Trinity College Dublin Awarded ‘Green Flag’ for Environment

Apr 09, 2013

Trinity College was awarded the prestigious ‘Green Flag’ for the quality of its environment, as part of An Taisce’s Green-Campus programme at a special ceremony on April 8th.

The international award is the result of many years of work by students and staff to make the campus better environmentally managed and more sustainable.

Green-Campus is similar to the highly successful Green-Schools programme and is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce on behalf of the internationally based Foundation for Environmental Education.

Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union Environmental & Ethical Trading Officer Gwen Duffy and Students’ Union President Rory Dunne hold the green flag after the College received An Taisce's Green-Campus Award.

Trinity reduces water consumption by 25%

The programme is very strongly student led and many achievements have taken place at Trinity College including:

• A 25% reduction in water consumption (due to leakage elimination, behaviour changes and rainwater harvesting)

• Stable energy efficiency despite large building projects and increasing student numbers

• 1,200 trees on campus with increasing numbers planted each year

• Green roofs to promote ecology and water retention

• ‘Green Week’ has become one of the College’s largest events 

• Green-Campus included in staff and student induction

• Reviews of waste, energy, water, travel patterns and biodiversity have been undertaken and are being monitored

• Revamp of GreenPages section of TCD website

Trinity joins a number of pioneering Irish third level institutions: University College Cork, GMIT Castlebar, Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock, Dundalk IT and Ballsbridge College of Further Education that have been awarded the Green Flag.

Speaking at the Flag Raising Ceremony the Director of An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit Patricia Oliver, said: “It will be great to see the Green Flag flying at Trinity particularly as it attracts a footfall of around one million people per year due to its city centre location and heritage attractions such as the Book of Kells.

“This in itself can create challenges as regards litter management and maintenance. Trinity College Dublin has made great strides with the Green Campus programme. However, the award today is only a milestone on a continuous journey. The award will have to be renewed and updated on a regular basis.”

Commenting on the award, Dr Patrick Prendergast, Provost said: “We are delighted to be awarded the Green Flag for Trinity’s green campus. The environmental and recreational benefits provided by our campus in its city-centre location are of immense importance for our students, staff and the general public, and we hope to preserve and develop it.”

The Green-Campus award is overseen internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). FEE President Jan Eriksen said: "We are delighted that Trinity College Dublin has achieved the Green Flag. We have been following its progress and are aware of the challenges the college overcame to achieve this result.

“Now the challenge is to maintain, augment and build on its Green-Campus status. We are more than confident that Trinity College will be able to meet this challenge, continue to gain from it, and indeed inspire others."

Trinity College Dublin Provost, Dr. Patrick Prendergast and Director of An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit Patricia Oliver celebrate after the College received An Taisce's Green-Campus Award.

View the photo gallery