Paving and building products firm, AG, has switched to 100% renewable energy with the help of Electric Ireland. Headquartered in Fivemiletown, AG (formerly Acheson & Glover), was established more than 60 years ago and has manufacturing sites and specification centres across Ireland and the UK. AG made the switch to 100% renewable energy at the beginning of August, but its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint didn’t start then. In 2019, as a part of its overall environmental strategy and commitment to responsible and sustainable operating practice, AG made a £2 million investment in a Wash Plant at its Fivemiletown site which led to carbon savings of approximately 50% in its first year.

Stephen Acheson, CEO at AG, is proud to announce AG’s latest commitment to renewable energy and says the firm will continue to reduce its carbon footprint where possible. “We are very excited to announce our switch to 100% renewable energy as we attempt to reduce our Co2 emissions and wastage across all of our sites. Working closely with our Net Zero Carbon team, that’s solely dedicated to making the business more sustainable and more energy efficient, we have outlined core plans to reduce direct and indirect waste like we have done at the Fivemiletown site, as its currently operating at zero wastage.

“This new commitment to renewable energy is intrinsic to the balance between the social, economic, and environmental aspects of our business and as further evidence of this we are working in partnership with Queens University Belfast to develop a carbon calculator to measure Co2 in our products. Our switch to 100% renewable energy will enable us to reduce our Co2 levels by 1,500 tonnes per year, based on last year’s consumption, so this is a significant initiative for us as part of our environmental strategy.”

By working with its employees, local community, customers, contractors, suppliers, and clients AG has had a positive impact on the environment which in turn led them to be awarded a silver membership status within The Green Organisation, one of the country’s leading environment groups. AG uses recycled and reclaimed materials in its products and this is promoted on its packaging, social media, website, and brochures.

Currently, AG has an order in that will reduce packaging consumption by over 55% on its Country Cobble product. Other examples of AG’s dedication to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint include its plan to have a full electric van fleet by 2025 and its recent switch to bio-liquefied petroleum gas (bio-LPG) which has resulted in a decline of 70% in carbon emissions.

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Denise Maguire   Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine

Email: denise@mcdmedia.ie      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE    WWW.IRISHCONSTRUCTION.COM