Paving and walling specialists, Kilsaran International, has announced that they are the first paving company to gain the ISO50001 accreditation in implementing an enterprise-wide energy management system.
The main benefit behind the ISO50001 certification is the environmental gains generated from a more sustainable business practice, however it also creates employment opportunities and in the long term Kilsaran will be able to save money and pass these cost savings on to their customers.
Kilsaran has paved the way in its energy management programme. Kilsaran International began work on implementing an energy management system in the winter of 2013. No stranger to ISO certifications, already holding ISO 9001, 14001 certification for their Quality and Environmental management systems and ISO 17025 certification for their laboratory management system. Kilsaran began the implementation process by forming a team involving members of staff from across all of the group's operations, including two members of senior management, known as "˜the Energy Team' to initiate and administer the system's guidelines.
Kilsaran also invested in the services of independent energy advisors, Authentic Energy Management Services, to assist in the process. As part of the implementation and certification process Kilsaran published an Energy Policy, had to determine their energy baseline and identify the company's significant energy users (SEU's). A detailed plan was then put in place and energy performance objectives and targets were set, with a proposed energy reduction figure announced. On a lighter note Kilsaran ran an internal competition to promote the energy management system, where employees had to think of acronyms or tag lines that best represented the system, offering an €150 prize for the winner.
Commenting on the certificate, Kilsaran director, Derry McKeown, said: "It's crucial for companies to start implementing energy saving strategies now otherwise future generations will suffer. I'm thrilled that Kilsaran is the first paving manufacturer to gain ISO50001, as this sets us apart from the competition, especially for architects and specifiers who want to choose paving produce with the highest credentials."
Derry added: "Kilsaran is a large organisation that spans across 30 offices and facilities, therefore implementing an energy management scheme is a big commitment, but a necessary one that pays dividends in our efficiencies and savings. ISO5001 demands all members within the company to contribute, for instance on a management level we switched to more eco-friendly, locally sourced materials in production. However we also encouraged staff to turn the lights off, that's why 50001 is such an effective system, it affects all our teams and all areas of the business."
ISO50001 makes it easier for organisations to implement an energy saving strategy by providing a framework of requirements for businesses. Such actions include the development of a policy for more efficient use of energy, fixed targets and objectives to meet the policy and the use of data to better understand and make decisions about energy consumption. Additionally the framework helps an organisation measure the results and review the effectiveness of the policy. ISO50001 is a natural progression from ISO14001, and ensures continuous improvements are being made to improve quality and environmenral management in all business operations.
Kilsaran International is an established manufacturer of superior quality paving and walling solutions for domestic and commercial hard landscaping. Applications range from permeable driveways and residential paving via a nationwide network of independent builders merchants to planning and delivering commercial landscaping solutions for extensive streetscapes, retail developments and social housing renovations with leading project planners, specifiers and architects. Head quartered at Kilsaran's award-winning concrete manufacturing facility in Dublin, Ireland, a dedicated sales office in Manchester supports the UK business.
