Green Campus

Allotments

Green Campus

In October 2014 Pearse College was awarded Green Campus status by An Taisce. The Green Committee is very proud of this achievement. Our aim now is to maintain and improve what we have achieved so far. Our intention is to inform, inspire and involve staff and students so that our environment is protected and improved. Please read our Green Charter and play your part in keeping your college a Green Campus.

Litter and Waste

• Recycling bins (with transparent bags) beside every general waste bin

• WEEE containers

• Encourage staff and students to bring their own rubbish home

• Promotion of re-usable Eco mugs for tea/coffee

• Replacement of polystyrene cups with recyclable cups

• “Bin Ur Butts” stencils on ground in smoking areas; ashtrays on lids of general waste bins

• Four Bokashi composters in use to transform food waste into compost; compost bins in the gardens

• Recycling boxes for batteries

Paper

• Reduce usage by putting handouts and assignments on Moodle; by printing and photocopying on both sides of a sheet; and by printing at least 2 pages per side

• Collect waste paper and re-use as note-paper

• Paper Only bins; the paper is then shredded for the compost bins

Energy

• Printers and photocopiers are set to Eco-mode
• Motion detector controlled lighting in all toilets
• Evaluate the college’s consumption of electricity
• Apply for a Building Energy Rating/BER certificate

Water

• Notices that remind us to turn off taps completely
• Taps were changed so that water is conserved
• Harvest rain water by the installation of water butts – there is already one connected to the nursery roof
• Windmill draws water from well on allotments, and it is stored in a large water tank
• Evaluate college’s consumption of water

Biodiversity

• Sustainable Landscapes, Organic Horticulture and Ecology courses are on offer
• Creation of eco niches and habitats: already in place are a woodland corridor (with stumperies)and a bog garden; presently under construction is a herb garden; future projects include a butterfly meadow and a pond
• Wildlife corridor, orchard and Native Tree Walk on the allotments
• Planting of native and wildlife-friendly species of trees, shrubs, hedges and perennials
• Compile species lists and habitat maps – already underway with the Tree and Shrub Survey 2013-2014
• Participate in the Intervarsity BioBlitz 2015

Transport

• Bicycles provided for some students – this scheme will be extended by the purchase of more bicycles
• Construction of a covered bike-parking area
• Information on bus and Luas options is provided in the college yearbook
• Conduct a transport survey for future improvements

Raising Awareness

• Green notice board in main hall; posters and signage throughout the college
• Events such as “Green Week”, “Eco Week” and “Heritage Day”
• College year book contains Green pages, and thought-provoking and inspirational quotes
• College USB sticks, which every student and tutor receives, features the “Reduce – Reuse –Recycle” message and contains a Green Folder (includes the Green Charter)
• Induction week informs new students about the college’s ethos and policies on the environment and sustainability
• “The Green Times” newsletter keeps the college and the community informed
• Media students produced clips on Green Week, the composting workshop and the allotments for Youtube

The Green Committee would love to hear from you – please use our email to contact us with your ideas, feedback, queries and, above all, to join with us to make Pearse College a centre of Green perfection.

Email address: green@pearse.cdetb.ie