Our Mission for the Environment
Care for the environment is at the heart of everything we do at Techrete and our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint is evidenced by the significant investments we have made during the past five years in energy efficient and environmentally sustainable processes, equipment, workshops, office facilities and management systems.
Our Approach to Sustainability
- Keep informed of all relevant legislation/ best practices, monitoring our operations to ensure compliance
- Meet all regulatory and consent requirements pertaining to our business
- Work with subcontractors, suppliers, and clients to encourage environmental awareness and sustainability and to identify and to share ways of reducing environmental impacts
- Manage our buildings and construction sites in an efficient and environmentally sensitive manner
- Reduce and strive to eliminate hazardous and nuisance releases to the air, water, and landfill
- Operate a careful buying policy, giving preference to materials from sustainable sources.
Environmental Advantages of our Product
The inherent properties of precast concrete make it a natural choice for achieving sustainability in modern construction. Our products have a high thermal mass which facilitate the absorption, storage and radiation of heat which is fundamental to sustainable construction for the future.
- Precast panels are manufactured concurrently with site preparation, reducing construction times and the impact on the local community by over 50%
- Panels benefit from manufacturing efficiencies, innovations, and design flexibility.
- Offsite manufacturing allows work to be carried out in a controlled, comfortable, and safe environment where safety requirements are much easier met and policed.
- A superior quality of factory fitted insulation ensures that greater sustainability is achieved, through reduced thermal loss
- Techrete’s precast panels are 100% recyclable at end-of-life stage.
- Materials can be stored in safer conditions in a factory than on site, thus greatly reducing risks of pollution.
- Offsite construction generates up to 90% less waste*
- Waste is easier to segregate off-site for recycling and collection, than on-site
- In the case of large panels, crane time and number of lifts are optimised, thus reducing energy consumption.
- Offsite manufacturing uses less water, even more so in the case of Techrete as we recycle approx. 25% of water used in our factory.
- Greater accuracies can be achieved. Activities are carried out in safer working conditions, protected from the climate.
- Reduced number of deliveries to site compared with on-site construction
*Source – WRAP – Waste & Resource Action Programme
We aim to be net zero carbon within 10 years – here’s how:
Green Energy
The production of our concrete from the mixing, compacting, finishing and right to through to craneage, is all powered by 100% renewable energy. A 250kW solar array, comprising 260 photovoltaic panels is installed on the roof of the UK plant, while a 45kW ground source heat pump system has been installed on the Irish site with six, 150m deep boreholes. The remaining electricity is provided by 100% renewable electricity from the grid. Furthermore, we buy 100% carbon offset natural gas.
We were proud to surpass the milestone of 1,000,000kWh produced since 2015 in 2020. This equates to 350,000kg of carbon saved and would supply 250 houses for an entire year.
In 2021, a 320kW array was installed to our Balbriggan factory roof which generated 200,000 kWh’s in year one.
Energy Efficiency
Techrete’s two plants are equipped with a series of environmental sensors used to monitor and regulate temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentrations throughout the year. Both factories are also designed with high levels of exposed thermal mass which passively stabilizes the indoor climate and ensures a more energy efficient use of the heating system. Geothermal energy is used to heat and cool our offices through an exposed flooring system.
Use of Low Carbon Transport
We use low carbon transport where possible and our green travel policy limits emissions allowed on company cars. We use GPS tracking on trailers to avoid unnecessary trips.
Water Efficiency
Techrete maximises its water recycling and re-use. Rainwater is captured from the factory roofs and all hard surfaces and fed into storage ponds for re-use in our wash-down and polishing processes.
Bio-Diversity & Improving Natural Habitats
We have made a significant investment in the planting of trees around our factory perimeters and in the landscaping of our sites, allowing flora and fauna to flourish.
Minimizing Material Usage Through Efficient Design
We continue to develop innovative methods and materials that achieve the same high-quality façades with less concrete and hence less embodied CO2 Through efficient design and constant review of production processes, the volume of concrete used per meter squared of facade coverage, is reduced.
Minimizing Use of High-Carbon Materials
Our 10-year strategy targets significant reductions in the amount of cement used in each panel. Techrete use partial cement replacement in many of our mixes and we are continuously aiming to increase the proportion of cement replacement in line with European, British and Irish standards.
Use of Green Suppliers and Materials
Techrete have achieved the highest possible rating – “Excellent” (BES 6001) for the responsible sourcing of our construction products
Use of Local Materials
We use materials in Ireland and the UK which are local to our facilities wherever possible to offset transport associated carbon.
Recycling, Reuse and Waste Minimizations
Part of our 10-year strategy is to maximise our circular economy. We are currently looking at ways of incorporating our waste materials into our products, thereby minimizing both the quantity of waste from our factories and the quantity of virgin materials required.
Techrete have joined the EU-funded CIRRCON research project, which aims to transform waste streams into a binder for concrete products. Read more about the CIRRCON project here.
Techrete has been presented with the prestigious Green Award on many occasions for striving to help prevent climate change by reducing waste, carbon emissions and water consumption.
Green Manufacturer of the Year
2018
Green Medium Sized Business of the Year 2020