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NEWS
February/March 2012 www.esb.ie/em
Hot demand from staff for Thermal Imaging Cameras
THE THERMAL IMAGING Loan Scheme has generated phenomenal interest amongst staff, with more than 320 staff registering to take part since the scheme’s launch in November.
Before being sent out to various locations across the country in February, the camera is first being used in the Dublin area where 47 staff members have applied to use the thermal imaging facility on their homes.
Those applying to borrow the camera under the loan scheme have given several reasons for their interest:
- Identifying air leaks in the home.
- Testing the effectiveness of installed insulation.
- Identifying future insulation needs.
There is a thread on the ESB Sustainability discussion board to allow those who have borrowed the thermalimaging camera the opportunity to give feedback on their experience with the camera and to pass on valuable information to others. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with users such as Linda Daniel Christie of ESB Energy International, stressing the significance of the camera in identifying key areas of heat loss within the home, “I can’t express enough how useful we found the camera. We knew we had heat loss problems but couldn’t really narrow it down. The camera showed everything, gaps in insulation, cold spots and illustrated the benefits of newer replacement windows that we had installed”.
The success of the loan-scheme to date is such that an additional camera is being purchased to meet the overwhelming demand by staff across the country.
To learn more about the scheme and to apply for a loan of the camera, see: esb-moss/sc/sust/Pages/TermalImaging-CameraLoanScheme.aspx
Head Office sustainability champions celebrate sustainability award
HEAD OFFICE SUSTAINABILITY Champions gathered recently to celebrate their winning a Sustainability Week 2011 award.
The award recognises the group’s many achievements, such as: the Green IT Initiative where a staff competition to reduce P-drive usage saw several Terabytes of storage space being released to the company, saving on costs and reducing CO2 emissions.
The group also held a national ‘Print Free Day’, that was initially for Head Office only, which focused on consumption of paper and printing resources and raised awareness about paperless working in our modern offices.
To celebrate the growing popularity of cycling among Head Office staff and the success of the ESB bike scheme, the group also held a cycling event in 2011 where more than 50 ESB cyclists completed a loop of Merrion Square.
The focus is now on 2012, and the group has two main aims: firstly, to go about its work in a more structured manner, and secondly, to include more ongoing initiatives where the sustainability message, and the positive affects, can be embedded.
If you would like to join this group of champions, please contact any one of the following: Mary Nolan, Wind; Claire Kearns, HR; Michele Clarke, BSC; Fergus Keane / Duncan Clarke, Environment & Sustainability,. Head Office Sustainability champions communications committee Adrienne Behan, Linda Daniel Christie, Fergus Keane.
Assistive Technology: – Part 3:
THE LAST DECADE has seen amazing advances in the development of Assistive Technology devices. Assistive technology is used to increase an individual’s independence in personal, educational or career context. Assistive Technology has traditionally been viewed as specialist technology. However, technology is now becoming more inclusive and Assistive Technology software is now being incorporated into iPods, iPads and devices running on the Windows 7 platform.
There are many versions of Speech to Text / Voice Recognition software available. One that captures the attention and is commonly used in the educational and business world is Dragon Naturally Speaking.
Voice recognition systems enable individuals with dyslexia, visual impairment or manual dexterity difficulties to dictate a document to the computer as an alternative to using the keyboard and mouse. It enables users to dictate and have speech transcribed as written text, to have a document synthesised as an audio stream or to issue commands that are recognised as such by the program. In addition, voice profiles can be accessed through different computers in a networked environment, such as a college.
Who can use/benefit from Dragon Naturally Speaking software:
- People who find it difficult to write or type.
- People with Physical Disabilities.
- People with RSI or Arthritis.
- In the business world, Dragon Naturally Speaking technology is used for report writing.
This software has three primary areas of functionality: dictation, text-to-speech and command input.
- Dragon Naturally Speaking can be used for all functions on the computer.
- It is an inexpensive piece of software and requires a separate USB microphone.
- It can create/support MP3 files and will also take into consideration dialectic differences.
For more information on Assistive Technology and its benefits, please check the following:
www.ahead.ie / www.assistireland.ie
Or contact Equality&Diversity@esb.ie
Finance Transformation Programme (FiTP) update
THE FINANCE Transformation Programme (FiTP) is continuing to work towards implementation of ESB’s new Finance Operating Model.
Significant progress has been made to date in the areas of process design, identifying relevant key performance indicators, activity analysis and initial migration planning.
To the end of January, the programme will have completed more than 30 process design workshops with significant involvement of financial staff from across all Business Units and Corporate Centre.
To date, the workshops have been very informative, challenging and positively received and we expect this to continue for the remaining detailed design and business unit level workshops. The eventual output from the workshops – the proposed new finance processes – are expected to be ready for sign-off in early April.
Along with the data collected during the Activity Analysis, the workshops are helping with the development of the Migration Strategy and Migration Plans on how the Programme, working with the business units, will transition the Finance organisation into the new Finance Operating Model.
The Programme also recently launched a new dedicated intranet site - http://esbnet/fitp - following feedback received in a recent communications survey. The site aims to create awareness about the Programme. As well as many engaging and interactive features, the site also contains a large database of Frequently Asked Questions covering a range of programme related topics.
It is important that we hear your views so that we can continuously improve how we communicate with staff on this important programme.
We would really appreciate if you could contact FiTP.communications@esb.ie with any feedback you may have.
50% OF STAFF COMPLETE SUSTAINABILITY TRAINING IN 2011
A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE in sustainability awareness in ESB was reached at the end of 2011 with 50% of staff completing foundation training in sustainability. This was through their successful completion of the on-line training course accessible by logging in from your c:drive or to by accessing it directly at: http://esbnet/sustainability/News-and-Events/latest.shtm#trainingcourse
More than half of ESB staff completed foundation training courses in sustainability last year, a significant achievement in efforts to raise sustainability awareness across the company.
By the end of 2011 more than 50% of staff had availed of the online courses available from staff C: drives or via: esbnet/sustainability/News-and-Events/latest.shtm#trainingcourse
The course provides information on sustainable working and living, energy and resource efficiency and explains the work underway in ESB.
“The target of a 50% completion rate by the end of 2011 was set at the beginning of this year, and it is very encouraging to see the progress we have made,” said Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Manager Tony Carroll. “The course is an important first step in the journey towards more sustainable working and I would encourage anyone who hasn’t taken it yet to log on.”
Staff who complete the course are credited with having a foundation level competency in sustainability and this is recorded by PHR, as sustainability is now regarded as a core competency for ESB personnel.
The target for 2012 is to have 80% of staff successfully complete the course by the end of this year.
