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NEWS
December 2011/January 2012 www.esb.ie/em
Successful Sustainability Week
ESB’s ANNUAL Sustainability Week was held from Monday to Friday October 10th-14th. The focus this year was on water conservation, with information available for staff about the initiatives underway in ESB to reduce water use throughout the business, about how we all have a role to play in this important activity and also how we can succeed in managing water consumption in our homes. This theme was chosen because of the increasing focus on the importance of water as a scarce and vital resource and because of the impact of water charges on our bottom line.
ESB’s week coincided with national Corporate Responsibility Week organised by Business in the Community Ireland and we followed their lead in having a different theme for each day.
There were several milestone events during the week, including a number of lunch and learn events, which included: talks on ocean energy, the roll-out of filtered drinking water facilities throughout ESB and the impact that our donation of used IT equipment has on recipient schools in Africa.
The Sustainability Report 2011 was published and the winners of the annual Sustainability Awards were announced on Friday October 14th. The overall winners of the award was ESB Energy International Rousch, Power Generation, with ESB Networks Dunmanway, ESB Networks Wilton and Electric Ireland and the Head Office Sustainability Champions Network as the respective 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place runners-up.
Additionally during Sustainability Week, ESB became one of the first four companies in Ireland to achieve accreditation to Business Working Responsibly (BWR), a new corporate responsibility standard based on ISO 26000. This was developed by Business in the Community Ireland to assess companies on their overall corporate responsibility performance. This is a very significant milestone for our company and reflects the very high standards we are achieving in sustainable and responsible working.
Sustainability and HR Executive Director John Campion believes that the week provided people with the opportunity to engage with the sustainability agenda and how it impacts on their home and working lives. He said, “We know from our staff sustainability surveys and from the level of activity around the country that people are really engaged in trying to behave in a sustainable way. This year we focused on providing information and material to really help staff and this was supplemented by a busy calendar of locally and centrally organised events.”
A Positively-Charged Experience
By Adrienne Behan
RECENTLY I DROVE the ESB ecars iMEV to St Laurence’s National School in Stillorgan. I was quite nervous presenting to the boys of the 5th and 6th classes in the school hall. As the pupils filed into the room I was wondering what I had signed up for and why? Well at least I could answer the WHY part. As a sustainability champion I am responsible for promoting Sustainability at Work at Home and in the Community. I head up the local Green Team in Osprey House/Clanwilliam and I am part of the Head Office Green Group. My son’s school had just won an award for Green Transport initiatives and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to visit and present the Sustainability Learning Module for Primary Schools and show an electric car in the school yard.
The DVD I presented comprises of short animated movies, power point slides and filmed footage of examples of green things you can do at home. It flows really well and as you move between the different forms of media there are natural breaks to ask questions to the kids and to discuss the content that has just been presented.
My colleague Fergus Keane arrived to give me a hand and I later took some of the pupils for a short drive. Everyone got a chance to look inside and I explained how ecars are charged. We later held a Q & A session and the student remarked how silent the car is on the road and we then discussed road safety.
I then presented them with certificates and ESB pens. It was a event and I left feeling that there is a very bright future for us all in the hands of these young boys. So if you are thinking of getting out into the community and want to share your knowledge or volunteer, give it a go. Students will be very well prepared but don’t let that deter you. As a member of ESB you are positively interacting with the community and sharing some of the enthusiasm we have for sustainable living.
Would I do it again…..hell yes! My only regret was that I had to give the iMEV back. That car rocked, it was a great drive!
Seminar shots
Retirement planning seminars
