Tag: #kingspan

Kingspan launches PowerPanel solution allowing users to Insulate and Generate in a single product

High energy consuming businesses can reduce carbon emissions and cut energy costs with today’s launch of Kingspan’s latest PowerPanel™ renewable energy solution aimed at commercial and office buildings. PowerPanel provides operational efficiencies and is up to 74% lighter than traditional systems.

Kingspan PowerPanel is a new generation of roof solution, combining high-performance QuadCore insulation with efficient monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) technology in a single, factory-engineered panel, creating roofs that are quicker to install, and that work to power the building’s needs.

In Ireland, the Government committed to a target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050, and a reduction of 51% by 2030. The construction and building materials sectors have a key role to play in delivering these reductions given that the built environment contributes about 40% of global carbon emissions. PowerPanel™ meets Net Zero Energy building requirements and helps buildings to achieve an A+ energy rating.

PowerPanel is suitable for many existing roof structures without the need for additional structural works or aesthetic compromises. By combining its energy saving technology and lighter structure it is a perfect solution for commercial and office spaces looking for an efficient and effective renewable energy solution.

In 2019, Kingspan opened the doors to IKON, its new global innovation centre at its headquarters in Kingscourt, Co Cavan. PowerPanel is one of the first products developed at IKON and it is installed on its nearby manufacturing building to enhance its energy credentials, and is reflective of Kingspan’s commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability.

Gene Murtagh, Chief Executive at Kingspan said:

“The built environment is responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, and high-performance insulation is one of the most important ways to increase energy-efficiency in buildings. Radical changes in the materials the construction sector uses can play a significant part in helping to slow and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Through Kingspan’s Planet Passionate programme, we are putting knowledge and expertise to use through the creation of innovative, energy-saving products. Developing innovative new products like PowerPanel is all part of delivery on Kingspan’s mission to accelerate a net zero emissions future.”

Marci Bonham, Managing Director Kingspan Insulated Panels, Ireland said:

“For the commercial property sector to embrace renewable technologies, they need solutions that not only make sense from an environmental viewpoint, but ones that are viable and attractive from an economic and a business perspective too. The single unit nature of PowerPanel makes it an easy to install product, that takes less time. PowerPanel is a means to reduce carbon emissions of the built environment and help meet Government targets for office and commercial energy ratings. It is also putting its knowledge and expertise to use through the creation of innovative, energy-saving products.”

Kingspan’s funding solution ‘Rooftricity’ allows owners to install PowerPanel on their buildings with no upfront capital investment. The funding option offers building owners the opportunity to maximise roof space to generate power for their own use without any upfront capital outlay.

The push towards zero emission buildings is part of Kingspan’s Planet Passionate programme, an ambitious 10-year global sustainability strategy that aims to impact on three big global issues: climate change, circularity and protection of our natural world.  The insulation systems Kingspan sold during 2021 are projected to save 193 million tCO2e during their lifetime, and Powerpanel is another addition to this energy saving range.

For more information about the product, visit: https://www.kingspan.com/ie/en/products/insulated-panels/roof-panels/powerpanel-pitched/

Kingspan Group releases its second annual report for its 10-year sustainability programme

Kingspan Group, the global leader in advanced insulation and building solutions, has released its second annual report for its 10-year sustainability programme, Planet Passionate.

Highlights include a 4.3% reduction in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and a 29% reduction in carbon intensity year-on-year, against a background of 42% total revenue growth for the period.

For the second year running, the Group has made absolute reductions towards its 2030 net zero carbon manufacturing goal. This is underpinned by a verified SBTi target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90% by 2030, from a 2020 base year.

Achieving this will require the decarbonisation of Kingspan’s energy sources and processes across its existing 198 manufacturing sites (up from 166 in 2020), while supporting newly acquired businesses to decarbonise as quickly as possible.

To accelerate the Group’s decarbonisation strategy, the report has announced the introduction of an internal carbon charge of €70 per tonne of CO2e, which will be implemented throughout the business in 2023.

The 2021 Planet Passionate report illustrates the positive progress made to date against the majority of the programme’s 12 measurable targets in carbon, energy, water and circularity. Notable achievements include:

  • Energy: An increase in the direct use of renewable energy from 19.5% to 26.1%, and an increase in the percentage of wholly-owned facilities with solar PV from 21.7% to 28.4%. The Group also achieved a 15% reduction in energy intensity[4] year-on-year.
  • Carbon: An increase in the percentage of zero emissions company funded cars from 11% to 29%.
  • Circularity: A reduction in company waste to landfill of 13%, as well as 843 million PET bottles recycled into our processes.
  • Water: The Group announced its second ocean cleanup project: a partnership with cleantech startup SeabinTM, to deploy their unique technology first in Sydney Harbour followed by LA later in 2022. This follows a three-year partnership with the ECOALF Foundation which works with a network of 2,000 artisan fishermen to remove around 150 tonnes of marine debris each year from the Mediterranean.

In addition, Kingspan’s science-based targets were updated in 2021 and are now in line with a 1.5°C future. Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C means that the world must achieve a 45% reduction in global CO2 emissions versus 2010 levels by 2030.

While Kingspan did not make progress in 2021 against its target to halve the product CO2e intensity from its primary supply partners by 2030, the report highlights ongoing collaboration with suppliers to this end.

Moreover, during the year Kingspan invested in H2 Green Steel, a company pioneering new production methods for lower-impact steel manufacturing using green hydrogen. Use of lower-emissions steel could help Kingspan reduce the embodied carbon of its insulated panel products by up to 45%.

The report also presents the impact of Kingspan products sold during 2021. The built environment is responsible for roughly 39% of global carbon emissions[6], and high-performance insulation is one of the most important ways to increase energy-efficiency in buildings. The insulation systems Kingspan sold during 2021 are projected to save 193 million tCO2e during their lifetime. That’s equivalent to the emissions from 42 million passenger vehicles in a year.

In addition, Kingspan announced a new initiative called Planet Passionate Communities, a programme that will support people and communities around the world. The report unveils the programme’s flagship project: a five-year partnership with GOAL, the international humanitarian response agency, to support them in their transformative work in areas of most need.

Gene Murtagh, CEO of Kingspan Group, said: “The climate crisis, the pandemic, and now recent global events all serve to concentrate the mind on the need to build a more resilient and equitable world while ensuring energy security. Planet Passionate is our contribution to a future that uses resources efficiently, protects the natural world and delivers high-performance, energy-efficient products and solutions to our customers and global communities.”

Bianca Wong, Head of Sustainability of Kingspan Group, said: “Delivering a programme of this scale against a background of rapid business growth takes huge effort and determination and I would like to thank and commend the incredible efforts of our people across the world to achieve positive progress against the majority of our targets for the second year in a row.”

View the full version of Kingspan’s Planet Passionate Sustainability Report at:

https://viewer.ipaper.io/kingspan/pp-report-2022/planet-passionate-report-2021/

Kingspan Moves to the Cloud with 8×8 to Support Global Growth and Enhance Ability to Operate from Anywhere #Kingspan #AI #Cloud

8×8, a leading integrated cloud communications platform provider, today announced that Kingspan Water and Energy Limited, a division of leading insulation and building envelope solutions provider, Kingspan Group plc, has deployed 8×8 X Series to support their global growth and streamline the employee and customer experience.

Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Ireland, Kingspan has grown from a small family business to a global leader with more than 15,000 employees across over 70 countries. Growing predominantly through acquisitions, the company was challenged by having many disparate legacy on-premises telephony and contact centre systems in use across the organization.

With growing demand for a single voice, video, team chat and contact centre solution, Kingspan needed to retire legacy PBXs and contact centre solutions and bring everyone onto a new cloud communications platform to improve employee productivity and customer experience. There was  also a need to address significant gaps identified in its customer analytics and data. With multiple vendors and platforms used across the business and in different locations, having a single view of a customer had been an almost impossible task. In order to achieve this they required a single vendor to unite data spanning across their international offices, providing them with the insights needed to remain competitive in their market.

Working with their local technology partner Outsource, a leading solutions provider with vast experience in delivering solutions to mission critical business’, Kingspan selected the 8×8 Open Communications Platform for operate-from-anywhere enterprise communications, combining voice, team chat, meetings, and contact centre solutions fuelled by shared intelligent communications services like AI-driven expert routing and predictive analytics.

Starting in the UK, Kingspan will deploy 550 seats of 8×8 cloud communications and contact centre seats across six countries, with first line support provided by 8×8 and Outsource.

The solution will offer a single view of data and analytics across every interaction, boost employee and contact centre agent communication and collaboration, as well as improve customer insights. Scalability and extensibility of 8×8’s cloud technology means that Kingspan can roll out more services and reach more users across Kingspan’s international business, without the need for any infrastructure installation. With features like 8×8’s ready-to-use integrations and APIs also means that Kingspan can integrate its ERP and CRM systems with its communications platform effortlessly in due course.

“We’re moving toward a digital workplace and it’s proving a powerful enabler for our business as we continue to grow. Not only does it allow us to improve employee productivity, but access to more data allows us to improve business insights and meet ever-changing customer needs. Working with local contacts at Outsource, who had global experience and expertise, was critical in helping us identify the best solution to meet our needs. We’ve got a great relationship with both Outsource 8×8 that inspires confidence. They work hard, they’re responsive, and their solutions lead the field, based on our experience,” said Richard Gray, IT Manager – Operations at Kingspan Water and Energy.

“We are delighted to be working with Kingspan as they make their move to the cloud. 8×8 is committed to helping organisations improve employee productivity and customer experience as well enabling them to operate from anywhere, should they need to,” said Jamie Snaddon, Managing Director, EMEA at 8×8. “Withcloud communications now core to business operations, Kingspan has a future-proof communications strategy in place, increasing their business responsiveness, productivity and resilience. We look forward to working closely with Kingspan as they continue to scale their cloud communications operation across the globe”.