Winners of One Good Idea competition announced

Posted by SchoolDays Newshound, on 20/05/2016. Winners of One Good Idea competition announced

This afternoon, St. Mogue's College, Bawnboy, Cavan was named the overall winner of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) One Good Idea competition.

The students picked up their Award for their project, “Showerlite” which encouraged teenagers to cut their shower times for greater energy effiency. The students were one of 20 teams that presented their energy awareness and climate change projects at the final awards ceremony in Dublin Castle.

St. Mogue’s College students also picked up the AIB Innovation award for their project. Through their research they found that adults spend on average 5 minutes in the shower while teenagers spend on average 13.5 minutes in the shower. They are working towards developing a showerhead with an LED light that turns red after 5 minutes in the shower.

Other category winners included:

Primary Category Winner – The third class students from Ardfert Central National School in Kerry won for their project, ‘Energy Guards’ which promoted energy awareness to their peers and school community using a board game, online quiz and a short drama to teach about energy efficiency in a fun way.

Primary Runner Up - St Patrick’s National School, Bruree in Limerick for their ‘Superheaters’ project which educated the community on heat loss in homes using local press and radio and also developed a puppet show to teach their peers.

Junior Post Primary Category Winner – Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, Kerry for their project ‘Save Energy Now’. Their One Good Idea was to grow their own food at home to reduce their food miles and their carbon impact. They also organised a gardening gig in the school where a celebrity gardener gave a workshop on how to plant seeds.

Senior Post Primary Category Winner - Athlone Community College, Westmeath, for their project ‘For Peats Sake?’ Their One Good Idea was to re-wet drained and cutaway bogs to help combat climate change and also to ensure rare plant species survive. They informed people of the importance of peatlands and the impact drainage has on the bog land.

Now in its eighth year, One Good Idea, sponsored by AIB, attracted entries from over 113 primary and post-primary schools from across the country, showing an increase of 25% in participation levels from 2015. Finalists showcased their energy efficiency themed projects using drama, song, art and electronic apps.

Commenting on the success of the competition, William Walsh, Interim CEO of SEAI said: “Too often we can think that issues like climate change are beyond our grasp. However, the One Good Idea competition taps into the endless creativity, imagination and energy of students. Through their inspiring energy awareness campaigns, these students are demonstrating that we all have a role to play in addressing climate change. We can all be more efficient in our energy use and we can collectively play an important part in this environmental priority.”

Ray O Neill, AIB’s Head of Sustainable Business commented: “AIB is supporting SEAI to deliver this One Good Idea programme as part of a range of initiatives we are undertaking around the environment, as it has consistently delivered awareness of key issues in schools and in the wider community through the student campaigns. Primary schools are a recent addition to the competition and the students’ confidence and energy in presenting their campaigns is inspiring. Their efforts and those of their supportive teachers and parents are to be commended in raising awareness of climate change.”

Prizes included a €1,500 cash prize for the overall winning school, tablets for team members and a voucher for their teacher.

For more information on the One Good Idea competition, log onto www.seai.ie/onegoodidea