THE University of Limerick was this week awarded the internationally recognised Green Flag by An Taisce’s Green-Campus programme on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education.
Professor Don Barry, president of UL raised the flag outside Plassey House in a ceremony attended by students, staff and special guests.
The Green Flag will be permanently located on the University’s iconic flag poles by the main campus gate.
Significant initiatives and advances in the areas of energy conservation, biodiversity and travel and transport have been incorporated into campus life over the past two years with combined efforts by UL’s Buildings and Estates Division and the UL Green-Campus Committee.
The Green-Campus Programme is an international environmental education and award scheme that promotes long term, whole college action for the environment.
Students can join the UL Green-Campus Committee and get involved in volunteering in the rooftop community garden, work on the college apiary or have a say in how behavioural change relating to the environment is promoted on campus.
Professor Don Barry said: “Through our new Strategic Plan, Broadening Horizons, 2015-2019 which was launched just last month, we have committed to increasing the number of Green Campus initiatives being undertaken over the lifetime of the plan and we are fortunate to have so many Green-Campus committee members working hard to ensure the campus remains the beautiful environment that it is.”
The Green-Campus Programme has so far seen UL make infrastructural improvements, such as installing electric car charge points on campus.
The university has also created a community apiary, which is maintained and managed by UL students and staff.
In addition, UL has made efforts to encourage students and staff to use sustainable methods of transport and has seen an increase in the number of people walking or cycling or sharing car journeys to and from the campus.
