St. Clare's Primary School, Harold's Cross, are the winners of The Dublin City Neighbourhoods School Awards 2012 for their effort in striving to promote a green environment and healthy lifestyle.

The Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí presented the award to St. Clare's at the Mansion House, Dublin.

Primary and Secondary Schools around Dublin are invited to enter this competition and are judged on various environmental elements. From waste management initiatives and water conservation efforts, to the landscaping of their school grounds and absence of litter and graffiti. All efforts to work towards a greener environment are taken into consideration.

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The pupils and staff of St. Clare's Primary School actively reduced the cost energy in their school over the past 3 years from €22,000 to €17,000. The Green Energy Guzzler of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was so impressed with the efforts of the school that St. Clare’s were chosen to make a promotional DVD on reducing energy in schools. This DVD is currently being rolled out to all schools in Ireland.

The Lord Mayor said: "Congratulations to the pupils and teachers of St. Clare’s Primary School on their win in the Dublin City Neighbourhood Schools Awards 2012. A reduction of €5,000 in energy costs over 3 years is really impressive. They have participated in the City Neighbourhoods Awards, Green Flag Award and Green Home Programme with great enthusiasm and have been rewarded for thinking globally and acting locally."

(CD/GK)