COUNTY Down insulation manufacturer and installer Energystore has announced a £2 million investment plan to achieve net zero by 2028.
The Holywood-based company said it plans to remove 1,346 tonnes of carbon across its fuel, electricity and vehicle use over the coming years.
Energystore designs, manufactures and installs insulation systems for floors, walls and roofs and is the leading supplier of high-performance EPS (expanded polystyrene) bead insulation products to the UK and Irish construction industry.
The Co Down firm has already committed £700,000 to reducing its carbon footprint by lowering energy consumption, eliminating packaging waste and manufacturing at sites close to its customers.
It has now pledged to reach net zero by 2028 by implementing a number of new initiatives from harnessing solar power and wastewater recovery, to introducing electric company cars and converting its commercial fleet to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).
“This is a significant commitment for a manufacturing company, but it is one that fits with our wider mission to develop and install insulation products that create a cleaner environment and improve energy efficiency wherever they are used,” said group sales and innovation director, Connor McCandless.
“The construction industry has a massive role to play in addressing the climate crisis and a responsibility to take action.
“The average house produces around 8.1 tonnes of CO2 annually, with 39,000 tonnes of CO2 produced while a home is being built. Energystore’s products are introduced into over 800 homes every week, so we’re already playing a part in helping reduce those numbers.
“Our goal now is to make rapid progress to reduce our own carbon footprint every day,” he continued.
“For example, a recent machine upgrade at our Preston site resulted in a 60% reduction in fuel needed to manufacture products and we’ve identified similar potential upgrades at other sites.
“We are acting now, not pushing net zero out into the distant future and we will go even further beyond 2028."
