Tag: #gamma

Gamma visualises Census data to show sustainability trends across Ireland

Gamma, a leading location intelligence technology company in Ireland, has visualised Census data to show sustainability trends across Ireland.  

Overall, the 2022 Census showed that the proportion of homes with oil-fired central heating is lower than in 2011, now standing at 39%. However, this fluctuates greatly depending on the location, with the highest rate of oil-fired central heating found in Monaghan (75%) and Cavan (69%). At the other end of the spectrum, just 4% of households in Dublin City rely on oil-fired central heating. 

The county-to-county variation in the use of natural gas is even more noticeable as only 1% of households in Donegal and Wexford, and 2% of households in Longford, Kerry and Leitrim use natural gas for their central heating. Meanwhile, more than 60% of households in Dublin are reliant on same.  

Solid fuels (such as coal, peat and wood) are less popular across the country as a whole but in Offaly, 35% of households use solid fuel for their home heating. This was largely dominated by peat and turf (27%). When it comes to having a renewable energy source, just over a quarter (25.8%) of households in Ireland have one, with more than half of those using wood or biomass.   

Solar water heating panels were revealed to be the most prevalent form, with 5.2% of properties having same. Meanwhile, 3.9% of households have a heat pump (either air or ground source) and 1.9% households have solar electric panels installed.  

Looking at the take-up of renewable energy in individual towns, Craughwell in Galway and Dunshaughlin in Meath have the highest proportion of households with solar electric panels, with almost one in four houses (23%) in those towns having solar electric panels.  

According to newly released data from the SEAI, the towns (with over 500 population) that have the most solar potential are all in the Southeast of the country, with the Wexford towns of Tagoat, Rosslare Harbour, Bridgetown, Rosslare and Fethard making up the top five. When cross-referenced with the Census data, only Rosslare Harbour (9.5% with solar electric) and Rosslare (2.3%) exceed the national average of 1.9% of households with solar electric panels. 

Richard Cantwell, Lead Consultant for Gamma Location Labs, said: “The Census figures suggest that the rate at which we, as a nation, are moving towards more sustainable living and carbon neutrality is slow. Of course, there are other factors likely to be impacting this, including the affordability of and accessibility to renewable energy systems and resources. 

“However, on a more positive note, it’s clear from the SEAI data that there is great potential in certain areas. For instance, with solar electric panels, there is a lot of room for expansion in those areas best poised to take advantage of solar energy in Ireland. 

“It is also promising to see that we are improving from an environmental perspective and – perhaps due to the cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic which also brought about widespread remote working – people appear to be more conscious than before of their energy consumption, behaviours and choices.” 

On the topic of working from home, the 2022 Census revealed a big increase in the proportion of workers who now work mainly or entirely from home, with this total more than doubling from 4.8% in 2016 to 11.3% in 2022. Almost a third (32%) of all workers said they work from home at times.  

Among those who do still commute to work, school or college, proportionately fewer people are now travelling by private car or motorcycle – 58% in 2022 compared to 61% in 2011. Students aged 13 to 18 are the only subgroup not to have reduced reliance on private vehicles as 43% of this group are travelling by private vehicle (the same proportion as in 2016 and 2% higher than in 2011). 

Considering all commutes to work, school or college, the average car driver is now accompanied by slightly more passengers than before, meaning there are 1.55 people travelling per car on the road – compared to 1.45 people per car in 2011.  

Richard Cantwell commented: “As with home upgrades, the data indicates that people are making small changes to their daily lives which will benefit the environment. However, as is the case with both individuals and businesses, more action and supports are required to ensure that we are moving towards our Climate Action Plan 2023 targets and becoming more sustainable.” 

Michael Hanratty, CEO of BERWOW, and an expert on home energy and retrofit, “The approach needs to be twofold. Firstly, consumers need to know and understand the BER rating of their home and be able to easily access information on the energy retrofit options for their properties, including the cost-saving and environmental benefits. Our free online tool BERWOW, can support this insight.   

“Secondly, companies can now use multiple new data sources to build sustainability and net zero carbon into their business strategies, thereby improving their offerings and services for customers. With collective education and action involving both individuals and organisations, we can all become more aware of climate change and how to reduce its increasing impact on daily lives around the world.”   

Gamma and AXA enabling homeowners to go green with new sustainability offering

Gamma, the Irish technology company, has recently announced that it has signed a contract with AXA, one of Ireland’s leading insurance companies, to support AXA’s new Go Green web platform.

The platform is designed to help homeowners in the Republic of Ireland to create a more sustainable and comfortable home, reduce their carbon footprint and save on energy bills. It offers a wealth of information for home improvements and helps streamline the research process for homeowners, saving them time and hassle.

Together, AXA and Gamma have enhanced Gamma’s existing BERWOW platform to provide a seamless and visually consistent user experience. The platform generates tailored retrofit suggestions based on an individual property’s energy rating and physical characteristics.

Homeowners can effortlessly access energy retrofit recommendations using their own BER information by entering their Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN), or by selecting their house type from over 50 classifications. The web-based tool aims to educate homeowners about the financial and comfort benefits associated with retrofit investment.

In addition to the collaboration with AXA, Gamma also has successful partnerships with SSE Airtricity and An Post in place. Over the coming years, the company aims to further grow its customer base and expand into international markets.

Feargal O’Neill, CEO, Gamma, said: “We are thrilled to join forces with AXA and bring our BERWOW technology to their customers. This collaboration is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in developing an innovative solution that is already enabling homeowners across Ireland to identify, plan and carry out retrofit projects.”

“As we continue to expand our reach, we remain committed to helping homeowners make informed decisions on energy efficiency upgrades, ultimately contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.”

Michael Hanratty, BERWOW CEO, said: “Our goal is to create a one-stop retrofitting shop for the Irish homeowner and transform the industry. In order to do this, we have to work with leaders and the fact that companies of AXA’s calibre are associated with our technology is a great endorsement.”

Ben Deans, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at AXA in Ireland, added, “Our aim is to provide our customers with protection and peace of mind. That’s where Go Green comes in – it will help future proof customer homes, reduce reliance on electricity and gas and save on energy bills. This new offering supported by Gamma aligns with our strategic focus to ‘protect more of what matters’ and adds to a host of existing initiatives focused on sustainability and climate action.”

Gamma maps out Census data to show property patterns across Ireland

Gamma, a leading location intelligence technology company in Ireland and the UK, has mapped out the 2022 Census data which shows an increase in the number of households – this has gone up by almost 140,000 – and reveals a shift regarding the number of homes being owned outright. 

In fact, the number of homes owned outright now stands at 37% – which equates to 679,718 in total and is 112,949 properties more than in 2011. In comparison, in 2011, there were more households that were owned with a mortgage than owned outright. This has been reversed over the last decade with the number of households being owned with a mortgage falling by 51,941.  

Looking at the rental sector, there are an additional 48,457 households recorded as rentals in the 2022 Census compared to 2016. Meanwhile, there are an additional 63,373 households which are owner occupied.  

Rented properties are slowly increasing their share of the overall property market in every county in Ireland, with the exception of Kildare and Wicklow. This is particularly evident in Dublin City, where 9 of every 10 additional households in the area are rentals.  

The number of households who rented their accommodation from a private landlord rose by 7%, or 20,904 properties, to 330,632 between 2016 and 2022. There were an additional 10,014 households renting from a Local Authority, which is fewer than the 13,115 additional households renting from a voluntary body. 

In terms of the biggest increase in the number of households at a county level, Meath saw the largest percentage increase (13.6%). The other counties which saw increases of over 10% are all in and around Dublin, with Kildare showing a 12.5% increase, followed by Fingal at 11.4% and Wicklow with 10.3% more households in 2022 compared to 2016. 

Richard Cantwell, Lead Consultant for Gamma Location Labs, commented: “It’s positive to see such a large proportion owning their properties outright. With the current housing situation, it is perhaps unsurprising that fewer households are owned with a mortgage and highlights the need for more supply. It could also explain why people’s behaviours are changing in terms of property type and size.”  

In almost every county, detached houses are the most common property type. The exceptions are Galway City and most of Dublin where semi-detached houses dominate, as well as Dublin City and Cork City where terraces are most common. In that vein, the number of permanent private households has increased from 1,697,665 in 2016 to 1,836,728, an increase of 8.2%, which is slightly higher than overall population growth.

Last year’s Census also highlighted a jump in households in purpose-built apartments, having grown from 5.5% of all household types to 10.4% between 2002 and 2022. Despite this doubling, the proportion of Irish households that live in flats or apartments is far below the European average of 46%. Meanwhile, the bedsit as an accommodation type is falling out of favour. Compared to 2016 when there were 3,266 private households living in bedsits, the total now stands at 1,659.  

The 2022 Census was the first time people were asked about the number of bedrooms in their home, with the results finding that three bedrooms is the most common (35.7%), followed by four bedrooms (25.7%) and then two bedrooms (15.9%). One-bedroom households accounted for just 5.5% of households, while 7.8% have five or more bedrooms. The Census also showed that there are 565 palatial mansions with 10 or more bedrooms across the country – somewhat surprisingly, there are more of these in Galway City (57) than in Dublin City (55). 

Understandably, the Dublin City Council area has the highest proportion of one and two-bedroom houses in the country, with 43% of properties falling into this category. In rural counties in the west, this figure is much smaller, with Galway County having the smallest proportion of one and two-bedroom properties (13.1%).

This trend is also reflected in the figures relating to properties with five or more bedrooms, with the same two areas (Dublin City and Galway County) at the opposite end of the scale. Just 2.7% of properties in Dublin City have five or more bedrooms. In Cork City that figure is 5.7%. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown tops the list of urban counties with 9.1% of properties there having five or more bedrooms – significantly more than South Dublin (4.1%) and Fingal (5.6%).

As well as changing property trends, the Census also showed significant shifts in the age profile of the populace, which has been tracking upwards for some time. Some 15% of the population are now aged over 65, compared to 13.4% in 2016 and 11.7% in 2011. These shifts are further reflected in the 1.4-year increase to the average age across the country, which now stands at 38.8 (up from 37.4 in 2016).  

Since the last Census in 2016, the population of Ireland has increased by 387,274 (or 7.5%) to 5,149,139. This is the highest population in the 26 counties of Ireland since 1841, when it was 6,528,799.  

Commenting on this, Richard Cantwell said: “We can see from the Census results that Ireland’s population is continuing to mature and grow, and it’s very interesting to see the variations in housing types and ownership across the country in the context of these demographics. For example, the maturing population could be the driver of more outright home ownership in certain areas, while increasing population is impacting on the rental market in others”. 

GAMMA Jacket Brings All-Climate Graphene Technology to Clothing

In Ireland, there’s no such thing as the right jacket. Whatever the weather presenter says, you know the weather is guaranteed to take a turn.

If you leave home with a windbreaker, it will rain. If you bring a raincoat, the sun will shine. 

Now, there’s a jacket to fix our weather woes. It’s called GAMMA, and it’s a graphene jacket that can tackle any weather and keep you warm or cool in any climate. 

Graphene is one of the most advanced materials on Earth. It’s a powerful insulator, and it’s waterproof, windproof, UV-proof, antimicrobial and a whole lot more. With Graphene’s help, GAMMA can do much more than a normal jacket. In fact, it may be the only jacket you need for the rest of your life. 

Below, I’ll tell you a bit more about graphene and the properties it brings to the GAMMA jacket. You can also see GAMMA in action here. If you pre-order in the next couple of weeks, you’ll save over 40% on your GAMMA jacket. 

Let’s dig into this next-gen jacket. 

What is Graphene?



Before we jump into everything that GAMMA can do, we should take a minute to talk about graphene. Graphene is the material behind all of GAMMA’s superpowers. 

If you haven’t heard of it, you’re not alone. Graphene was just discovered in 2004. It was such a huge breakthrough that it won its discoverers a Nobel Prize.

Graphene is a nano-particle made of latticed carbon, so it’s completely natural and safe. It’s made of the same stuff we are. It’s just a lot stronger.  

In fact, graphene is the strongest, thinnest and most flexible material on Earth. It’s both an excellent conductor and insulator, and it’s got a long list of impressive properties, such as being impermeable to liquid and gas, antimicrobial, UV-proof, hypoallergenic and a lot more. 

Scientists hope to use graphene in everything from spaceships to solar panels. Recently, they’ve started adding it to fabric to produce indestructible clothes that can keep you comfortable in any climate.  

GAMMA is Graphene-Infused Clothing


When graphene is added to clothing, it brings all of its abilities to your wardrobe. It makes clothing so strong that it lasts for life but also reduces its weight. It makes everything you wear waterproof, odour-proof and temperature-regulated.

GAMMA is one of the first graphene jackets ever made, and it showcases just what graphene can do for clothing. GAMMA is an all-climate jacket that lasts for life. Here are some of its most interesting features:

 

  • Graphene insulation: Graphene insulates like a second skin. It absorbs your body heat and distributes it equally throughout the jacket, keeping your entire upper body warm. In hot weather, it expels excess heat and maintains a cool surface. 
  • Waterproof: GAMMA is completely waterproof. It will keep you dry no matter how rainy the weather gets. It also comes with a hood, rain hem and drawstrings for especially dreary days. 
  • Windproof: Graphene is so impermeable that not even gas can pass through it. It will protect you from the chill of the wind better than any windbreaker. 
  • UV-Proof: If you’re Irish, you have sensitive skin! GAMMA will keep UV rays away, unlike other light jackets that don’t prevent skin irritation and burns. 
  • Moisture-wicking: Graphene won’t let liquid in the jacket, but it will absorb moisture from within and release it on the exterior of the jacket. This prevents you from overheating or feeling sticky when you’re hiking or running. 
  • Antimicrobial: GAMMA is like a shield against germs of all kinds. Graphene kills bacteria, mould, fungus, viruses and more on contact. 
  • Odour-proof: Because GAMMA is antimicrobial, it will never develop odours. You can wear it on your morning jog and then wear it to work—your jacket will smell like new with or without a wash (though it is machine-washable).
  • Hypoallergenic: Keep allergens away with GAMMA. Graphene won’t allow allergens to get close to you or to attach themselves to your jacket for a free ride to your home. 
  • Insect repellent: Graphene makes you invisible to bugs by blocking insects’ ability to sense your skin. GAMMA will keep annoying insects like mosquitoes away without the need for chemical sprays.
  • Indestructible: Graphene is stronger than diamond, which makes GAMMA practically indestructible. It’s so strong that it can stop a knife. 

All of these features make GAMMA a jacket that you can wear for any type of activity, anywhere on Earth. But it’s especially beneficial in wet and windy countries like ours. 

With GAMMA, you won’t need to scratch your head in the morning trying to decide whether to wear a light jacket, a raincoat, a windbreaker or a heavy coat. GAMMA is all of these jackets wrapped into one.

Carbon Fiber Heaters

Graphene isn’t the only thing GAMMA has going for it. It also has added carbon fibre heating elements to keep you warm in sub-freezing temperatures. 

Graphene is an amazing insulator, but it relies on your body heat. That’s not enough to keep you warm when it gets really cold. When you turn GAMMA’s heaters on, graphene takes that heat and distributes it evenly across your body to keep you toasty in the coldest places. 

There are three heat settings to choose from. GAMMA can heat up to 50˚C in less than 30 seconds, and it’s able to keep you warm in temperatures as low as -30˚C despite weighing just 500 g. 

The heaters are safe and contain no electrical parts. To use them, you need to plug a power bank into one of the jacket pockets. Then, you turn them on by pushing a button on the jacket interior.



Activewear at Heart 

GAMMA can do so much, but at heart, it’s a soft shell activewear jacket. The look is quite sleek and stylish, so I can imagine wearing it out or to work (if you work in a business-casual office). 

But I think it would be most at home while hiking, skiing, boating,  jogging or doing other sporty activities. 

The moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating properties make it easy to train harder. You’ll also be able to train in very cold weather without having to wear lots of layers.



Ideal for Travellers

Frequent travellers and backpackers will get a lot of use from GAMMA. It’s the ideal jacket to bring on a trip, as it can keep you comfortable in any climate. It’s also lightweight and packs down to the size of a t-shirt. 

You won’t need to stuff multiple jackets in your suitcase just to keep protected from the elements.

GAMMA also has loads of pockets—10 in total. Two of the pockets are hidden. For a traveller, this means more room to stash your documents, money, snacks and electronics while on the go. And, GAMMA will protect everything you put in its pockets from rain, sun and cold. 


Try Graphene Clothing with GAMMA Now

Wouldn’t it be nice to put on just one jacket every day and know that you’re ready for any weather? That’s not something I ever thought was possible in Ireland! 

With GAMMA, you’re guaranteed to be comfortable all day long no matter what the weather has in store. And you can wear it anywhere else in the world and expect the same level of comfort. 

Graphene clothing is brand new, and it’s not very affordable. But, if you pre-order GAMMA, you can get a jacket for over 40% off the retail price. That’s quite a deal for a jacket that will last you a lifetime. 

There’s not much time left to pre-order, so click the link above and get your GAMMA jacket soon. Or, you can visit weargraphene.com to learn more.