Earlier today, McKeon Group CEO Tomás Mac Eoin joined a panel of leaders within the facilities management sector to discuss the Future of the Workplace Post Covid-19. The discussion was hosted by Bernard Mac Oscair and Portobello Institute. 

 

The Institute has thoughtfully put together an ebook summarising some of the many insights exchanged between the expert panel, which also included Joan Mulvihill, Digitalisation Lead for Siemens in Ireland and Áine Mulcahy, Managing Director for OCS Ireland and Aviation UK. This ebook is available for download here: https://mckeon.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/The-Future-of-the-Workplace-Post-Covid-19-Post-Webinar-eBook.pdf

 

 

Highlights include a number of future-looking, insightful quotes from the panelists, as follows:

 

Bernard Mac Oscair 

“It’s really important for the facilities management industry that we start looking at what our options are as we go forward. What does that really mean in terms of contracts, in terms of technology and in terms of real delivery of service on the ground?”

 

Joan Mulvihill 

“The future comes down to the core of what the business does. One of the things that struck me over the last while is the role of facilities management in the context of organizations and their prominence now in businesses. I joked last year that we used to make funny little sitcoms about the IT crowd as the people who sat in the basement. It’s funny now that they are the most important people in the room. And it struck me that the facilities guy was the one they didn’t even make sitcoms about. They were subterranean to the IT crowd and now they’re the most important people in the room.”

 

Áine Mulcahy 

“A blended workplace is the most talked about work model of the past number of months. For many companies, the jury is still out on whether to adopt a hybrid work environment or keep the traditional five-day, on-site workweek. Employers cannot afford to stick with the status quo and we must now reimagine our working environment.”

 

Tomás Mac Eoin 

“Today, individuals have more options available to them around where and when they do their work, at Hereworks our role is in designing and integrating future workplace technology to facilitate this flexibility for the people who use the buildings, the building managers and the buildings greater community. We have been working with some of the largest companies in the world to integrate intelligent technologies in order to create a truly agile workplace, putting employee wellbeing front and centre. By applying new technologies and machine learning we have an opportunity to improve space utilisation, transform a buildings energy dynamics, introduce predictive control, automate fault diagnosis and change the role of facilities managers in buildings that are constantly adapting to the needs of their occupants.”

 

Tomás also discussed some of the exciting work currently being undertaken by the team at Hereworks, part of the McKeon Group, and particularly the emerging role of Master Systems Integrator:

 

“The big trend in technology we’re seeing from customers is for the Master Systems Integrator service. Companies have all this data in their buildings and the systems are all working perfectly, but independent of each other. Whether it be a room booking system or  space analytics system, they’re not talking to each other in a common environment so the company isn’t harnessing all that information. People who have our technology realize they can see the insights into it and obviously the people who don’t have the technology are looking to add it to new buildings or existing buildings…” Learn more at https://hereworks.ie 

 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

 

Digital Transformation in Construction: Bringing all the team along

 

2020 was a big year for the McKeon Group team as we celebrated 70 years in business https://mckeon.ie/mckeon-group-celebrates-70-years-in-the-industry/. Originally established by Tom McKeon back in 1950, McKeon Construction started life as one man and his van. From making bricks to crafting his own hand tools, Tom was an innovator whose work ethic and values are reflected in the company he founded, seven decades on. 

Over the past 70 years, McKeon Group has grown into a third generation, multi-million euro construction contractor in the education, residential and commercial sectors.  In 2011, the mechanical division was founded and McKeon Group was formed. By that time, McKeon Construction had already developed a technology and electrical division and was well positioned to extend the services available to clients, with a focus on innovation. In fact, last year McKeon Group was approved as a registered training provider with Engineers Ireland, offering an exciting and thought-provoking CPD ‘Innovate Together’ to clients and colleagues across the construction industry. You can find more information about this CPD offering here: https://mckeon.ie/new-cpd-innovate-together/ 

 

The early adoption of emerging technologies for the industry has played a huge role in the successful scaling of the business. Speaking to construction technology provider Pipedrive recently, Sales & Marketing Director Paul McKenna explained “Our USP is the completion of complex projects in live environments. With that end-to-end technical skillset of a construction division, mechanical services, electrical services, there’s a minor works team, and the technology division is a separate company now called Hereworks—automation, smart buildings and more”.

 

Of course, digital transformation in any industry is about so much more than technology – its ultimate success always comes down to people. The most important asset of our business is the people, many of whom have been with us for decades. As the construction industry finds itself in the midst of a digital transformation (or revolution?) that has been massively accelerated as a result of Covid-19, the McKeon Group team is driving this transformation. With newly-qualified graduates working on projects alongside more established team members, we know first-hand the importance of being a progressive workplace that fosters a culture of shared learning and cooperation.

 

Culture is central to successful transformation

A digitally-focused company empowers the team to deliver faster and attracts the right talent from multiple disciplines. A truly successful digital culture, however, requires a workplace where everybody is open to innovation (even if they don’t agree on the methodologies!) and is ready to embrace the future. 70 years on and though much has changed for McKeon, the fundamentals remain true – a company is only as good as its people. A study by the Boston Consulting Group found that of 40 digital transformations, companies that focussed on a culture of collaboration were five times more successful than those that focused on other priorities. Integrating a new generation of talent is therefore vital to the long-term success of a forward-looking organisation.

 

Embracing Change

Central to the embracing of changing digital culture is demonstrating the value of new technology that can potentially transform how projects are undertaken. For example, data is already being used in construction to identify behaviour patterns amongst building teams to pinpoint pain points and possibly automate repetitive tasks. This sort of information requires interdisciplinary collaboration from the ground level up to gather machine-readable information and then convey the findings back to relevant teams. By allowing people with differing perspectives and differing levels of experience to collaborate on specific projects from the ground level up, entire companies learn to work together and embrace the benefits of transformation. Similarly, virtual and augmented reality is another exciting area of change  for construction managers and site teams, who can observe projects remotely or visualize project changes on the fly. Immersive technologies for the built environment came into their own over the pandemic and they are crucial to the future of construction, however, its adoption on site depends entirely on a digital culture being fully embraced by everyone in the team.

 

A culture of learning

While the construction industry has historically had a less-than-stellar reputation for the uptake of digitalization, in the post-covid landscape the time is now right for integrating technology at a deep company level. We know from experience over the past number of decades that innovation is achieved through a collaborative attitude, with shared learning at its heart. Therefore, all team members have a vital role to play in digital transformation as they are in a position to identify gaps in digital skills and identify opportunities for new and established employees to work together. In our experience, age or the number of years in the industry is not an accurate indicator of a person’s openness to new technologies, this invariably comes back to an individual having a growth mindset. Fortunately, a growth mindset is one of the characteristics we value most when recruiting new people to join our team!

 Team-led collaboration encourages knowledge sharing in the workplace and builds confidence in trialling emerging technologies to a greater extent than management-led dictats. But a culture of learning isn’t simply something that is undertaken for a while and then overlooked. We understand that success and team satisfaction ultimately depends on a workplace encouraging the continuous sharing of ideas and knowledge from all team members.

 

Bringing the whole team along

The most important thing is to not leave anyone behind. While the future is most certainly digital, the established ways of doing things are still something that the next generation can learn from and integrate into a workplace culture going forward. Over the last 15 months, we have found that remote gatherings of employees can be a great way to encourage this workplace culture of collaboration and connectivity. By having all team members come together and share ideas everyone gets to share perspectives and feel comfortable learning from each other. The one positive side effect of such an unprecedented crisis as that faced by the entire industry since March 2020, is that it calls for unprecedented solutions. Not all teams are comfortable with this, whereas at McKeon Group, innovation is in our DNA – quite literally.

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

 

Following on from our previously published article on ‘Understanding the role of building ventilation in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in 2021’, which can be accessed here https://mckeon.ie/understanding-the-role-of-building-ventilation-in-curbing-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-2021/, this week – as workplaces prepare for the return of staff and customers – we are exploring the role of HVAC systems and how these are evolving to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

As mechanical and electrical specialists, when approaching HVAC installations or upgrades, the first step is always to understand the overall needs of the clients and the specific needs of the building, with consideration to the existing infrastructure, building and control systems. There is no ‘one size fits all solution’, rather, our team develops a custom-designed solution that meets clients demands in terms of optimising operational and energy efficiency, and increasing user comfort. Going forward, greater control over plant and equipment is likely to be prioritised by the building operators, together with an enhanced, integrated user interface.

There are a number of HVAC measures that have been proven to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, according to industry resource website https://www.facilitiesnet.com/hvac/article/3-HVAC-Measures-To-Fight-COVID-19–19283, including:

  

1) HEPA filtration: High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can remove more than 99.9 percent of particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or greater, including pollen, dust, some bacteria and some viruses. The coronavirus has a diameter of about 0.1 microns, however, as the virus typically attaches to exhaled water droplets that are 5 microns or larger, they can be trapped by a HEPA filter. 

2) Outdoor-air ventilation rates: HVAC systems have evolved to operate with a minimum of outside air. Increased levels of outdoor air will dilute contaminants inside, including COVID-19, however, this increases heating and air conditioning costs as the system must raise or lower the temperature of outside air to the temperature of the conditioned space. According to the previously mentioned article, higher rates of outdoor-air ventilation might not help much in the fight against the coronavirus, “but higher ventilation rates coupled with other good practices can curtail the spread of the virus from one area in a building to another area served by the same system”.

3) Humidity levels: Research has now shown that the virus remains airborne longer and can travel farther in dryer conditions, therefore relative humidity of 40-60 percent might help limit the spread of the coronavirus. The article cautions that not all HVAC systems can maintain these high humidity levels year round so the operation of the systems and spaces should be monitored for signs of condensation and/or mold.

 

The above measures prioritise minimising the spread of Covid-19, which can – temporarily – run contrary to energy efficiency and best practice. For more about this, please see McKeon Group insights on ‘COVID-19 Preventative Measures vs. Energy Conservation in Office Buildings’ https://mckeon.ie/covid-19-preventative-measures-vs-energy-conservation-in-office-buildings/ . For expert advice, contact the team at www.mckeon.ie.

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

McKeon Group is proud to be working on the iconic NCAD campus in Dublin 8. 

 

The National College of Art and Design is Ireland’s leading institution offering art and design education, at undergraduate and postgraduate level. While the origins of the College date back to 1746, the Department of Education in the new Irish State took control of it in 1924. Twelve years later it became the National College of Art and, in 1971, the National College of Art and Design, or NCAD as it is known today, was established by an Act of the Oireachtas. The College has four Schools: Design, Education, Fine Art and Visual Culture.

The NCAD campus is situated on Thomas Street, in the historic Liberties area of Dublin 8. The campus is made up of a number of buildings, varying in age and  design, including: the Harry Clarke Lecture Theatre, situated within what used to be the old fire station; the Philip Treacy Seminar Room, the Orpen Seminar Room; the Harry Clarke House Meeting Room, which overlooks busy Thomas Street, and the Oak Room. These buildings are used not only for education and training, but for hosting some of Dublin’s most prestigious events. 

The McKeon Group team is currently appointed to carry out significant fire remediation works across a number of buildings that make up the NCAD campus. Project works consist of new and replacement electrical and minor mechanical works; lift installation; firestopping works; works to internal and external doors, windows, rooflights and ancillary works – images below. As of May 2021, the on-site team is working on the first fixings of the electrical works and expect to commence second fixings shortly.

This €2.5 million project is programmed to take approximately one year in total to complete. 

 

Further updates for this and other McKeon Group projects can be found here: https://mckeon.ie/news/ 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

With all construction activities due to resume next Tuesday, May 4th, after a prolonged and much-criticised period of industry shutdown, a new report suggests that the Irish construction sector may not be in a position to meet pent up demand. Produced by TASC, the Think Tank for Action on Social Change, in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the ‘Job Quality in the Construction Sector’ report explores the construction sector’s “boom and bust cycle” and identifies this as one likely cause of many of the problems faced by the industry today.  These problems include productivity, labour shortages and job stability. Certainly, there is a whiff of the Mark Farmer 2016 review of the UK construction industry, ‘Modernise or Die’ about this Irish industry report. And this is a good thing. Leading firms across the industry are actively tackling well-identified productivity issues so it is important for the rest to keep pace. Of course, the Government, as the sector’s biggest and most influential client, has a key role to play in ending this cyclicality. The report further suggests that this could be achieved by the State prioritising a clear, long term pipeline of directly built social and affordable housing. 

Senior policy analyst with TASC and lead author of the report, Dr. Robert Sweeney explained that:

 

“The arrival of Covid-19 has thrown a spanner in the works of the recovery which was underway in the construction sector after the last crisis… The lockdowns of 2020 and into 2021 put much construction on hold but the supply of housing nevertheless fell only marginally. Important questions now are whether the sector is primed to meet the pent-up demand that has been building since before the pandemic, and whether the public sector will re-enter the housing development space.”

 

In fact, speaking on Newstalk in recent days, the report author stated that Ireland is “nowhere near” meeting demand.  Dr. Robert Sweeney told The Pat Kenny Show that construction levels have been at around historical averages in recent years, but that’s not enough. Given the backlog of demand for housing, the Irish industry needs to go beyond historical levels of building in order to meet demand. Furthermore, he called for hgh levels of volatility across construction to be addressed. You can listen back to this interview in full here: https://www.newstalk.com/news/warning-that-ireland-nowhere-near-meeting-demand-for-housing-1183354

The labour shortage is another widely-accepted challenge for Irish firms and, frankly, having the longest period of construction industry shutdown during the pandemic has exacerbated this particular problem. The report rightly suggests that these issues will have serious implications for Ireland’s house and infrastructural building strategies, leading to inevitable increases in house prices and likely delays in delivery across other areas. In terms of industry earnings, the average pay is slightly above most other EU countries. Significantly, the report finds that construction provides for “meaningful work and a greater sense of autonomy”, with most workers feeling that they are doing something useful and producing a tangible product to the benefit of society. One worrying trend is that workers in construction are under more time pressure and stress now than during the last boom. In terms of safety, which is always a focus for good construction firms and never more so than now, the report finds that Irish sites are amongst the safest in Europe.    

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

According to an RTE report earlier this week, up to 20,000 construction workers are returning to work on construction sites around the country right now as part of a planned ‘phased reopening’ of non-essential construction projects. You can read the article in full here: https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1209212/.  The news report correctly points out that “there continues to be frustration within the industry that building work in the remaining parts of the sector that remain stalled cannot yet resume…”. Frankly, we echo that frustration and agree with Irish Independent columnist Richard Curran when he deduced that ‘Phased construction return proves expensive mistake’.  

While the McKeon Group team have been engaged on essential construction activities throughout the most recent and earlier industry shutdowns, we know that not all of our peers have been in the same position. Also, being engaged on essential projects does not diminish the unavoidable delays and loss of momentum on other, arbitrarily termed ‘non-essential’ projects. Many of these are absolutely essential to the project owners, investors, delivery teams and the end-users, not to mention the Exchequer.  

Since Monday, residential, early-learning and childcare sites have started to reopen and, as many readers here will know, reopening a construction site that has been locked up since January 8th is in itself a big undertaking. 

Public health is the number one priority and this is a priority that is shared between Government, industry and individuals – the human cost has already been too great. After the successful and industry-wide adoption of a series of HSE safety protocols over the past 13 months, the Construction Industry Federation, or CIF, has been calling on the Government to follow the science and to follow the numbers. The industry body argues that despite 40,000 construction workers being on sites daily since January, there has only been a very small number of Covid-19 cases associated with this activity. The Government’s own figures show that the incidence of workplace infection accounts for 7 per cent of all outbreaks, and only 5 per cent of these workplace outbreaks have taken place in construction settings. At this stage in the vaccine roll-out programme, it is entirely appropriate to look at the impact of ongoing industry restrictions on the wider economy. A recent EY/DKM report revealed that each week of lockdown reduces industry output by €427 million and costs the Exchequer €53 million. We hope to see all of this data reflected in the decision taken between now and May 4th.

This phased reopening of the industry coincided with the publication of the latest Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index, which showed the construction sector  to be “increasingly upbeat”, despite a continuing sharp contraction in trade last month. 60 per cent of firms surveyed expect an expansion of activity over the next 12 months. Simon Barry, chief economist at Ulster Bank (Republic of Ireland) explained that the jump in confidence is “underpinned by the expectation of improved business conditions for the sector as restrictions are eased and as pent-up demand is released”. Let’s hope these expectations are met throughout 2021.

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

As employers plan for a phased return of their teams to the workplace, the concept of a ‘Healthy Building’ is no longer best practice, buildings of all ages and fit-outs levels must be healthy as standard. 

 

Earlier this week The Irish Times reported on a study undertaken by Professor Mike Weed from the University of Canterbury, which found that “outdoor gatherings are safe if accompanied by proper risk management”. This particular research studied 27,000 Covid-19 cases, based on 6,000 different pieces of data, and determined that the number of cases associated with outdoor transmission was “so small [as] to be insignificant”.

Similarly in Ireland, outdoor transmission accounts for 0.1 per cent of the State’s Covid-19 cases. In fact, the official figures show that of the 232,164 cases of infection recorded across the country up to March 24th this year, just 262 cases have been traced to outdoor activities since the pandemic began. So, with only one in every one thousand Covid-19 cases linked to outdoor activities, attention is turning to safety indoors, which means that all buildings post-pandemic will need to be ‘Healthy Buildings’.

Of the almost quarter of a million reported cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, only 21 outbreaks occurred on construction sites, with 124 cases. To put these figures into further context, 131 cases can be traced back to 20 outbreaks associated with sporting activities and fitness. According to The Irish Times article, the relatively low numbers of Covid-19 cases resulting from outdoor transmission in Ireland is in line with international findings. 

Prior to the pandemic, the EPA established that indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air, however, a recent review of five global studies of transmission by the University of California has found that the chances of getting Covid-19 in an indoor setting is 19 times greater than outdoors.

The Irish Government has been strongly criticised for “ignoring” the vital role that ventilation must play in stopping the spread of the coronavirus indoors (source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-in-ireland-ventilation-to-stop-spread-of-covid-19-being-ignored-by-government-2028g293b). Political will and supply chain issues are identified as the two key factors stopping ventilation from being considered as a core way to halt the spread of Covid-19, according to a member of the government’s own expert group that initially reported to Nphet, but now reports to the Senior Officials Group within the Department of the Taoiseach. This expert group is tasked with informing sectoral guidance and public information regarding ventilation. Objectively, neither the sectors nor the public have been well briefed in terms of ventilation but this needs to change, quickly. 

As employers plan for a phased return of their teams to the workplace, the concept of a ‘Healthy Building’ is no longer best practice, buildings of all ages and fit-outs levels must be healthy as standard. Given the nature of the coronavirus, indoor air quality, or IAQ, will need to be prioritised. While ventilation will play an important role in establishing the health of a building, there are many other factors to be considered, including proper operation of HVAC systems, occupancy in relation to capacity, interior layout and functional design elements. All of these factors contribute to the spread of the virus, however, this contribution can be positive or negative. This is why actionable sectoral guidance and clear, fact-based public information is so vital right now. 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

 

Last week the Irish Government published the – arguably long overdue – Climate Action Bill and Low Development Bill, which sets out the strategy to help Ireland work towards becoming a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 can be viewed here: https://www.rte.ie/documents/news/2021/03/127957-ab70a65d-68c1-4947-983b-babf920cc4dc.pdf. The Bill outlines the legal framework for reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions and contains the National Climate Objective, which commits Ireland to achieve carbon neutral status no later than the end of 2050. While traditionally transport and agriculture have been the sectors of focus for early climate action wins, buildings and construction are coming under greater scrutiny since the UN Environment Programme highlighted the role that the built environment must play in reducing CO2 emissions. This industry is accountable for almost 40 percent of carbon emissions related to energy use, which makes it an ideal target for Governments, including Ireland, to focus on. Carbon neutral status for Ireland will be achieved through a series of ‘carbon budgets’ that will be devised by the Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC). These carbon budgets will effectively limit the allowable carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emissions from each sector of the economy and will be evaluated in rolling periods of five years. In Ireland, there will be interim targets, which involves a reduction of  greenhouse gas emissions of just over half of the overall target (51 per cent) over the course of the first two carbon budget periods, ending on 31 December 2030.

Kevin O’Sullivan,  Environment and Science Editor for The Irish Times, published an article earlier this week exploring how the country can halve emissions by 2030. He describes the increased ambition and overall targets in the revised Climate Action Bill as “unquestionably onerous”. Of course, it goes beyond mere ambition. Ireland now has a legally-binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent by 2030. While the sectoral targets have not been set out in the draft Bill, the Government will need to determine how to apply carbon budgets across the various sectors of the economy.  It is expected that key actions will be detailed in an annual climate action plan. While the Bill does not provide for penalties if targets are not met, according to The Irish Times, where actions fall short in particular sectors, Ministers with responsibilities in these areas may face budget reductions as the relevant departments have to “buy compliance”. While net zero by 2050 is in line with the latest EU target, it is not in line with Ireland’s fair share of the global effort to achieve Paris Agreement goals, which will require full decarbonisation much sooner. 

From an industry perspective, Ireland-based AEC firms are on track to invest an average of €800,000 in sustainability initiatives over the next five years, as recently documented here: https://mckeon.ie/investing-in-sustainability/ 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie 

 

 

 

According to Irish Building Magazine, Ireland-based AEC firms are on track to invest an average of €800,000 in sustainability initiatives over the next five years. You can read the article in full here: https://www.irishbuildingmagazine.ie/2021/03/22/irelands-aec-firms-to-invest-on-average-e800k-in-sustainability-over-five-years/

The figure above is based on European research undertaken by Autodesk, in partnership with global consulting firm, Frost & Sullivan and it applies similarly to UK-based architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing companies. This research was conducted amongst 600 business decision-makers in the AEC and manufacturing industries located across Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland and the UK. According to the findings, construction companies in the Nordics countries are leading the way when it comes to a focus on industry sustainability. More than 90 percent of the businesses surveyed in that region have a dedicated sustainability team. And Ireland looks to be following suit. Of the business leaders surveyed in Ireland and the UK, 95 percent reported that their organisations are investing in improved workflows, including reducing waste and energy consumption, as part of their sustainability initiatives and they identified sustainability as a key area for business investment over the coming years. In fact, more than half of AEC firms in Ireland and the UK are investing in recruitment and training as part of their sustainability objectives, likely within the next two years.

Given the broad meaning of the term ‘sustainability’ in the context of the built environment, it was interesting to see the report break this down into areas of immediate or priority focus for the industry. According to this particular report, members of the AEC sector see green building as the most important area for achieving future sustainability impact goals, followed by low carbon innovation. Circular design and supporting vulnerable communities affected by climate change also make it onto the list of industry priorities. Despite the very real and important benefits of greater sustainability across the built environment, lack of financial resources and access to skills and training remain significant challenges for a large cohort of the industry.

It was positive to see that more than half of all leaders surveyed believe sustainable practices improve overall project quality, which is something that we here at McKeon Group heartily agree with. One particularly enlightening part of the report covered the motivation behind this increase in sustainability initiatives across the industry. When asked why their company was embracing sustainability more than 90 percent of those in Ireland and the UK cited customer retention as the most important factor, and this was followed by competitive advantage at 64 percent, customer expectations at 83 percent, supply chain and partner expectations at 54 percent, attracting talent and employee satisfaction was cited by 39 percent and investor relations came in at 44 percent. Frankly, it is surprising and somewhat alarming that environmental concerns did not even crack the top six reasons! 

Positioning technology as  having a pivotal role to play in driving sustainability, the Autodesk/Frost & Sullivan survey also probed current and expected investment in technology and more than 77 percent of respondents confirmed that they are already investing in technology. Of course, confirmation bias is inherent in such surveys, particularly online, so it is difficult to determine just how reflective of the entire AEC ecosystem this stat actually is… 

 

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie

 

The next time you buy a new house in Ireland it will likely be fitted with its own Electric Vehicle Charging Point.  On the basis  that Ireland’s Fianna Fail/Fine Gael/Green Party led Government envisions  the nation going fully electric and having 950,000 electric vehicles on our roads by 2030, the race is now on to have all the charging points in place before then. 

Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, supported by the entire Irish Government, plan on making it a legal requirement and compulsory for all new homes in the State to be built with charging points for electric vehicles (EV’s). This follows on from the UK’s decision to construct new properties with EV chargers(https://www.greencharging.co.uk/ev-ready-new-builds/).  Around 80% of EV charging will take place at home making this an essential part of the jigsaw in the EV charging roadmap. In 2019, the UK Government announced in its Budget that it ‘’will make sure all new homes are built with the right cables for electric car charge points.’.’ Now, Ireland is following suit. 

There are many reasons why the Irish Government is planning this, including promoting and supporting an increase in the uptake of people purchasing electric vehicles. Also by ensuring that all new build homes have access to a private car parking space that can avail of an electric charge point, the State is making it so much cheaper and much more convenient for all road users. According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, ‘’The estimated cost to install cabling in new houses with a car park space within the property boundary is in the order of €150 per house. This is estimated to be 0.06% of construction cost. Home recharging is considered the primary method of recharging the majority of electric vehicles in Ireland. Recharging at home at night is very cost-effective and it is to the benefit of the electricity system as demand is generally lower at these times’’.

Last year (2020) the Irish Government introduced new regulations requiring  all new buildings with more than ten parking spaces  to install  charging points. Also, from 2025, the Government is committed to having non-residential buildings with over twenty car parking spaces installed with charging points. 

With so many Electric Vehicles already on our roads, people are now a lot more enthusiastic about  having and using a cleaner and a greener (better for the environment) transport. 

So, let’s all get ready for the EV generation!

About McKeon Group

Established in 1950 and ISO certified for more than two decades, McKeon Group offers expert construction, fitout and building services. The family-run Group delivers projects, services and maintenance across a range of sectors for State, local authority, FDI and private clients. For more information, contact: www.mckeon.ie