Louth and Meath Education and Training Board delivers bespoke 'Energy in Education' to its schools
Louth and Meath Education and Training Board conducted energy management training with 70 schools in their area. This provided essential knowledge and strategies to reduce energy emissions and costs.
Background
Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) is one of the largest Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in the country, employing almost 2,500 staff.
It provides education and training to:
- 12,000+ students at primary, post primary and post leaving certificate level
- Almost 22,000 further education and training learners
The CEO Martin O’Brien stated that it is crucial that all schools and centres give 100% to achieving the national targets. These targets are for 50% energy efficiency and 51% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
As an initial step, LMETB availed of SEAI’s Energy MAP training for senior staff which provides organisations with a structured approach to energy management. This training advanced the progress of the LMETB Energy Team. Based on this success, they planned Energy in Education training. Energy in Education is a best practice approach to energy management within schools and training centres.
The project
LMETB developed bespoke Energy in Education training sessions with the support from SEAI. These were delivered to 70 school principals, assistant principals and school energy teams.
They held two training sessions in late 2023. These emphasised collective responsibility in tackling energy-related challenges, while maintaining educational excellence. The events were organised and driven by Sinéad Murphy, Head of Land and Buildings, LMETB.
Each day featured training and interactive sessions, sharing knowledge and experience. The collaborative spirit was palpable as educators discussed best practices and innovative solutions. On completion, each school left with a customised action plan and awareness campaign.
Results and key achievements
The training equipped school teams to start reducing energy emissions and costs in the school. The participants created their own bespoke energy management action plans. Key to its success was the support from senior management.
"LMETB is committed to advancing education and training while fostering sustainable energy practices. Through collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives, LMETB continues to lead the way in shaping a greener, more efficient future for educational institutions in the North East"
Next steps
As a follow-up, a number of schools benefited from the Advice, Mentoring & Assessment (AMA) support service. This service provides a site visit and mentoring from an SEAI advisor. This will empower the schools to continue their energy saving plans and meet their mandated targets.
Get involved
The Energy in Education programme offers a range of supports to help schools to improve energy management practices, reduce operating costs and protect the environment.
Sign up for a free training course to find out how you could save money by better managing your school’s energy use.
Sign up today