VoiceAbility, a leading voice and rights charity supporting vulnerable people for over forty years, has partnered with customer experience experts Sabio Group to implement innovative Amazon Connect and Salesforce technologies.
This digital transformation project has enhanced VoiceAbility’s communication capabilities, improving efficiency and empowering the charity to better serve its clients.
The 13-week implementation overseen by Sabio seamlessly integrated Amazon Connect with the Salesforce Service Cloud Voice and Experience Cloud platforms.
Paul Harding, Commercial Director for Sabio’s Salesforce Practice, said: “VoiceAbility handles incredibly sensitive cases on a daily basis. Their previous telephony system was deemed no longer fit for purpose and so they wanted to implement leading-edge solutions from a trusted partner who understood their ethos – Sabio ticked those boxes.
“With integrated voice, chat and voicemail functionality, single sign-on security, and AI-powered analytics, VoiceAbility can now detect caller sentiment, spot trends and respond faster to deliver more meaningful support.”
Intelligent voicemail routing and transcription for quick, context-rich responses
Callback queue buster to promptly return calls, improving customer service
Voice automation flows with caller history for personalised conversations
Sentiment analysis providing insights into emotions behind calls
Custom caller ID mapping attuned to individual needs
Enhanced disaster recovery protocols ensuring uninterrupted service
Powerful cloud-based reporting for data-driven decisions
Danny Seaborne, Managing Director for the UK & South Africa at Sabio Group, added: “We’re delighted to collaborate with forward-thinking partners like VoiceAbility.
“With niche expertise across customer engagement technologies, we understand the unique requirements of non-profits managing sensitive communications. This implementation showcases the immense potential of human-centric digital transformation to drive meaningful progress.”
The switch has already shown tremendous results for VoiceAbility, including:
5% increase in service level performance
20-second reduction in average handling times
Faster reporting for real-time operational adjustments
50% less staff turnover owing to simplified systems
Enhanced staff onboarding and training capabilities
As VoiceAbility continues its ambitious mission of inclusive societal change, this new chapter of intuitive, integrated communication promises more efficient operations and deeper human connections – ultimately translating to better lives for the people they serve.
You can read Sabio and Voiceability’s case study in full here.
Finnish circular economy company Piceasoft introduces major updates to its unique-to-the-industry PiceaOnline platform to boost circular economy, increase customer choices, and broaden retailer business and sustainability program opportunities in the used mobile phones market.
Mobile phones are one the most common electronic devices, but at the same time, one of the least recycled or resold. According to the International Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) forum, 5.3 billion mobile phones were thrown away in the year 2022 alone. With many of these potentially reusable, better access to mobile reselling opportunities could significantly reduce the 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste produced annually, a significant amount of which comes from discarded mobile devices.
Also, there is a chronic shortage of pre-owned mobile phones in Europe, so the sales of used phones are severely limited by supply. Used phones are exported from the USA, which partly meets the demand. But US devices are not CE marked, and only phones with CE approval can officially be sold in Europe. While compliance with CE standards varies across Europe, this further complicates the availability of used devices.
Despite the many mobile phone trade-in programs from operators and retailers, it is estimated that less than 20% of consumers recycle their phones. One major reason is the lack of transparency in the trade-in process: many times, the actual trade price for the old phone can be significantly lower than the original estimation due to the shortcomings in accuracy and lack of transparency of the diagnostics and evaluation process. These issues limit consumer options, demotivate them to recycle phones, and hinder trust towards the whole trade-in process.
Now through major developments to the PiceaOnline platform, Piceasoft is bringing unique features and benefits currently missing from the mobile trade-in business. These advancements make recycling phones and extending their life cycle easier and more valuable to both consumers and retailers.
“The mobile phone industry is one the largest in the world, but still in the starting blocks regarding circular economy. Now it is the time to start walking the talk, since the current system is broken and not fair to the customers. Old phones and other consumer electronics create a lot of waste. In fact, waste streams equivalent to more than 300,000 double-decker buses are created every year by smartphones and similar devices sent to waste and buried underground. Also, the consumer awareness of reselling your old phone is still quite low, and the whole value chain needs to take more responsibility in changing this,” says Kristian Järnefelt, the CEO of Piceasoft.
An operating system for circular economy
Usually, when reselling their phones, operators and major retailers only have the option to provide offers from only one trade-in partner program. PiceaOnline’s Multi-partner trade-in increases the value of mobile phone trade-in programs by offering fair and best prices for consumers from multiple trade-in partners, so consumers can benefit from the best and highest-value option for their reselling. Also, the operators and retailers can decide to sell devices matching their self-defined criteria directly to their customers instead of shipping them to the trade-in partner.
“Consumers, trade-in partners, and other retailers can see us as an operating system for the circular economy: we bring concrete, fair, and easy-to-use circular economy choices to every consumer interaction when they are buying a new phone, whether in digital or in stores. PiceaOnline platform merges mobile device lifecycle management technology and consumer-facing services into one easy-to-use business platform. We aim to make Piceasoft Europe’s leading platform to extend the lifecycle of mobile devices,” Kristian Järnefelt continues.
One of the bottlenecks in mobile phone recycling and reselling is the accuracy of grading devices to check their condition. It is estimated that around 78% of consumers lose interest if grading their device requires installing a new app on their smartphone. PiceaOnline’s new Web-based diagnostics make the trade-in process easier for consumers by accurately grading the devices without the need to install an app. Also, more automated diagnostics help to grade the devices in more detail, resulting in concrete value estimates that consumers can trust will be the price they get from their old phone.
PiceaOnline’s new Mobile SDK makes it possible to enhance the reach and value of trade-in programs by integrating PiceaOnline’s trade-in capabilities into retailers’ or mobile operator’s apps. By integrating the PiceaOnline Mobile SDK into their applications, operators, and retailers can directly engage with mobile device consumers, enhance user experience, and provide seamless trade-in experiences and instant trade-in quotes—all within the existing apps. Similarly, the PiceaOnline Mobile SDK can be utilized for self-support use cases.
Piceasoft is showcasing PiceaOnline and how it connects business opportunities to mobile devices’ circular economy with its new features at Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona 26.-29. February 2024.
The Nevo Electric Vehicle Show, presented in partnership with the Bank of Ireland, concluded on a high note on Saturday, February 17, 2024, marking the end of an electrifying spectacle that showcased the latest advancements in Electric Vehicles (EVs) from various manufacturers and key suppliers within the EV sector.
Held at The RDS in Dublin, the event attracted a staggering attendance of 12,672 individuals, comprising curious newcomers, industry professionals, and avid EV enthusiasts, firmly establishing its status as a prominent fixture in the Irish automotive calendar, with expectations of its return in the future.
Featuring exclusive Irish car launches, live test drive opportunities, and a dynamic schedule of events on the Bank of Ireland stage, the execution of the event appeared seamless, thanks to the collective efforts of Drive Inc. and the Nevo Team, marking a significant milestone in their event management portfolio. In partnership with AXA Ireland and with the support of ZEVI (Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland), the show was meticulously crafted to provide attendees with a glimpse into the future of sustainable transportation.
The doors opened promptly at 9:30 AM to welcome an eager queue of hundreds of early attendees, setting the tone for a day filled with anticipation and excitement. Within the first hour alone, the exhibition halls buzzed with activity as visitors explored the offerings of over twenty leading automotive brands. Beyond generating substantial leads and genuine interest, many exhibitors reported tangible sales, with numerous deposits secured on-site.
Simon Andreucetti, Head of Growth & Show Organiser, comments:
“We deeply appreciate the overwhelming feedback we have received through various channels, including social media, text messages, and calls, commending the success of the Nevo Electric Vehicle Show over the weekend,” He elaborated. “We take great pride in the fact that every facet of the event was meticulously managed internally by the Nevo team and the broader Drive Inc. team. Through our collective dedication, guided by a clear vision, strategic planning, ownership, and steadfast focus, the outstanding outcome witnessed at the RDS this weekend stands as a testament to our collaborative ethos and unwavering determination.”
Reflecting on the success of the Nevo Electric Vehicle Show, Derek Reilly, General Manager & Show Organiser at Nevo, adds:
“The enthusiasm and dedication exhibited by the electric vehicle community have elevated the Nevo EV Show beyond mere success, transforming it into a vibrant celebration of innovation reflective of our transition towards a more sustainable future”, he remarked. “I was thrilled to host insightful discussions on the main stage and observe first hand the palpable thirst for knowledge and information as we navigate towards an electric future.” Continuing his statement, he added, “Nevo has ambitious plans for 2024 and beyond. As Ireland’s sole dedicated electric vehicle platform, we are equally enthused to collaborate with the Irish automotive industry in fostering the growth and advancement of our collective journey towards a greener tomorrow.”
The Nevo team has demonstrated that the Irish automotive marketplace is poised for transformation, with a clear surge in demand for the latest electric vehicles. The unveiling of various new models at the event elicited a remarkable display of enthusiasm from attendees, who seized the opportunity to gain first-hand insights from industry experts. The Nevo team would like to thank all attendees and exhibitors who contributed to the success of Ireland’s inaugural Electric Vehicle show. Preparations are already underway for the next instalment, promising even greater advancements and experiences, which will be happening in Q4 this year.
Test Drives:
On show day at the RDS, the Nevo team recorded an impressive 205 test drives across a range of 17 available electric vehicles within the designated test-drive zone, each one lasting 15 minutes. Individuals who could not secure a test drive allocation were redirected to the respective brands’ booths, where arrangements could be made for a local dealer test drive.
Nevo EV Show Customer Survey. Infographic attached.
Survey data based on 1,119 responses from people who attended the event on 17th February 2024.
Audience age: 70% in 35 – 64 profile
43% have a household income over €80,000
10% over €150,000
61% did not yet own an EV
43% plan to purchase an EV in the next 3 – 9 months
50% plan to buy an EV in 2025
48% have access to a charger at work
72% wanted to learn more about battery range
52% believe EVs are cost effective
67% see EVs as better for the environment
73% would switch to an EV to save money on fuel costs
61% would switch to environmental damage
50% want to purchase an EV for the latest advances in technology
Irish astronomers, including two researchers from Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), are part of an international team that has detected radiation from a veiled neutron star in the Supernova 1987A (SN 1987A), using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The findings from the study were published today (22.02.2024) in the journal Science.
Commenting on the discovery, Tom Ray, Senior Professor and Director of Cosmic Physics at DIAS, said “When a massive star exploded back in 1987, and easily visible to the naked eye, it was the nearest such explosion to Earth in almost four hundred years. Supernovae, as these explosions are called, are thought to leave a collapsed remnant of their star behind but the search for the remnant proved very difficult and only indirect evidence was found. We are, of course, very excited that the Webb has shown us where the remnant is, verifying our understanding of such explosions.”
Using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), astronomers were able to observe narrow emission lines from ionized argon and sulphur atoms located at the centre of a nebula around SN 1987A. The team concluded that the emission line strengths observed by the Webb Telescope must be triggered by radiation from the hot neutron star or from a pulsar wind nebula around the neutron star.
Professor Ray along with Dr Patrick Kavanagh, DIAS Research Associate and a faculty member of Maynooth University, and Jeroen Jespers, an Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD student at DIAS and Maynooth, played a significant role in the discovery.
Professor Ray is Co-Principal Investigator on the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on the Webb Telescope and has worked on its development for over two decades. Dr Kavanagh has also worked on the MIRI and is a member of the Supernova 1987A team that made the discovery of the long sought collapsed stellar remnant at the centre of the supernova. He is one of the main authors of the study and an SFI-IRC Pathway Fellow.
Commenting today, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: “This is an exciting day for us at DIAS which sees years of work coming to fruition and another mystery of the universe unveiled. Our scientists involved in the development of the Mid-Infrared Instrument and the SN 1987A team are at the forefront of ground-breaking research in space, helping us to unlock mysteries of the universe. After four centuries, it is finally possible to show conclusive evidence for the presence of a neutron star at the centre of SN 1987A. It is wonderful that Ireland played an important role in this discovery, recently announced by Dr Kavanagh in Denver at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.”
Supernova 1987A (SN 1987A) was the first supernova visible to the naked eye in four centuries and provided astronomers with a close-up view of a supernova explosion using modern observatories. SN 1987A is one of the most studied objects in our skies and the detection of neutrinos, unimaginably small sub-atomic particles produced in the supernova, indicated that a neutron star must have formed. However, whether or not the neutron star persisted or collapsed into a black hole has been one of the biggest puzzles regarding SN 1987A. Even after three and a half decades of intense monitoring with cutting-edge, world-class observatories, no conclusive evidence for the presence of a neutron star at the centre of SN 1987A has been found, until now.
Senao Networks, a leading network solution provider, proudly announces its launch of SX904 SmartNIC based on the Intel NetSec Accelerator Reference Design. This cutting-edge NIC, harnessing the power of PCIe Gen4 technology and fueled by the Intel XeonD processor, sets an unprecedented standard in high-performance network computing. Senao will showcase a system demonstration at the Intel booth during the upcoming MWC in Barcelona, 26th to 29th of February, 2024.
As transformative shift in networking edge, enterprises are increasingly leaning on scalable edge infrastructure. In order to cater the demands of workloads, low latency, local data processing, and robust security, SX904 marks a significant leap forward.
The combination of Intel XeonD processor, PCIe Gen4 technology, dual 25G SFP28 support, and DDR4 ECC memory support enables the SX904 to achieve unparalleled data transfer rates and maximum bandwidth utilization, ideal for modern server architectures. It provides higher performance from the latest Intel Xeon D processor and Intel Ethernet Controller E810 and supports the latest Intel Platform Firmware Resilience, BMC, and TPM2.0. SX904 enables the seamless offload of applications optimized for Intel architecture with zero changes, optimizing performance transmission effortlessly into an Intel-based server in PCIe add-in-card form factor.
“Senao Networks is proud to introduce the groundbreaking SX904 SmartNIC, setting a new standard in high-performance networking. Our collaboration with Intel has propelled us to redefine industry benchmarks, delivering unparalleled excellence in networking technology.” – Bou Lin, President of Senao Networks.
Ireland’s mobile network of the year, has now added 5G access to the current €12.99 plan at no extra cost, adding further credence to offering Ireland’s best value Prepay plan. New customers and those currently on the €12.99 plan will now have access to 5G, along with all data, calls and texts and all powered by the Three network, subject to having a 5G phone and being in a Three 5G coverage area.
48 is also offering a one month free for new customers on SIMs ordered up to Monday, 15th April 2024 with customers needing to purchase their first plan before 6th May 2024.
Speaking about the new initiative,Elin McLean, General Manager, 48said; “48 is a brand that is constantly looking to provide smart value to customers and is committed to offering the best possible service. This is continuing with the addition of 5G to the €12.99 plan at no extra cost, really emphasizing the incredible value on the plan, so our customers know they’re making a ‘Good Call’ by joining 48.”
Dell Technologies announces new solutions to help communications service providers (CSPs) facilitate network cloud and operations transformation to achieve improved economics and agility, while maintaining network reliability.
Dell is using its decades of experience in digital transformation and deep industry partnerships to design telecom solutions that reduce risk, so CSPs can ease the deployment, automate the operation and simplify the support and lifecycle management of disaggregated network cloud infrastructure.
“The first step in network cloud transformation is installing the cloud infrastructure platform, both architecturally and operationally,” said Dennis Hoffman, senior vice president and general manager, Telecom Systems Business, Dell Technologies. “It takes a team to successfully address the people, process and technology aspects of these programs. We’re contributing not only our technology, but our years of cloud transformation experience to ecosystem partnerships with communication service providers around the world.”
Dell Telecom Infrastructure Automation Suite accelerates network cloud transformation
As CSPs integrate a broad ecosystem of technologies to build open, cloud-native networks, they need a simple way to deploy and manage infrastructure from multiple vendors across geographically distributed areas, without compromising network reliability or adding increased costs.
Dell announces the Dell Telecom Infrastructure Automation Suite, software designed to automate the orchestration and lifecycle management of multi-vendor, network cloud infrastructure at scale. The Automation Suite, based on open standards and APIs, integrates seamlessly into the network and offers CSP’s the flexibility to deploy and manage their choice of infrastructure across distributed, multi-vendor environments.
The Automation Suite provides:
Days or weeks saved on configuration and provisioning using declarative automation, which simplifies server configurations and software deployment.
Infrastructure discovery and automation down to the network’s infrastructure layer with open APIs and Dell services to support integration with the telecom business support systems (BSS) and operations support systems (OSS).
Comprehensive telemetry on equipment temperature, CPU and memory utilization, to help AI operations make more informed decisions on network operations.
Proactive, predictive support with specialized insights from a dedicated telecom-trained team, and new services to design and build custom blueprints tailored to a customer’s unique requirements.
“The world is moving quickly toward cloudified networks while, in parallel, the network ecosystem complexity is multiplying,” said Anthony Goonetilleke, group president of technology and head of strategy, Amdocs. “Amdocs Service Management and Orchestration simplifies the complexity of a growing number of vendors and is pre-integrated with the Dell Telecom Infrastructure Automation Suite to offer zero-touch deployment of the RAN, helping customers reliably deploy and manage their disaggregated networks at scale.”
Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks for Red Hat is a fully engineered hardware and software solution available with Dell global services. The solution uses Dell servers, such as Dell PowerEdge XR8000 with Red Hat OpenShift and Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes, to simplify telecom cloud design, deployment and lifecycle management. Advancements include:
Support for 5G core workloads running at the edge, which builds on existing 5G core and RAN workload support, so CSPs can deploy a validated, consistent cloud platform from the core to the far edge of the network.
Integrations with the Dell Telecom Infrastructure Automation Suite, which provides an infrastructure management and orchestration framework to support multi-vendor environments.
Dell Technologies Certification on Infrastructure Blocks, to test and certify 5G Core, OSS, BSS and open RAN workloads for Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks in the Dell Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab. Certification confirms the software and workloads from various partners, beginning with 6D Technologies, Amdocs, Casa Systems, Expeto and MATRIXX Software, will be supported on Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks.
To deploy a telecom cloud across a multi-vendor network, Globe partnered with Dell, using Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks for Red Hat, to improve their deployment time, increase the efficiency of network operations, and provide faster validation of hardware and software compatibility. Dell collaborated with Amdocs in the Dell Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab, using Dell PowerEdge servers with Intel processors, to validate Amdocs Policy management software on Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks for Red Hat.
“We’re building an open, cloud-native network with multiple vendors, so we can deliver the best network experience for our customers,” said James Lim, vice president, core network planning, engineering and implementation, Globe. “Testing and integrating various vendors demand too much of our time and budget. That’s why we’re now partnering with Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks to do the validation and testing for us, so we can focus on how we can use our modern network to deliver services and benefits for our customers.”
I am a huge headphone fan as my readers know and the same for earbuds applies to but just how huge can headphones get? The Dyson Zone would easily be the biggest pair of cans to test to date with with a premium build quality to boot so I did not really mind testing these out in the wild looking like something from a Marvel series and of course had people talking, even at home when first showing family and friends they were all like WTF are they and rightly so as they are not the usual type of headphones people see me with nor are they a common site on the streets today.
We wont go along with the “our testers” approach on this review and show you exactly how they work and what they look like for context like all our reviews and in the video review we go into that even more of this and an in depth look at the app that comes with them which gives you stats galore and most importantly what the air you breathe is like which for some today is a vital part of their daily life.
In the unboxing you will get a first glance at what is involved here and setting up after that is not a huge deal either apart from the ten minute software update I had to endure before getting them into action, you will be asked to insert the filters and mask first though then sit back and wait before you can get going, you will be asked for location however you can set it to a desired location but this will be inaccurate if you are travelling around and what the air condition is like. I suffer sometimes with asthma so for me it is an ideal product to have at my disposal.
Out of the box they are a tad heavy and cumbersome which I do not mind but once on the head they give great passive noise isolation and are comfortable, even the mask up front did not get in the way but it is not something I would sport all day long being honest but respect the purpose of it and why it is there and that works by the way with the fans keeping you cool which has different speed levels too.
OK so the purpose of these is not just for music it is to keep you filtered away from pollution and this works really well I felt better just using them and tested these in several locations around Ireland as I was travelling and you can really feel how clean the air is you breathe so to speak and it is something you need to experince for yourself to get what I mean and you can be confident about cleaner air.
There is a notification setting on the app should your filters need to be replaced too which is hand and these are simple to replace by simply twisting off the headphone cap and swapping them out and can be bought within the app itself these should last some time by the way unless you are one to be out daily using them.
The Dyson Zone solution
The Dyson Zone headphones are engineered to tackle the dual challenges of city noise and air pollution. Powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries and USB-C charging, the headphones offer 50 hours of audio-only run-time, or 4 hours of combined purification and audio run-time, charging to 100% in 3 hours.
Filters
Fan
The Dyson Zone headphones are born of Dyson’s 30 years of expertise in airflow, filtration and motors technologies and deep understanding of indoor and outdoor air quality. The compressors in each ear cup draw air through the dual-layer filters and project two streams of purified air to the wearer’s nose and mouth, channeled through the non-contact detachable visor. Electrostatic filters capture 99% of particle pollution as small as 0.1 microns², whilst K-Carbon, potassium-enriched carbon filters target prevalent acidic gases most associated with city pollution, including NO₂ and SO₂.
The App
Next up is the sound department which I am happy to report is superb as you can see above there is an app with EQ settings and this allows you customise them to and extent I would have like to see more in here however anyone that I let try them out in the family and friends circle where as impressed as I was here with how these sounded and from a person that does the most headphone and earphone reviews in Ireland these stood out with the clarity of the audio given here which is great considering the price on them, they are up there with the best in the game when it comes to the audio and hopefully their app gets better over time with new features.
Highs lows and mids all great nice bass and decently loud volume which is how I like it, no lag latency no distortion when maxed out on volume either and simply just great not missing a beat nor instrumentals and background noise in films and so on you will be happy with the audio experience trust me.
Dyson Zone headphone controls – techbuzzireland
The controls are also great with a navi pad type option here which allows to to manage just about everything on them like skip and reverse tracks play and pause higher and lower the volume and access your voice assistant, you can also double tap the cup to change the noise cancelling effects and so on and this also worked well aside all the tech that is on the cup itself.
Overall then my conclusion is these will not be for everyone but this also should be kept in mind as the saying goes “do not knock it until you try it” as for the face visor it might put people off but it can be removed which then takes away the purpose of buying them as a whole they sound is fantastic and that is important as well as breathing in clean air on the go, they are a tad cumbersome but you can forgive it when you look a the package as a whole.
Features on sound·
Fly the world twice: The Dyson Zone™ noise-cancelling headphones provides users up to 50 hours¹ of ultra-low distortion audio, advanced noise cancellation and faithful, full-spectrum audio reproduction.
· Advanced noise cancelling: 11 microphones feature within the product. The ANC system uses eight to reduce the sound of the city up to 38 dB these microphones monitor surrounding sounds 384,000 times a second.
· Faithful, full-spectrum audio: The Dyson Zone™ goes beyond the audible to reproduce frequencies from 6Hz-21kHz, ensuring every note or word is heard.
· Ultra-low distortion: The speaker driver and electronics, mechanical system, materials, and acoustics have been carefully designed to minimise distortion. The driver output is further equalised by intelligent signal processing 48,000 times a second which combines with the noise cancellation to neutralise harmonic distortion to inaudible levels across the full frequency range (0.08% @ 94dB @1kHz).
· Scientifically tuned to hear more detail: A unique EQ setting optimises the frequency curve for clear, pure audio across the full audible frequency range.
· High-efficiency filtration to tackle pollution on-the-go: A detachable visor projects purified air to the wearer’s nose and mouth. Electrostatic filters capture 99% of particle pollution as small as 0.1 microns², whilst K-Carbon, potassium-enriched carbon filters target prevalent acidic gases most associated with city pollution.
· Immersive listening, engineered for comfort: Through testing on diverse head sizes and geometries the headphones achieve the same immersive, audio for all.
· Telephony: Dual microphone beamforming and noise suppression technology enable clear voice calls, voice recording and voice control.
Irish educational content provider Folens today announces that it has reduced its energy and water costs by 50% after leveraging technology and education to go green.
The Dublin-based company, founded in 1958, decided last year to commit to environmentally friendly practices across its operations and set a goal to achieve NetZero by 2029.
As part of its green investment, Folens recently installed a solar energy system and adopted a Solar-as-a-Service model. This has seen it reduce its electricity bills and its CO2 output by 11.58 tons since the installation in June. Going forward, the solar panels are expected to deliver a reduction of 39,000kg of CO2 emissions annually.
This new solar energy system forms part of the organisation’s wider Folens Go Green initiative which includes clear objectives across the three key pillars of energy, waste, and water reduction.
Over the past year, Folens has established a Green Team consisting of 17 members of staff and joined forces with Fifty Shades Greener (an environmental education provider) and Techies Go Green (a movement of IT and tech-oriented companies which are committed to decarbonising their businesses) to aid its sustainability journey.
It assessed its water consumption and implemented better water management practices, including reducing toilet water flow and replacing tap fittings, which has decreased its water usage by 50%.
Folens also introduced personal drinking bottles and mugs for employees, while installing organic and recyclable waste bins at every workstation. Along with performing an audit on and removing single-use plastic items from the office, it moved to eco-friendly products and suppliers.
Furthermore, it updated its air-conditioning system, replaced the building insulation, put controls on its water heating systems, and swapped in LED lighting which all lowered its electricity consumption. The company also switched to 100% renewable energy and heating suppliers. These efforts have lowered electricity consumption by 30%.
Outside of the office, Folens has moved half of its company car fleet to Electric Vehicles (EVs) and installed two EV charging points at its head office, which can also be connected to the new and more efficient solar energy system. Furthermore, it installed EV charging points in every EV driver’s home.
As well as delivering immediate benefits for the business and enabling it to meet compliance requirements, these efforts are helping to future-proof the content provider’s operations and drive staff engagement, with employees also receiving comprehensive Green Skills training.
Speaking about the initiative, Folens CEO Andrew Miller said: “We’re incredibly proud of the strides we’ve taken over the past year to be a more sustainable, responsible business. Of course, there’s still more to do but it’s all about driving change – be that through small actions or bigger initiatives.
“As long as organisations are taking one sustainable step at a time, we can collectively move towards a brighter future. That’s what’s great about communities like Techies Go Green. Through these, businesses can share knowledge and experiences, while also connecting with others who can support them on their green journey.
“But action remains crucial. People need to stop talking about the importance of being more sustainable or discussing the things that might prevent them from going green, and just do it. Certainly, it’s a challenge but challenges lead to change, often driving engagement, innovation and success along the way.”
