Sisk certified as a carbon-neutral business
John Sisk & Son has reached the first milestone in its 2030 Sustainability Roadmap by being certified as a carbon-neutral business.
Sisk achieved certification under the Achilles Carbon Reduce Programme in early 2021 by having its 2019 baseline and 2020 carbon footprint externally verified. As well as achieving a reduction in carbon emissions during 2020, Sisk has also offset their outstanding emissions through internationally verified carbon reduction projects.
Sisk sowing the seeds of the future with 11 new apprentices
John Sisk & Son’s new cohort of carpentry and joinery apprentices has completed one of Sisk’s first tree planting exercises as part of its commitment to planting 1.7 million native woodland trees over the next nine years. Sisk’s new group of apprentices got stuck in to help plant the trees near Manor Kilbride in Co Wicklow.
Construction well placed to help meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets
Michael Slevin, Director, KSN, writes about how the government’s plans to reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 will affect the construction sector and what measures can be taken to reduce emissions and improve the energy efficiency of our existing building stock.
Mercury renews carbon-reduction pledge alongside 60 of Ireland’s largest companies
Mercury has announced that it has renewed its pledge to set carbon-reduction targets based on climate science under the Low Carbon Pledge programme, which is overseen by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI). They are one of a group of 60 of Ireland’s largest companies to vow to reduce its carbon footprint significantly.
Building today, caring for tomorrow
Sinéad Hickey, John Sisk & Son’s Head of Sustainability for Ireland and Europe, speaks with Barry McCall about the contractor’s ambitious sustainability plan.
‘Housebuilders need to act now to take the lead in addressing embodied carbon in future developments’
Susan McGarry, Managing Director, Ecocem Ireland, writes about how the revised Climate Action Bill has forced a significant rethink on the materials that will go into our future buildings.
Ecocem raises €22.5m in equity investment
Green cement company Ecocem has announced the completion of a €22.5m equity investment by Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and Breakthrough Energy Ventures-Europe (BEV-E). BEV will also nominate a director to the Ecocem’s board of directors.
Gas Networks Ireland and Cosgrave Group partner to reduce emissions on Dublin scheme
Gas Networks Ireland worked with developer Cosgrave Group to deliver a gas-fuelled sustainable solution on its Bridgefield and Pappan Grove development in Dublin.
Leading developers continue to use natural gas to deliver secure, affordable and sustainable homes that meet Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standard. This was the finding of a Gas Networks Ireland case study.
Irish Construction firms to invest €800,000 each in sustainability in coming years
According to the research,
• 54% of architecture, engineering, construction firms in the UK and Ireland are investing in recruitment and training as part of their sustainability objectives
• Improved workflows, regulatory compliance, and technology among key focus areas of investment
• The most important driver for embracing sustainability is customer retention (86%)
• Lack of financial resources and access to skills and training are cited as main barriers to sustainability.
Enterprise Ireland’s “Ready for a Green Future” Climate Change campaign features Irish construction innovators
Enterprise Ireland has launched an international campaign, “Ready for a Green Future”, designed to promote Irish green innovators delivering sustainable and low carbon solutions to tackle climate challenge. The campaign, which features 10 Irish companies, including Cygnum and Ecocem, showcases Irish green innovators who are solving complex technical challenges and delivering sustainable and low carbon solutions to make renewable energy viable, reduce energy waste with smart technology, reduce agricultural waste, and make construction cleaner.