Bright Sparks from Loreto Balbriggan Win One Good Idea Competition

Media release

13th May, 2011

~ Winners announced of SEAI’s nationwide search for ONE GOOD IDEA to tackle climate change and promote energy efficiency~

Students from Loreto Balbriggan, in Co. Dublin are the overall winners of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) search for One Good Idea with their project entitled Tree to One. The students showcased their work at the prestigious national final which took place today, Friday the 13th May, in Dublin Castle.  Transition Year students Caroline Brennan, Eniola Kasim, Deirdre Harford, Samantha Burns, Jade Bakare and Colleen Kelly highlighted the important issue of deforestation and climate change with an imaginative project aimed at primary school students.

The One Good Idea competition invites post-primary schools to devise an innovative campaign to improve awareness levels and understanding of climate change and energy efficiency. It is organised by SEAI and the Power of One working in partnership with Change.ie.  Mr Pat Rabbitte T.D., Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, today presented the winning students with  fantastic prizes including €1,500 for their school, iPod Touches and iTunes vouchers.  

Minister Rabbitte said “The students involved in theOne Good Idea project have really shown us that by making changes in our behaviour we can achieve great things.   It is extremely encouraging to see students across Ireland putting such effort into developing projects to raise awarenessof important issues such as energy and climate change”.

Brian Motherway, Chief Operations Officer of SEAI said: “Each year the standard of ideas we receive in the One Good Idea project is truly inspirational.  These students are tomorrow’s leaders so it is heartening to see them working hard to bring innovative ideas and deliver meaningful change”.

The award for the Senior One Good Idea Campaign went to St. Clare’s College School in Co. Cavan for their project Road Runners and the Junior One Good Idea Campaign award went to St.Fintina’s in Co. Meath for their project entitled The Green Team. Both teams were awarded €1,000 for their school and iPods and iTunes vouchers for their team.   Almost 1000 students from 82 schools submitted campaigns to this year’s One Good Idea competition.

For more information on the One Good Idea project log onto www.seai.ie/onegoodidea, email onegoodidea@realevents.ie or call 01 5224800

 -ENDS-

For media information contact:

 Laura Mannion, Drury 01 260 5000/ 0872949302

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