awareness within the student population of the water issue
Anaylse water consumption based on monthly bills
Signage within the school of all the sinks
The Results of the action plan were:
A thorough study was conducted of water usage, savings of 3,600 litres were made in the year 06/07 against the previous year.
Held a ‘Water Action Day’ on water conservation creating awareness in the school in conjunction with a ‘blue’ non uniform day where they students paid €2 to concern which went to buy wells in Africa.
Painted a ‘Water Window’ eradicating dull, grey walls in the school and catching the eye leaving the idea of water conservation instilled in the mind.
Completed a toothbrush survey showing how a running tap during brushing wastes 10 litres of water per brush! They also discovered a tap or toilet leak of one drop per second wastes 10,000 litres of water per year! To counteract this, they’ve suggested you add colouring to the tank and check the colour in the bowl without flushing to check for leaks.
In order to keep up their excellent work in litter and waste, they have been actively participating in the National Spring Clean and have introduced a ‘sticker initiative’. Students who pick up litter or are caught littering receive stickers. If a student is caught three times they get detention. They continue to recycle phones and cartridges for Jack and Jill Foundation and organised 2 battery bins in the school, along with blue paper recycling bins for each classroom. Paper usage is kept to a minimum. They also produce an impressive monthly ‘Green Schools Newsletter’ encouraging new committee members and sustaining awareness. Green schools is intrinsic to all aspects of school life in Ashbourne Community School.