The doors opened for thousands of post-primary students to start working on their One Good Idea project this week to improve awareness levels of climate change and energy efficiency in Ireland.

Organised by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and supported by the Better Energy programme and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, the aim of the project is to increase students' understanding of energy efficiency and climate change by encouraging them to take individual and collective responsibility for tackling these important issues, as well as highlighting how one good idea can make a big difference to our pockets, ourselves and our planet.

Post primary schools from all over the country are invited to follow in the footsteps of last year's winners, team "Generation Green" from Presentation Secondary School, Thurles who devised an innovative awareness campaign on the topic of renewable energy in local businesses. The winning teams will be awarded with thousands of euros worth of fantastic prizes to both the students and the schools at a national final to be held in April 2013.


Commenting on this year's launch, Aoife Cannon, Education Programme Executive with SEAI said: "We are delighted to launch the One Good Idea campaign for the 5th year running.Last year we got some really creative ideas from students and we look forward to seeing more great ideas flooding in. The students of today are tomorrow's leaders so it is always so encouraging to see the level of enthusiasm amongst students and teachers on these important issues."

The One Good Idea project allows groups of students to work in teams to research, design and implement a campaign to promote energy efficiency and improve climate change awareness to one of three target audiences: their peers, adults and the wider community or primary school children. Students can use events, drama, art, music, film, photography or writing to bring their idea to life and ensure the message reaches their audience in the most effective way. They can design their campaign around a number of topics relating to Energy Efficiency and Climate Change. There is plenty of support available from SEAI including a project pack, a website full of ideas and resources, on line workshops and mentoring from the One Good Idea team, who are on hand to help progress the campaigns.

(CD/GK)