Trinity College Dublin has been awarded the prestigious ‘Green Flag’ for the quality of its environment, as part of An Taisce’s Green-Campus programme.
The international award is the result of many years of work by students and staff to make the campus better environmentally managed and more sustainable.
Green-Campus is similar to the highly successful Green-Schools programme and is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce on behalf of the internationally based Foundation for Environmental Education.
The programme is very strongly student led and many achievements have taken place at Trinity College including:
* A 25% reduction in water consumption (due to leakage elimination, behaviour changes and rainwater harvesting);
* Stable energy efficiency despite large building projects and increasing student numbers;
* 1,200 trees on campus with increasing numbers planted each year;
* Green roofs to promote ecology and water retention;
* Green Week’ has become one of the College’s largest events;
* Green-Campus included in staff and student induction;
* Reviews of waste, energy, water, travel patterns and biodiversity have been undertaken and are being monitored;
* Revamp of GreenPages section of TCD website (www.tcd.ie/GreenPages).
Trinity joins a number of pioneering Irish third level institutions – University College Cork, GMIT Castlebar, Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock, Dundalk IT and Ballsbridge College of Further Education – that have been awarded the Green Flag.
The Director of An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit, Patricia Oliver, says:: “It will be great to see the Green Flag flying at Trinity particularly as it attracts a footfall of around one million people per year due to its city centre location and heritage attractions such as the Book of Kells. This in itself can create challenges as regards litter management and maintenance. Trinity College Dublin has made great strides with the Green Campus programme. However, the award today is only a milestone on a continuous journey. The award will have to be renewed and updated on a regular basis.”
Trinity College Dublin Provost, Dr. Patrick Prendergast, comments: “We are delighted to be awarded the Green Flag for Trinity’s green campus. The environmental and recreational benefits provided by our campus in its city-centre location are of immense importance for our students, staff and the general public, and we hope to preserve and develop it.”
CAPTION:
Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union Environmental & Ethical Trading Officer Gwen Duffy; Environmental Committee member Libby Key; TCD Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast; Director of An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit Patricia Oliver, and Xanthe Caldercott, Trinity student, wave their green flag after the college received An Taisce’s Green-Campus Award.