Forty-four Eco-Schools across Northern Ireland have been celebrating impressive results from their participation in a Rethink Waste Project funded by the Department of the Environment and facilitated by TIDY Northern Ireland and Bryson Charitable Group.

The schools targeted paper and plastic usage by stopping junk mail and supplying refillable plastic drinks bottles. The actions they took mean that 113 tonnes of paper and 39 tonnes of plastic have been saved resulting in an overall carbon saving of 230 tonnes per annum. This has been the third and most successful year of the project so far.

Laurence Arbuckle, Senior Manager, Bryson Energy, Bryson Charitable Group said: “We are delighted to be here today along with Tidy NI and our funders and all the participating schools for the third Presentation of the Rethink Waste Education Project. Over the past three years, the project has gone from strength to strength in terms of raising awareness among young people of the issues surrounding waste and in the achievement of savings. This year’s schools have really embraced the message and have shown their commitment to reducing waste going forward.  

I commend all the schools who have taken part this year - staff and pupils - and I know that you will all build upon the foundations that have been laid as we all go forward together towards a greener and cleaner future."

Four schools also took part in a pilot Zero Waste project which focused on improved segregation and recycling of waste. Results from the pilot were encouraging; the 1261 pupils taking part will be diverting 12.67 tonnes of waste from landfill per annum. On average each pupil in the schools involved now only sends 9 grams of waste to landfill each day.

TIDY Northern Ireland’s Chief Executive Dr Ian Humphreys said: “Once again thousands of young people have stepped up to the mark by preventing paper and plastic waste both in the school and at home. Parents will be pleased too as they have stopped the nuisance of junk mail entering their letterboxes, something simple enough for us all to do with a single phone call or email. Thanks have to go to every young person, every teacher and every parent who worked to make this the most successful year yet, as well as the funders and our partners Bryson Charitable Group.”

Schools enjoyed a presentation of certificates and prizes at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre followed by a tour of the wildlife and garden areas at the Oxford Island Nature Reserve. They left armed with great ideas to apply to their Eco-Schools programmes.

Two schools; Carrick Primary School, Warrenpoint, and Enniskillen Model Primary School, were awarded their prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flags during the course of the project; an internationally recognised symbol of environmental excellence in schools.

Betty Perris from the Department of Environment’s Rethink Waste team speaking at the celebration event said: “This is exactly the type of project which the Department’s Rethink Waste Fund was set up to assist. The participants have taken action to prevent waste occurring in the first place, which is always the best and most sustainable of options, where possible.”    

Top performing schools that received a prize for their Eco-Schools programme were: Craigbrack Primary School, Londonderry; Fairview Primary School, Ballymoney and St Louise’s Comprehensive College, Belfast.

Neil McAllister Teacher and Eco-coordinator from Fairview Primary School, who also took part in the Zero Waste project said: “We were delighted to be part of this Rethink Waste project and feel it is a great way to educate our pupils for the future. Our parents are very supportive of our environmental work in school. A return rate of over 100% in our recent Mail Preference Service initiative is a clear indication of this.  We are delighted to win the award for most replies, to know we have done our bit for the environment by reducing paper and plastic usage but also by using the award to further enhance recycling in our school.

The results from our Zero Waste project also really pleased us and showed the commitment of everyone in our school.  We increased the percentage of our waste being recycled from 29% in December to 84% in March.  We know we can still improve but, thanks to this project we are well on the journey to a more sustainable school”

Every pupil attending the event was able to take away a fruit tree sapling kindly provided by Lidl Northern Ireland.

If you are interested in Rethinking your school’s waste please check the websites www.eco-schoolsni.org and www.brysoneducation.org, and www.rethinkwasteni.org for easy and convenient hints and tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle in everyday life.

Anna Lo MLA with Katie Pilkington from Bryson Energy

Bryson Energy is proud to support Climate Week 2013.   The aim of the week is to inspire a new wave of action to create a sustainable future. During the week Bryson Energy staff has been out and about attending community outreach events and conferences showcasing practical solutions for householders to take action from installing loft insulation to advice on renewable energy.

Laurence Arbuckle, from Bryson Energy explains, “A key way for people to find out how they can do their bit to help prevent climate change is to contact our Advice Line which provides free and independent local energy advice to NI residents. Our education team will also deliver a series of school presentations raising awareness of sustainability issues such as climate change, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, waste and recycling to the next generation of young people across NI.”

Bryson Energy is Northern Ireland’s Energy Agency and is part of the Bryson Charitable Group. We are one of a network of 380 local and regional energy agencies established across Europe, which were supported by the European Union.

We target our activities mainly at the domestic sector and provide leadership, advice, support and installation of energy saving measures in homes, tackling fuel poverty and helping to reduce costs for householders.

With approximately half of all carbon emissions under the personal control of individual households and consumers the activities of Bryson Energy contribute to Northern Ireland’s energy targets as laid out in the Strategic Energy Framework.

To find out more contact the Bryson Energy Advice Line on 0800 14 22 865 or check out our website www.brysonenergy.org

Elaine Brownlee with pupils from Holy Trinity P.S, Cookstown during Climate Week 2013

Bryson Energy & Derry Credit Union have joined forces with a range of other organisations including Derry City Council, the Consumer Council and National Energy Action (NI) to launch an innovative energy brokering project in a bid to lower oil prices for members of the credit union while also assisting them to budget for their fuel bills.

Just weeks after the launch of a pilot brokering project with Fold Housing Association in the North-West, this project will bring the 28,000 members of Derry Credit Union together to use their combined buying power to negotiate reductions on energy prices, particularly oil.
Laurence Arbuckle of Bryson Energy said,
"One of Bryson Energy's key priorities has for many years been the eradication of fuel poverty. This exciting project will combine the buying power of credit union members to seek reduced oil prices through bulk buying for the Derry Credit Union bond area. Members will also be referred to our energy efficiency Freephone 0800 1422 865 for independent advice and information on what they can do to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and on what grants there are available today to assist people in doing so. At the same time, our advisors will also give budgeting advice on the different methods of paying for energy and members can also avail of the various services offered through the Credit Union itself to pay for their utility bills."

Philomena Deery, President of Derry Credit Union, said:
"Derry Credit Union Limited has always strived to improve the well being of its members. We recognise that fuel poverty is a major issue in our common bond area. We see this initiative as a step towards allowing members make more informed choices with regard to the purchase of oil. "
The Mayor, Cllr Kevin Campbell, welcomed the partnership approach saying Derry City Council is supportive of any effort to lower energy prices and advise members on how to reduce costs.
"We are living in difficult economic times and any initiative aimed at helping the public get value for money is worth supporting. This partnership approach is in keeping with the Department of Social Development's Poverty Strategy launched in 2011, in which it identified key actions relating to energy brokering and budgeting for energy. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive's House Condition Survey 2009 reported that the level of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland was 44% (302,310 households), a 10% increase from the House Condition Survey carried out in 2006, which recorded it at 34% (225,580 households). With this in mind, it is hoped that this initiative will greatly assist those in most need and achieve some of the targets outlined in the strategy."

Philip O'Doherty, Chief Environmental Health Officer, Derry City Council said:
"Energy brokering and community buying are already well established in England and other countries resulting in reduced energy prices. Derry City Council with our partners in Derry Credit Union and Bryson Energy are keen to explore any mechanism, which can help local householders reduce the costs of energy this winter, particularly oil, on which so many householders depend."

The Project will commence on International Credit Union Day on October 18th and will run throughout the winter heating season when it will be evaluated and potentially rolled out more widely across Northern Ireland.

         Nigel Brady (Director) and Cliff Worley (Senior Manager) from Bryson Energy 

Bryson Energy trialled a Renault Kangoo Electric van w/c 2nd July 2012 courtesy of ECAR Project Team at Department for Regional Development.