Tag: carbon

Jartoo – World’s First Carbon Nanotube Heated Blanket Review

A new kind of tech product has dropped in for review and it is the Jartoo Heated Blanket is a fusion of innovation, safety, and sustainability, designed for eco-conscious and tech-savvy consumers. It’s not just a heating solution—it’s a step toward smarter, healthier living.

What this offers users is much more than one might expect and even for me as I got a brief introduction to it but this Blanker offers far Infrared Heating, Promotes blood circulation, muscle relaxation, and overall wellness, with a 24V Low-Voltage System that eliminates electric shock risks, even with spills or pet damage.

It is also Eco-Friendly & Energy Efficient and Uses 60% less energy than traditional electric blankets and Machine Washable & Lightweight: Perfect for families and on-the-go use. All with Carbon Nanotube Technology and Delivers rapid, even heat without bulk or safety concerns.

The presentation is excellent and you get all you need in the box including cables a remote and a travel bag which is convenient, the remote has several controls on board and simple to pair up if not paired out of the box.

The blanket itself is luxurious so to speak with a soft feel all round, house in the blanket there is a button and charge port behind the zipper which is kept safe when not in use.

The button will change colour on your settings and this gets warm fairly fast from as little as 30 seconds so you will be warm in no time at all here.

Be it used as a blanket or snood you will feel relaxed and the soft material which is washable and the fabric is tough so this will last for many years use.

Not only all this but it saves you on your electricity bill which in Ireland is gone beyond a joke so this is an added bonus compared to other heated blankets on the market.

Check out the video review below for more and yes you see it in hand and me wearing it.

 

 

  • More Peace of Mind: The Jartoo nano heated blanket incorporates multiple advanced safety circuit protection technologies. Despite being powered by 120V-240V AC, it outputs only 24V—well below the 36V safety threshold, making it safer for both children and the elderly. Even in the event of localized damage, there is no risk of electric leakage, ensuring absolute safety protection.
  • More Energy-Efficient: Achieves far-infrared rapid heating in just 30s with a power consumption of only 70W—60% more energy-efficient than other heated throw blankets, saving approximately 1 kWh per day. Far-infrared technology delivers deeper, more soothing warmth for enhanced comfort and relaxation.
  • More Comfort without Wires: Ultra-soft nano heating material and 320gsm velvet fabric ensures the Jartoo electric throw blanket feels soft and perfectly conforms to your body, eliminating the stiffness and discomfort of wires. It is easy to carry, can be used on bed, sofa, office, and also great for outdoor traveling.
  • More Convenient to Clean: The innovative nano heating material, with a structural strength 100x that of steel, ensures exceptional durability. Unlike traditional heated shawl, it won’t get damaged during washing or drying, and even pets can hardly damage it. Clean and dry with confidence (recommended drying below 149°F).
  • More Practical: The portable electric blanket comes with a separate wireless remote to adjust 6 temperature levels (95°F-131°F) and 5 timer settings (2h intervals, up to 10h). You can also control the temperature directly using the buttons on the electric blanket.

Heated cushion for your pet review

BUY

Video

ABP Clones reduces carbon emissions by 80%

ABP, one of Europe’s leading food processors, has partnered with ESB to reduce carbon emissions at its Clones site by 80% with the installation of an innovative, state-of-the-art water heating system.

A reduction of 80% in carbon emissions equates to approximately 1,692 tons of CO2, which is the same as the emissions from 627,032 litres of diesel, or 268 homes oil usage for one year.

The heating system recycles the lost heat generated by refrigeration units, using it to heat the water used for cleaning, processing and hygiene on site. The result is that only a small amount of water needs to be heated using a smaller new and efficient gas boiler. The heating system principle is similar to the air to water heat pump system used in domestic homes; however, this system boosts waste heat instead of air.

The project forms part of ABP’s overall sustainability strategy and is part of an extensive decarbonisation plan that aims to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% from 2021 to 2030 across all ABP sites in Ireland, UK and Europe. This is a significant step in successfully reaching these targets which have been officially validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

ABP is continually adopting measures to reduce its carbon footprint and improve its sustainable approach. The company’s sustainability strategy is ‘’Doing More with Less’’, which is closely aligned to the UN Sustainable Goals. This strategy runs through every aspect of ABP’s supply chain, from farms to processing sites and the end consumer. The decoupling of resource usage and productivity being a key feature.

Kevin Cahill,  Managing Director, ABP Ireland & Poland said; ‘’This is a very exciting innovative project for ABP and an important step in our drive for greater sustainability. This is a pilot project at the Clones site, we are in the process of replicating it at another of our facilities. This will result in an enormous reduction in the carbon footprint and go a long way to achieving our carbon reduction targets as set out by the Science Based Targets initiative.’’

“This project is a significant milestone in our mission to support businesses in achieving their sustainability goals,” said Ciaran Gallagher, Head of Smart Energy Services at ESB. “By partnering with ABP, we will demonstrate the transformative impact of advanced heat pump technology on reducing carbon footprints and enhancing energy efficiency. Our collaboration underscores the critical role of innovative solutions in driving progress towards Net Zero targets. As leaders in smarter energy solutions, we look forward to continuing our work with ABP and other forward-thinking companies to replicate this success across more facilities, paving the way for a more sustainable industrial sector.”

ABP has a long track record in developing sustainability initiatives and environmentally friendly policies. The company is a founding member of the Plastics Action Alliance (PAA), improving sustainability in plastic packaging supply chains. ABP’s Plastics Policy ensures that all plastic packaging used by ABP must be designed to reduce environmental impact and maximises recyclability.

ABP has planted over 40,000 trees since 2020 and aims to reach a target of 100,000 trees planted by 2030. The company also has an extensive waste management strategy across all its locations, which saw it successfully reduce the amount of cardboard packaging it uses annually by 800 tonnes since 2021.

EcoVerify secures market leading position in carbon footprint and sustainability validation and verification

EcoVerify, a new entry to the market, has set the mark as Ireland’s leading provider of sustainability assurance and carbon footprint validation/verification and training services.  Delivering cutting-edge sustainability and business assurance services to invited clients and industry leaders, the company’s formal launch has taken place in Dublin.

EcoVerify specialises in validating and verifying greenhouse gas emissions, reductions, carbon neutrality and Net Zero claims. Its team combines expertise in regulatory compliance, market endorsement, and sustainability standards to support organisations on their journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Having traded since 2023, EcoVerify has developed a reputation for delivering high-quality, impartial validation/verification and training services that businesses can trust to meet their sustainability goals and avoid greenwashing.

Laura Mora, Managing Director, EcoVerify, said: “We are delighted to bring our service to the market in Ireland. We believe our timing is right as we will help organisations meet the growing demands of Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) compliance across Europe. Companies will come under increasing pressure to demonstrate their sustainability compliance in an evidence-based manner. “

“Furthermore, as ESG is coming under increasing scrutiny across the world, we will provide the market with impartiality, ensuring that businesses can trust the validation or verification of their sustainability claims with the utmost accuracy and transparency. We can help organisations counter any claim of greenwashing by confirming they have robust carbon mitigation processes in place based on the most recognised international standards.”

Managing Director, Laura Mora brings over fifteen years of expertise to her role, having previously worked with prominent organisations such as the United Nations, the World Bank Group and also having led ISO technical committees in the development of globally recognised environmental standards. As an Industrial Engineer with a master’s degree in project management, Laura’s specialised focus on climate change, sustainability, and the life cycle approach has earned her recognition as a leading figure in the field.

The senior management team of EcoVerify includes Manuel Gonzalez, and Carolina Vindas, recognised experts in matters that includes Carbon Footprint Management, Net Zero Pathways, Life Cycle Assessment and sustainability reporting. The have relocated from Costa Rica to join the company’s leadership ranks and participate in its future expansion in Ireland and overseas.

Together, this leadership trio exemplifies the expertise and commitment to sustainability that define EcoVerify. The team is equipped to guide businesses through the complexities of sustainability validation/verification, ensuring not just compliance but meaningful progress toward decarbonisation, adaptation, environmental and social stewardship.

EcoVerify’s immediate goal is to become Ireland’s first accredited validation/verification body with the Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA) that now is in the final stage. This milestone will further solidify EcoVerify’s standing as the premier provider of sustainability assurance, offering businesses unmatched expertise in validating/verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Net Zero pathways, and carbon neutrality claims.

Certa launches new lower carbon biofuel for home heating

Fuel supplier Certa has become the first Irish operator to launch a new lower carbon blended biofuel for the home heating market as it continues to pursue its strategy of delivering cleaner energy solutions for domestic customers.

The company, which is part of DCC plc, has said that its new fuel could enable each of the 700,000 Irish households who currently use liquid fuel heaters to lower their home heating carbon emissions by up to 20%. Ireland’s residential sector currently accounts for 10% of national emissions.

The newly launched biofuel comprises a 20%/80% blend of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), which is produced from waste plant matter, and kerosene. Householders can use this instead of home heating oil directly without any need to replace or modify their boilers.

The new lower carbon fuel will be rolled out across Certa’s national network of 23 home heating depots, starting this week with its depot in Tallaght which will supply customers in south and west Dublin and north county Kildare.

Kerosene is the most common fuel used in home heating systems in Ireland. Certa supplies almost 100,000 customers with 265 million litres of home heating fuel each year. The average household consumes between 1,000 and 2,000 litres of home heating fuel per annum.

The new product launch will be supported by a full marketing campaign across print, digital and out of home to promote and further encourage customers to switch to the new blended biofuel.

Orla Stevens, Managing Director, Certa Ireland said:

“Our goal at Certa is to make it easy for customers to transition to cleaner energy solutions that reduce their carbon footprint. We are leading the way in introducing solutions that are accessible and affordable. Switching to this lower carbon HVO-Kerosene fuel is easy. There is no requirement to upgrade your home heating boiler and it can be done with zero disruption to the household”.

“We are delighted to be the first fuel supplier in Ireland to launch a new lower-carbon fuel for home heating. We will empower our customers to make positive and impactful environmental changes in their own homes and to help Ireland achieve its longer-term ambition of net zero by 2050.”

The launch follows Certa’s success in attracting diesel drivers to switch to HVO to reduce their carbon emissions by up to 90%. Last year, it became the first fuel operator to open a fully-fledged HVO fuel station in Liffey Valley and has since become the first to offer HVO at 10 of its forecourts. One in five of Certa’s network of 49 unmanned, pay@pump forecourts now offers HVO alongside other fuels.

Certa’s commitment to making new cleaner energy solutions more accessible and affordable has also led to its acquisition of leading solar and renewable energy specialists Alternative Energy Ireland. AEI offers Ireland’s only cashback guarantee if the solar system does not perform as promised, providing customers with financial compensation for the amount of the loss concerned.

Certa has also helped a growing number of businesses and events to lower their emissions and to transition to HVO as a renewable fuel, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), John Sisk & Son Ltd., Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, The National Ploughing Championships, the Irish Open and Bloom.

The company is one of the first HVO suppliers in Ireland to be awarded International Sustainability Carbon Certification (ISCC) which provides full transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain. This certification enables Certa to create and assign Proof of Sustainability (POS) certification to the businesses that it supplies with HVO.

Keurig Dr Pepper Ireland Facility to Reduce its Carbon Emissions by 100%

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) today announced plans to invest €6.44 million ($7.16 million) in its beverage production International Operations hub based in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.  The company will electrify its heat through the installation of the latest technology in heat pumps and implement several energy savings initiatives.

Once construction is complete, the state-of-the-art beverage production facility will be powered with 100% renewable electricity and will minimise overall energy consumption. This will enable the facility to reduce approximately 1,600 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, contributing to KDP’s 2030 climate commitments to obtain 100% of electricity from renewable sources and reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 30%.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Peter Burke TD said, “The announcement today that Keurig Dr Pepper plans to invest €6.44 million in its Newbridge facility is exceptionally welcome news. The plans, including a state-of-the-art facility powered with 100% renewable electricity and reduced carbon emissions, are very much in line with the Climate Action Plan. Introducing these initiatives will help in meeting our targets and go towards protecting our environmental future, both locally and globally.”

Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary said, “It has been my pleasure to meet with David Lainchbury and the team at Keurig Dr Pepper in Newbridge and hear about their plans to invest over €6 million in their beverage production International Operations hub. I commend all efforts to reduce carbon emissions and the steps made towards a sustainable future for all. Thanks to Keurig Dr Pepper for both their continued investment in Ireland and championing investments in sustainability.”

Opened in 2022, the Newbridge facility is home to more than 100 employees that manufacture beverage concentrates for some of KDP’s biggest brands including Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, 7UP, Big Red and Sunkist. In 2023, the facility obtained ISO 14001 certification by adhering to the internationally recognised standard for environmental management.

“We are thrilled to make this green capital investment in our International Operations hub,” said David Lainchbury, Chief Procurement Officer & SVP of International Operations at KDP Ireland. “We recognise that we have a key role to play in this local community, and this investment helps us build economic and environmental resilience in Newbridge and beyond.”

IDA CEO Michael Lohan said, “Ireland is delighted to support Keurig Dr Pepper’s sustainable energy journey. This investment aligns with IDA Ireland’s goals and the Irish Government’s White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030, which prioritises decarbonisation. By removing all fossil fuel use at KDP Ireland’s Kildare site, this project will not only meet but exceed the carbon reduction targets in the National Climate Action Plan. I wish KDP Ireland every success with this groundbreaking initiative.”

Installation of the infrastructure upgrades will begin later in 2024 with a construction period of approximately one year.

PACE, Fexco’s carbon emissions calculator, expands services to Airport and Corporate Travel Sectors

PACE, Fexco’s sustainability data and analytics product suite, today launched PACE Data Services. This new product suite provides insights for the airport and corporate travel sectors to measure, manage and mitigate their emissions.

Built on PACE’s data platform, a global benchmark for the aviation industry, the service aligns with carbon reduction regulations by using live flight tracking data to monitor over 99% of commercial flights and analyse over 370,000 routes. PACE’s suite of data and analytics is already relied upon by most of the aviation finance sector and the largest financial institutions in the world, like JP Morgan and SMBC.

PACE Data Services will provide airports with a cohesive and precise view of their flight-related emissions. This data will be critical to enabling airports to better manage and mitigate their emissions. In fact, Heathrow’s most recent sustainability report for 2023 stated that 99% of its emissions came from Scope 3 emission reduction targets[1].

In the corporate travel sector, PACE’s data will enable more informed decision-making when it comes to both booking travel and providing more accurate reporting of corporate travel emissions. Recent research from Deloitte shows one in three companies is seeking guidance from travel management companies to reduce their carbon footprint.

In one use case alone, which would have a significant impact on decision-making for corporate travel management, PACE data reveals considerable variations in CO2 emissions per occupied seat—up to 50%—on the same popular transatlantic route across different aircraft. These differences are primarily due to factors such as aircraft seat configuration and aircraft type.

This new offering from PACE enables both these sectors to comply with evolving regulatory frameworks, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). These regulations require the provision of accurate, independently verified, and robust reports on their plans and progress in reducing emissions.

Since its launch in 2022, PACE has become the only Irish company to meet stringent independent aviation measurement standards, including the recent Pegasus Guidelines

“This new service builds on PACE’s rapid growth, driven by demand to address carbon emissions across the aviation value chain,” said Cathal Foley, CEO of PACE. “This will enable airports and corporate travellers to better understand how we fly better while continuing to support ambitious growth strategies. PACE’s vision is to be the global leader in the spaces we operate and deploy our data to enable meaningful change.”

“We are an island and so the aviation sector is a vital part of Ireland’s economy, both as a contributor and an enabler of economic growth. But aviation, like all sectors, will have to transition to a new low-carbon future. It is very exciting to see an Irish company positioned to help transform this sector by utilising its exceptional data and analytics to inform better conversations across the aviation value chain. Measurement is critical to understanding the real impact of carbon reduction measures and claims,” said Minister Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport. “Ireland has globally acknowledged aviation expertise, and it is fitting that a successful Irish multinational like Fexco is leading the way in meaningfully enabling the sector to make better decisions on its journey to net zero emissions.”

To find out more, visit the PACE website.

ConnectGreen launches new Biodiversity Credits and Carbon Offsetting Platform harnessing power of AI

Irish sustainability experts ConnectGreen (connectgreen.ie) has launched its innovative biodiversity and carbon offsetting platform, connecting farmers and landowners with companies who are looking for guaranteed, certified and verified biodiversity and carbon offsetting initiatives.

By leveraging the new EU carbon framework, ConnectGreen makes it possible for ordinary landowners, including farmers, to participate in the carbon and biodiversity credits global marketplace and maximise the financial benefits of carbon farming.

John Kelleher, CEO of ConnectGreen commented: “We are calling on farmers and landowners across Ireland to see the revenue potential in the evolving biodiversity credits and carbon offsetting sector. We come from a farming background ourselves and we understand the pressures that farmers are currently under.  With Ireland’s biodiversity plans that aim to rewild and rewet 20 percent of the country’s land, we are partnering with farmers and landowners helping them unlock the potential and opportunity of realising a dependable, long-term income stream from carbon and biodiversity assets on their own land”.

Kelleher added: “We are also highlighting to Irish-based companies the option of securing their biodiversity and carbon credits here in Ireland – why invest in projects in Africa or South America, when our platform offers a wide range of biodiversity and carbon offset initiatives available across Ireland.  Your customers and shareholders will appreciate your action in ensuring your ESG investments are helping to improve the environment right here at home rather than in a project half way round the globe”.

Cattle and sheep farmers Mike Cremins and his Uncle Pat Cremins who are fourth and fifth generation farmers from Meenganaire, Knocknagoshel, Co. Kerry, said: “We have been saying for years that someone has to pay farmers for the great work they do in managing the landscape, in particular, for farmers who own what could be termed poorer land in peatland and mountain areas like ourselves where economic viability is always difficult.  ConnectGreen’s platform with its biodiversity credits and carbon offsetting opportunities is a great way of compensating small farmers and landowners like ourselves for the work we do day in and day out in nurturing the Irish countryside”.

From the outset, ConnectGreen has focussed on providing an opportunity for companies and landowners to collaborate in carbon offsetting in a thoroughly verifiable and certified way, guaranteeing that a reliable and quantifiable level of offsetting is taking place.

Mr. Kelleher concluded: “That is the essence of our ‘triple-lock’: verified, certified and guaranteed.  We offer an unwavering commitment to authenticity and integrity, so every carbon credit purchased through our platform has been rigorously verified by our expert team.

“The carbon market is evolving rapidly and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this new movement in Ireland and across the EU.  ConnectGreen is already engaged with a number of biodiversity and carbon offsetting projects across Ireland, and we have ambitious targets to oversee deals that will facilitate the removal of 250k tons of carbon from the atmosphere by the end of 2024.”

Full details on how the ConnectGreen platform works can be found on the company’s website: ConnectGreen.ie.  The site also features tailored content for both landowners, including farmers, who are looking to maximise income from their holdings. ConnectGreen also offers a “Software as a Service” platform for companies looking to engage in carbon accounting including the monitoring, reporting and verification of biodiversity and carbon assets.

New study from Dell Technologies reveals that 56% of Irish businesses are using data to better understand their carbon impact

Statistics unveiled by Dell Technologies in advance of Earth Day 2023 reveal that Irish businesses are increasingly turning to technology-driven innovations to both gain insights into their organisation’s environmental impact and take action to reduce their carbon footprint.

According to the Innovation Index survey of 100 businesses in Ireland, 56% of organisations are using telemetry data to achieve greater visibility of their carbon impacts. 

Organisations across Ireland are also turning to emerging technologies to accelerate their journey to a net-zero future. The survey found that 64% are increasing efficiency by leveraging Edge, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to action data insights.

Amid high energy costs, a majority of Irish businesses are focused on reducing IT energy usage with 56% stating that they are taking steps to increase energy efficiency in the data centre and two-thirds reducing their overall IT carbon footprint.

Organisations are also now looking at more sustainable models of consumption as they advance sustainability. 46% are currently experimenting with how they consume technology by embracing as-a-Service models and on-demand IT services.

“At Dell Technologies, we believe that innovation should go hand-in-hand with environmental sustainability,” says Ronan Carey, Director, Dell Technologies Ireland. “Our latest survey reveals that it is a belief shared by businesses and organisations across Ireland. Many are now turning to technology to advance their ESG agenda and achieve their climate goals. By upgrading to Dell’s PowerEdge servers, for example, University College Cork has been able to reduce power usage by over 50% and greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 70%. From using data to monitor emissions to harnessing AI and the Edge to become more energy efficient, we’re seeing advancements in sustainable innovation. This Earth Day and every day, it’s important that we all work together to accelerate progress and put technology to work to protect our planet.”

Over a quarter of organisations in Ireland to be carbon neutral by 2030

Sidero, Ireland’s software, cloud and digital transformation specialist, today announces the results of a new survey which found that over a quarter of organisations in Ireland (27%) have set targets to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The survey of 111 IT decision-makers* across the island of Ireland revealed that environmental considerations play a significant role in business decisions for 44% of respondents, while a third said the same about purchasing decisions. Some 35% of those surveyed have made changes to their supply chain to become a more sustainable organisation.

However, the research found that a significant proportion (19%) of tech leaders do not view sustainability as a priority right now, with 14% saying the road to sustainability is too costly. And, while sustainability is playing an increasing role in business decisions, a significant 42% of those surveyed admitted that they are yet to measure their business’s carbon emissions. An additional 10% have measured their business’s environmental footprint, but haven’t acted on it.

The survey also provided insights into how technology is being viewed as an enabler of more sustainable business practices. Almost a third (31%) of those surveyed will begin, or increase, their usage of sustainable technologies in the next 12 months. These include technologies that are more energy efficient, reduce harmful emissions, or streamline business processes to decrease their strain on resources.

The findings are part of Sidero’s new report Head above the Clouds. Increasingly, organisations are using the cloud as a means to reduce the carbon footprint of their IT strategy. Sidero’s research found that, in the next 12 months, Irish enterprises intend to invest an average of €883,000 in cloud and digital technologies and the majority (80%) expect their business to move more applications or workloads to the cloud. Organisations also plan to begin or increase their usage of digital transformation (67%), automation (47%), cloud native applications (46%), AI (31%), and machine learning (26%).

Despite the mass movement towards the cloud, almost a fifth (19%) of organisations say their cloud strategy is outdated or limiting their business. Nearly half (48%) of IT leaders believe their digital transformation strategy is just adequate or a work in progress, while only 18% feel their organisation’s strategy is enabling business success.

Carmel Owens, CEO, Sidero: “Sustainability is a business imperative. Organisations are facing increasing calls to examine their environmental impact; not only from government and other industry stakeholders, but from their own customers and employees. It’s encouraging to see that a growing number of businesses in Ireland are taking this call seriously by setting carbon neutrality goals and leading by example. However, with a significant one-in-five IT leaders saying sustainability is not a priority for them right now, businesses must work to ensure they have buy-in (and budgets) across the board to ensure success.

“The necessity to become more sustainable comes at a time when businesses are pushing to become increasingly digitalised. These goals do not need to be mutually exclusive and our research shows that technology can support sustainability targets. Cloud, in particular, is now being used by organisations to reduce their emissions as it provides them with greater efficiency than alternative on-site solutions. In addition, it is enabling businesses to quickly scale up and down their operations, expand virtually into new markets and innovate at speed. Given these benefits, there is no doubt that the future of work is in the cloud, and the businesses embracing this will be the ones to succeed in the digital and hybrid workplace.”