February 2010 RTÉ Environment Correspondent Launches NUI Galway's Green Week

NUI Galway's Green Week was launched today (Monday, 1 February) at a talk by RTÉ's Environment Correspondent, Paul Cunningham on 'Copenhagen and Beyond'. Now in its third year, Green Week will take place on campus from 1-7 February. The Green Week programme features many environmental themed events such as Ecolympics, Leave your Car at Home Day and Wear Green Day. At the 'Eco Fair', over 40 stands will showcase renewable technologies, volunteering opportunities, green electricity, recycling, eco-gadgets, environmental campaigns and organic food. The 'Sustainable Transport Fair' will showcase means of transport with low impact on the environment and will have a selection of silent electric and city bikes, and scooters available to test-ride. Other highlights during Green Week will include workshops on growing and cooking your own vegetables, repairing old clothes, and how to make your home more energy efficient. Environmental themed films will be shown and talks on a variety of topics from energy efficiency to human rights and sustainability will take place. The NUI Galway Literary and Debating Society will also hold a debate on the future of Nuclear Power in Ireland. For those interested in cycling to work, a free safe-cycling talk will be given by Galway Cycling Campaign and a training session will be provided by the West Coast Wheelers Cycling Club. WEEE Ireland (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) will also be on campus to accept electrical and electronic household waste for recycling. A number of new initiatives will be launched during the week including a computer reuse initiative in partnership with Camara – a volunteer organisation dedicated to educating communities in Africa. Sinéad Higgins, Environmental Manager at NUI Galway, said: "NUI Galway's Green Week is the ideal time for members of the public and our 19,000 students and staff to make one small change and play a part in developing a greener community. The programme is packed with events, ideas and competitions to suit everyone". NUI Galway is committed to playing a role in helping Ireland to reduce carbon emissions and in recent years has invested greatly in improving its environmental performance. In 2009, NUI Galway reduced its carbon emissions from energy consumption by almost 5% through investment in energy efficiency measures across campus. The University also increased recycling rates by 7% and substantially reduced waste production on campus. -ends-