The Business Benefits of Environmental Awareness Phil Walker, Econcertive

Why Bother with Sustainability? Save the planet! Save money Reputational benefits It’s the right thing to do Maybe you remember storm Ophelia?. . .

Standing Still = Going Backwards! Energy Prices Water Charges Landfill Tax Legal Requirements e.g. Packaging, Haz. Waste, WEEE, Composting Reg’s.

Focus on low cost actions Environmental certification How does EcoMerit Work? An environmental ‘health-check’ Site review Improvement plan Focus on low cost actions Environmental certification Annual surveillance & support visit

Case Study – Brian Scully Services Station Road, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. Site Review 19th January 2016 EcoMerit awarded 19th April 2016

Short Term Actions Action Capital Cost Annual saving Payback Time Reduce Maximum Input Capacity (MIC) from 35 kVA to 29 kVA Nil €975 Immediate Upgrade the higher usage lights throughout the building to LED lights. €500 €190 2.5 years Fit plug-in timer to water cooler. Ideally a 7-day timer. €12 €50 2 months Introduce a recycling bin to supplement the general waste bin currently on site. €600

Longer Term Actions Action Capital Cost Annual saving Payback Time Consider replacing elderly oil boiler (& unbunded kerosene tank) ? €600 Investigate possibility of introducing rainwater harvesting €1,500 Consider installing solar panels for electricity generation (PV cells). €11,500 €1,000 11 years At next change, consider replacing an existing diesel van with an electric van. 80% of running costs

Brian Scully Services – Annual Carbon Footprint from Energy Use Audience Participation – Guess the Decimal 1.285 tonnes 12.85 tonnes 128.5 tonnes 1,285 tonnes

Brian Scully Services – Annual Carbon Footprint from Energy Use Audience Participation – Guess the Decimal 1.285 tonnes 12.85 tonnes 128.5 tonnes 1,285 tonnes

This Sustainability stuff really works! There is money to be saved To Summarise; This Sustainability stuff really works! There is money to be saved Keep looking – there is more money to be saved To get started; Measure your energy, waste and water Look for cheap, easy improvements Keep Measuring Keep Looking Make it a habit

Check your electricity bill Top Tip - Energy Check your electricity bill Are you paying more than 15c per kWh? Do you pay capacity charges? Do you pay excess or wattless charges?

Stop using black bags. Top Tip - Waste Use clear bags and easily see how much recycling is going into your expensive general waste bin.

Do a leak test Top Tip - Water Last thing at night, take a meter reading. (make sure any urinals etc. are shut off for the test) First thing next morning take another reading. The readings should be the same.

Thank you for your attention. For more information, just ask. Phil Walker Econcertive. Tel: 051 428739 Mob: 086 255 9677 E-mail: phil@ecocert.ie Website: www.ecomerit.ie