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Environment, Circular Economy and Sustainability
At Burke's, we have made significant strides in creating an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient business. Our building is extensively insulated to minimize energy loss, and we've upgraded our lighting system to the latest, energy-efficient technology. By upgrading rather than discarding our old lighting, we've avoided unnecessary waste and now operate four times more efficiently, adhering to circular economy principles.
We prioritize sourcing sustainably produced product's including eco-friendly paints and paint accessories. We replaced most of our oil-based paints with water-based alternatives. Our efforts ensure that our customers have access to high-quality, responsibly sourced materials.
In our pursuit of reducing reliance on non-renewable energy, we installed solar panels on our roof, allowing us to operate primarily on solar energy for nine months of the year. This initiative has dramatically reduced our dependence on electricity from the national grid.
In 2019, we transitioned from diesel to electric forklifts, resulting in significant fuel savings, reduced CO2 emissions, and improved air quality within our store.
Additionally, some of our company vehicles have been electric since 2019. We also offer free electric vehicle charging for our customers, capable of providing up to 11kwh/hour a/c speed (type 2 connector).
Our new IT infrastructure has led to considerable energy savings. Our servers now consume 4.5 times less energy than our previous system, and the energy consumption of five new PCs is equivalent to that of a single old PC. We have a dedicated, insulated server room designed to minimize cooling and energy consumption.
We've significantly improved our recycling processes for cardboard and plastic waste and enhanced our waste segregation practices.
With new equipment, we've turned waste management from a cost centre into a revenue generator.
Our commitment to circular economy principles ensures that materials are reused and repurposed wherever possible.
Our Managing Director, John, is a graduate of the MODUS course, which emphasizes integrating circular economy principles into business operations. He's also completed the "Climate Action for Wicklow Communities" program. We engaged Sustineo to conduct an energy and environmental audit, which have helped us refine our practices and substantially reduce our tCO2 output annually.
To further conserve energy, we installed individual water heaters in our toilets, heating only the water needed. We use time clocks for efficient energy use and enforce a policy ‘that nothing goes down the drain that you wouldn't drink’. We have over 300 trees on our site, sequestering nearly 9 tonnes of CO2 annually.
As a small company, we continually strive for excellence in efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. We encourage our customers to start with cost-effective measures to improve energy efficiency and environmental awareness. By showing the tangible benefits, such as reduced bills and expenses, we believe in a "sold not told" approach to going green. Our efforts have significantly improved our bottom line, an example of this was the reducing of our electricity bill from €20,000 in 2008 to €8,000 in 2020. This was before installing solar panels!
At Burke's, we're committed to sustainability, and we invite our customers to join us on this journey towards a greener future.