How Green is Your Business? Galway Company Awarded on National Stage for Green Initiatives

Posted on October 12, 2011 by admin

Larkin Engineering of Tuam, Galway were recently awarded for its green initiatives in the national ‘How Green is Your Business Competition’ held by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce with special guest, Dragon’s Den Judge, Bobby Kerr.

Noel Larkin, MD Larkin Engineering, and Bobby Kerr

“Larkin Engineering Street Products” is a line of products manufactured by the Tuam based company and is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), programmes  – the Cleaner Greener Production Programme (CGPP) and the National Waste Prevention Programme and a local company, SPeco Environmental Health and Safety Consultants, based in Galway. Under (CGPP) a number of environmental initiatives were investigated such as energy, waste and water minimisation, eco design and manufacturing efficiency.

Laura Burke, EPA Director said:

“Through the Cleaner Greener Production Programme, the EPA is assisting Irish enterprises to improve their environmental performance.  Businesses like Larkin that participated in the EPA’s Cleaner Greener Production Programme have shown how achieving resource efficiency brings big economic opportunities. EPA study showed almost €1.6m per annum worth of savings for Cleaner Greener Production Programme companies from a one off investment by the EPA of €1m. The EPA is delighted to assist companies such as Larkin to grow in both an economic and environmentally-sustainable way.”

Through the ‘How Green is Your Business Competition’, Larkin Engineering demonstrated how Eco-design brought about new ideas. One such example involved the manufacture of a new bin using 38% less material. The company also started a take back system to refurbish existing bins rather than asking customers to purchase a new bin.

Below are some of the green efficiencies achieved by Larkin:

Eco-design

  • Saved 38 % of the raw material  previously being used on each 100 litre jumbo bin;
  • Product take back and refurbishment:  local authorities demonstrated that 3.5 bins could be refurbished for the same amount of energy as it would take to manufacture one new bin;

Energy

  • Electricity usage was reduced by 9000 kWh per month in 2011 compared to 2010;
  • Significant savings were achieved in energy spend per new bin;

Waste

  • Over 40% reduction in the amount of metal being sent for recycling from production since 2008 due to improved material utilisation.
  • 19% improvement in production efficiency due to improved layouts and work practices.

Water

  • Rain water harvesting allowed the manufacturing plant to become self sustainable.
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Official launch of the CGPP supported iameco desktop computer

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin

Dublin, Friday, 9th September –  Launched in The Science Gallery today, the iameco touchscreen computer supported by the EPA CGPP programme is the world’s first desktop computer to secure the EU’s coveted EcoFlower label for its exceptional standards of environmental sustainability in manufacture and use.

Silicon Republic coverage of iameco launch – “A world first”

The EU Eco Flower Label is the most difficult environmental standard to secure, and the most rigorously enforced. While its flower logo may be simple, the environmental criteria behind it are tough, and only the very best products, which are kindest to the environment, are entitled to carry the EU Eco Flower Label. It confirms the environmental sustainability of the iamecoPC in both manufacture and use in the dominant segment of the home and office PC market.

The iameco computer achieves previously unattainable standards of energy efficiency, reusability and recyclability on the market.  It consumes just 0.8 watts of power in standby mode, zero watts in off mode, and 21 watts in full operation – just one third of the power usage of other desktop computers – and incorporates the most environmentally benign components in a fully reusable and ultimately recyclable chassis and housing with a design life of up to 10 years.  The iameco computer is an entirely new market offering with an upgradable, silent-running, solid state design that will run any of the leading operating systems, including Mac OS and Windows 7.

Speaking at the launch of the iameco computer, Laura Burke, EPA Director, said:

 “Through the Cleaner Greener Production Programme (CGPP),the EPA is assisting Irish enterprises to improve their environmental performance.  Businesses like MicroPro that participated in the EPA’s CGPP initiative have shown how achieving resource efficiency brings big economic opportunities. For example, a recent study showed almost €1.6m per annum worth of savings for CGPP companies from a one off investment by the EPA of €1m. The EPA is delighted to work in partnership with companies such as Micropro to assist companies to grow in both an economic and environmentally-sustainable way.”

The Eco Label confirms the quality and design of products from an environmental sustainability perspective, including the grades of components, their impacts on the environment and their ability to be reused and recycled.

Launching the iameco touchscreen computer at the Science Gallery, Trinity College on Fridy 9th September, Irish Presidential Candidate, Statesman, and former Minister for Arts and Culture, Michael D. Higgins, said:

“As far back as 1992, when I attended the very first global conference on sustainable development in Rio, I have seen a clear social dividend to be gained from a more balanced and imaginative relationship between science, technology and our environment.

Our society increasingly relies on computer technologies and communications platforms for everyday interactions between people and businesses, at home and in the workplace. While this technology has undoubtedly brought major benefits there are also costs, including a significant impact on our environment. A truly creative society is about more than the arts, craft and design – it is also about innovative approaches to scientific and social challenges. I am delighted to see that MicroPro Computers, as an Irish technology company which has been striving for many years to minimise environmental impact while maintaining cutting edge technology, has been recognised with the European Union’s Eco Flower label for their iameco touchscreen computer”

The EU Eco-Label for the iameco desktop computer was secured following an exhaustive two year development and testing process by MicroPro, under the Cleaner Greener Production Programme of the Environmental Protection Agency and with inputs from Fraunhofer Technical University in Germany and Limerick University.

Commenting on the announcement, MicroPro CEO, Paul Maher, said:

“In designing the iameco range of computers, we set out to develop a computer that transparently meets the highest international standards of environmental sustainability without any compromise to performance, design or usability.  We are proud that as an Irish computer manufacturer, we are the first to secure the Eco Flower Label and we are confident that iameco computers will set the standard for others in computer design, manufacture and operation to follow in minimizing damaging effects on our environment.”

Paul Maher said that while the leading manufacturers of IT globally were increasingly taking account of the impacts of their manufacturing and distribution activities on the environment, progress has been too slow. He said:

“It is clear that the industry leaders have conflicting priorities. However, if we are to protect our natural heritage for future generations and limit the harmful impacts of how we live today on many of the Earth’s most vulnerable groups we have to move sustainability centre stage. This is particularly critical in computer manufacture where so many of the materials and processes we use are harmful to the environment. As a small Irish company, with the iameco desktop computer, MicroPro is happy to lead the industry in sustainable computer design.”

Further information is available in the press release or at http://www.iameco.ie/

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Website Under Construction

Posted on September 3, 2011 by admin

As you can see, we are currently in the process of revamping this website. Apologies for any inconvenience, we hope to have this work completed as soon as possible.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency launched the Cleaner Greener Production Programme (CGPP) in 2001 as a grant scheme to encourage Irish organisations to implement cleaner greener practices. The philosophy of the programme is that prevention is better than cure.

The projects challenged organisations to produce goods and services in more environmentally friendly ways, targeting the minimisation of emissions through cleaner production methods. The objective was to achieve a balance between economic activity and protection of the environment.

Since 2001 the EPA has committed over €7 million to 89 organisations that have received part funding for demonstration projects under this programme. Companies commit to developing demonstration projects that reduce their environmental impact and are applicable across the business sector. Environmental performance is fast becoming a marketing tool and there is an increasing demand for environmentally sound products and services both in the EU and across international markets.

The long-term aim is to try to ensure that cleaner greener production and eco-efficiency become the established norm in Ireland. The EPA hope that other businesses will learn from and build on past success stories and that will work towards the CGPP’s objective: “Better Business in a Better Ireland”.

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