Sustainability Report 2012
contents
............................................................ 9. SHV Energy A Note on LPG free initiative Company Profile rural energy Report Parameters
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19. Environment LPG versus Home Heating Oil premises operational sites
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bulk tank improvements national retrofit programme
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37. Health and Safety health and safety at operational depots
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45. micro combined heat and power bio-propane
.............................. 51. Employee Learning and Development
Want to enjoy all the benefits of Gas, wherever you live? Now You Can
great place to work initiative Health Initiatives
.............................. 59. Community
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Calor Sustainability Report 2012 3
At a glance ....................................................
Preparing an environmental policy indicating our KPIs (emissions, water, building upgrades, etc)
“ In order to achieve our long-term business targets, we have put sustainability at the heart of what we do.”
Increasing product range for our customers
New modern customer contact centre
Michael Kossack CEO Calor Ireland Management Board Member SHV Energy
Our aim is for a better future
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Rainwater harvesting system in Long Mile Road premises National retrofit programme
At Calor, we are on a journey to transform our organisation into the leading supplier of cleaner, highly efficient energy solutions for rural Ireland. By introducing a range of measures, such as harvesting water, reducing the number of kilometres travelled through efficient fleet planning, and by upgrading our facilities, we aim to improve our sustainability. By focusing on our staff and their continuing development, we aim to help our people to realise their true potential.
Reducing carbon emissions by 5% from 2009-2010
By developing energy saving solutions, facilitating the implementation of new technology and advising our customers on policing their energy consumption, we will make Ireland a better place to live.
Employee development
In this report, you’ll find details on all the measures we’re happily undertaking to ensure a long, successful and sustainable future. We hope you join us on the way. Regards, Michael Kossack and the team at Calor
All premises to be upgraded ahead of schedule (end 2012) Great Place to Work scheme
“In the current economic climate we are increasing our sustainability efforts, because advising our customers to reduce energy consumption is helping our customers to save money.”
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 5
Working together, we can plan the sustainable solutions that benefit your business and the wider community.
Calor Sustainability Report 2012  7
noW you Can We provide off the Grid enerGy solutions that, up until noW, you may not have thouGht possible.
shv enerGy Calor is part of sHv energy, which is a global organisation specialising in lower carbon and renewable energy solutions.
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sHv energy focuses on operating sHv – A JourNey witH eNerGy companies that provide ‘off the creation of sHv energy is part of a natural gas grid’ energy applications, journey that started over 100 years ago. in 1896, the founding fathers of sHv services and advice for domestic formed the company with the aim of and commercial customers.
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sHv energy is committed to continually developing energy solutions for this group of customers, to enable them to benefi t from the latest applications in some of the more remote parts of the world. sHv energy is the leading supplier of LPG in the world and this is its core business. this form of energy is the cleanest available fossil fuel for consumers situated beyond the natural gas grid. when heating oil is replaced by LPG, substantial carbon savings can be made. sHv energy is also an investor in LNG, biomass distribution, co-generation technology and small scale solar technology.
ensuring a safe, secure and affordable source of energy for their customers. At that time, the energy choices for homes and businesses were more limited, and coal was still the backbone of the energy market throughout europe. the business expanded through acquisition, organic growth, developing innovative practices and by putting the needs of the customer at the heart of everything. sHv energy also diversifi ed into a number of other market sectors - most notably the wholesale business. by the latter half of the 20th century, people were moving away from coal for a number of reasons, including its high carbon content and other polluting emissions that were becoming less acceptable to consumers and to society as a whole. this is when sHv decided to put the expertise gained within the coal distribution market to good use and invest in LPG. source: www.shvenergy.com
Calor sustainability report 2012 9
A Note on LPG
FREE Initiative
Liquefied Petroleum Gas – versatile, environmentally friendly and perfectly suited for commercial and domestic purposes.
The FREE initiative is launched and funded by SHV Energy.
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Calor Ireland provides LPG for domestic and commercial use.
................................................................ The company has also broadened its services with energy consulting and delivering energy solutions. LPG is obtained from the processing of natural gas (60%) and also from the refining of crude oil (40%). In both processes, LPG is considered a by-product. 200 million tonnes of LPG were produced in 2010, accounting for approximately 2-3% of primary energy consumption worldwide. Compared to other fossil fuels, LPG is an environmentally friendly source of energy with a wide range of uses. For households which are not connected to the natural
gas network, it is the alternative for heating and cooking. In addition, propane is used in recreation, construction, agriculture, industry and as automotive fuel. 80% of LPG is supplied either in cylinders or tanks, including traditional small to large bulk tanks for individual or industrial consumers, automotive tanks for the ’autogas’ market, and large bulk tanks ensuring supply to piped networks. Cylinders and tanks are of various capacities, ranging from 2 to 50kg for cylinders, and from 200kg to 25 tonnes for tanks. Calor invests heavily in tanks and cylinders at customer sites. The company owns all its cylinders and tanks, all of which are subject to a rigorous maintenance schedule.
300%
% Excess Emissions over LPG
250%
CO2 Emissions
200% 150%
A large proportion of Europe’s population lives in rural communities. They provide a significant proportion of employment and a major contribution to their economies.
................................................................ The welfare of rural communities is a central government priority, particularly the creation of new jobs, new rural industry and the continued reverse of the trend towards urbanisation. Farmers, and agriculture in general, remain extremely important culturally, politically and economically. European rural communities are too important to be ignored on energy (and any other) issue. The Future of Rural Energy in Europe (FREE) initiative gives a voice to all those who believe that rural energy needs are important issues, both for those who live in the countryside and for European society as a whole. We want to make sure that policymakers acknowledge that the above is true and plan accordingly.
The FREE initiative is launched and funded by SHV Energy. In Europe, SHV Gas fuels the homes, businesses and cars of tens of millions of customers, most of whom live in rural, off-mains communities. FREE is supported by a wide variety of groups committed to improving the lot, and realising the potential, of rural communities through greater energy choice.
100% 50% 0%
LPG
Electricity
Heating Fuel Comparisons
10 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Home Heating Oil
Kerosene
Heavy Fuel Oil
Smokeless Fuel
Source: Carbon Footprints 2012, Eric P. Johnson
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 11
Company profile
rural enerGy
Calor ireland was established in 1937 and is the leading supplier and distributor of LPG in ireland.
As the requirements of our customers in rural ireland have evolved, Calor has been at the forefront of innovative energy solutions.
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Calor is part of sHv energy, the largest dedicated global LPG distributor in the market, with a turnover of 8 billion. sHv energy operates in 27 countries, employs 16,000 people and supplies LPG to tens of millions of customers worldwide.
................................................................ key oPerAtioNAL sites: • GROUP HEAD OFFICE: lonG mile road, dublin 12 • NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE: airport road West, sydenham, belfast bt3 9ee • DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION SITES: • WhiteGate fillinG plant, CorK (ConneCted to refinery) • Gas import and storaGe terminal, tivoli, CorK • Gas import and storaGe terminal, tolKa Quay, dublin • Gas import and storaGe terminal, belfast • pts – Cylinder refurbishment faCility, belfast • 4 Gas distribution Centres at Claremorris, athlone, sliGo and Co. derry
12 Calor sustainability report 2012
we design and implement bulk and cylinder energy solutions for residential, industrial and commercial customers who want to enjoy everything that this exceptional energy source has to offer, but who aren’t on the natural gas pipeline. with more than 70 years’ experience in the gas business, we pride ourselves on our unmatched expertise in the safe supply of butane and propane to our customers.
As the leading distributor of LPG on the island of ireland, Calor can also offer the reassuring security of a fuel supply which doesn’t have to rely on middle eastern or russian imports. 25% of our LPG is sourced from the whitegate refi nery in Co. Cork, with the remainder sourced within europe. by choosing Calor Gas, rural dwellers can have gas delivered to a bulk storage tank at their home. the tank can now even be placed underground as required. this means that rural homeowners can have gas regardless of where they live. in the past, switching heating systems was a diffi cult process. However, our easy switching service means that with just one phone call, Calor will organise every step, from site survey and safe removal and disposal of the existing oil tank and boiler, to installation and testing of the new Calor system. this service is designed to make it as stress-free as possible for the homeowner.
Calor customers can choose to have their tank automatically topped up throughout the year, giving the customer the peace of mind that comes with never running out of gas. in addition, all new Calor installations are now fi tted with an automated telemetry system. this technology notifi es Calor when a customer’s supply is running low and Calor can organise a refi ll. At Calor, we have been delivering innovative energy solutions for over 70 years. our team can deliver a complete tailor-made energy solution for customers’ needs. by working with manufacturers of energy effi cient technologies, we stay at the cutting edge of developments in the energy industry. Accordingly, we recommend the most energy effi cient solutions for customers, allowing them to keep pace with changing building regulations and reduce Co2 emissions.
Calor has introduced the one-stop-shop switching service, which we hope will incentivise homeowners to make the switch to cleaner, more effi cient LPG.
Calor sustainability report 2012 13
Report Parameters The information provided in this document addresses the year 2011 and it is part of our commitment to communicate to our stakeholders on an annual basis.
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The aim of this report is to provide a range of indicators to provide readers with sufficient information on Calor Gas’s sustainability performance. We maintain an ongoing dialogue and engagement at multiple levels with our key stakeholders, in addition to our shareholders.
Stakeholders* Class
Entities
Concerns
Nature of Responses Code of ethics
Employees and Service Providers
Customers
Staff, contractors and suppliers
Domestic, commercial sectors
Fair employment and a prospering business Development opportunities
Price and quality of service
Dialogue with employees over health and safety People development initiatives Arrangements for fuel-poor customers Timely responses to queries Promotions
Policymakers
Govt officials, SEAI, advisory groups, UK HSE, Health and Safety Authority
Energy supply, climate policy
Continued strategy review
Regulators
RGII, Gas Safe, UK Consumer Council
Compliance with operating licences
Reports and dialogue
Public Representatives
Local politicians, community organisations
Business development plans
Communication and dialogue
*In addition to our shareholders.
14 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 15
Our nationwide delivery network means that wherever you are, we are too.
Calor Sustainability Report 2012  17
sustain -ability Calor aim to reduCe our emissions by 25% by 2020. the Good neWs is, We’re Well on the Way.
environment As a supplier of a hugely benefi cial natural resource, we are keen to ensure that we act in a responsible and respectful way to the world around us.
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GLobAL CLimAte
CALor ireLANd’s Aim
Global warming and climate change refer to an increase in average global temperatures. Natural events and human activities are believed to be contributing to an increase in average global temperatures. this is caused primarily by increases in “greenhouse” gases such as Carbon dioxide (Co2).
by 2016, Calor should be well recognised as a company acting responsibly in relation to the environment. our commitment to the reduction of Co2 and other emissions will be credible, self-challenging and long-term. this will meet the expectations of all our stakeholders and will be a motivation for staff.
international negotiations on climate change were commenced at Cancun, mexico, in december 2010. this was followed by the Climate Conference in durban, south Africa in January 2012. these conferences were preceded by the kyoto Protocol in 1997. Calor continues to pursue the key climate objectives of our corporate strategy in relation to generating emissions.
stArtiNG PoiNt
GreeNiNG CALor teAm in 2011, Calor Gas made signifi cant progress in adhering to its environmental policy and in addressing the agreed areas of priority. the Greening Calor team was established. it consists of six members, with representation from across the organisation, to measure, manage, coordinate and communicate actions to comply with our statement of environmental Priorities.
As part of our current and future strategy, Calor has defi ned that it will actively pursue opportunities in the area of renewables and energy services. this is in line with the recent change of sHv Gas to sHv energy which will lead to a stronger involvement in products and services “beyond LPG”.
Calor sustainability report 2012 19
environment
environment
In 2011, Calor Greening Team was formed to collect ideas, prioritise and propose actions to the management team. They will be responsible for implementing the agreed action plans.
Our commitment to the reduction of CO2 and other emissions is self-challenging and long-term.
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Greening Calor KPIs: We have defined an initial set of KPIs which will be reviewed on a regular basis: • Reduce Calor’s CO2 emissions by 25% by 2020 • Reduce grid water consumption of Calor sites by 30% by 2015 • Have all Calor buildings energetically upgraded by the end of 2013. Calor is committed to an overall reduction of CO2 emissions of 25% by 2020 – exceeding targets set out by the EU. In 2010, as part of our quest to become
more environmentally sustainable, Calor commissioned an external carbon assessor, The Carbon Neutral company, to analyse our carbon footprint for 2009, 2010 and 2011. This allowed us to set a benchmark for carbon reduction going forward. The results of the assessment showed that in 2009 the total carbon emissions of the company were 4981tCO2e. This was reduced to 4747tCO2e in 2010, leading to an overall emissions reduction of 4.69%. Increase in 2011 came partly due to increased activity in early 2011 and more accurate data.
Third-Party Hauliers
Premises
Business Travel
2009 tCO2e 2010 tCO2e 2011 tCO2e
2009 tCO2e 2010 tCO2e 2011 tCO2e
2009 tCO2e 2010 tCO2e 2011 tCO2e
2009 tCO2e 2010 tCO2e 2011 tCO2e
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
Carbon Emissions in tCO2e
Carbon Emissions over a 3-Year Period
Source: Annual External Carbon Data Audit
MWh Units
6,000
Emissions tCO2
CompanyOwned Vehicles
MWh Energy Consumed
13,500
5,000 Actual Recorded CO2 Emissions
4,000 25% CO2 Reduction
3,000
11,000 8,500 6,000
2,000
1,000
2009
MWh Energy Consumption
2010
2011 Source: Annual External Carbon Data Audit
0
Year
2009
Calor’s Emissions – Actual vs Target
20 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
2020 Source: Annual External Carbon Data Audit
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 21
environment
LPG versus Home Heating Oil
Both of these diagrams break down the areas from which our carbon emissions are derived.
For Irish homes without access to the natural gas grid, the main fuels-of-choice for heating are heating oil and LPG.
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Fuel Expenditure
How do the carbon footprints of heating oil and LPG compare?
2,023 tCO²e
Electricity Usage
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695 tCO²e
Servicing the Business
2,297 tCO²e
0
500
1,000
Scope of Calor’s Emissions
1,500
2,000
2,500
Source: Annual External Carbon Data Audit 2011
2009 Benchmark by External Audit % km Driven per mT Bulk Gas Delivered
2010*
New residential heating systems fuelled by LPG are 20% lower carbon, and 15% lower overall environmental-impact, than those fuelled by heating oil. An LPG system’s environmental impact is about the same as that of a bio-heating oil system fuelled by 100% rape-seed methyl ester, Europe’s predominant biofuel. Moreover, an LPG heating system generates a 15% smaller footprint than a bio-oil system using a 20:80 blend with conventional heating oil. The final finding is that fuel switching can pay off in carbon terms. If a new LPG heating system replaces an ageing oil-fired one for the final five years of its service life, the carbon footprint of the system’s final five years is reduced by more than 50%. (Source: Carbon footprints of heating oil and LPG heating systems 2012, Eric P. Johnson)
2011
82
84
86
88
90
92
94
96
98
100 102
In 2010, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) found that LPG is the cleanest off-mains fossil fuel available. In comparison to gas or oil, LPG produces 29% less CO2 emissions. What’s more, there is an even larger carbon saving to be made compared to electricity.
“Customers switching from oil to LPG boilers can reduce their carbon footprint.”
% km Driven per mT Bulk Gas Delivered
Kilometres Driven – Gas Delivered
Source: Carbon Footprints 2012, Eric P. Johnson
Maura Donoghue Calor Sales Rep of the Year, 2012
This allows Calor Gas to concentrate on the vital areas to target if we want to reduce our total emissions by 25% by the year 2020. *Very cold winter 2010 resulted in higher tonnage and therefore lower emissions per tonne sold.
22 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 23
LPG versus Charcoal BarbeCue
Premises
LPG also emits less CO2 than any other fossil fuel when measured through the total fuel cycle. In its five main applications – automotive, cooking, heating, power and barbecues – LPG’s carbon footprint is at the lower end of the range compared to other fossil fuels.
In 2009, Calor started a complete refurbishment of our offices and plants with the aim of creating a more environmentally sustainable and efficient work space.
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Cooking on a BBQ for an Hour
Work included the installation of state of the art energy monitoring systems, along with an environmentally-friendly lighting system, among other measures.
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150%
Calor’s offices in Dublin Port and at Head Office have been fitted with Micro Combined Heat and Power (Micro CHP) systems. With this system, electricity is generated locally and fed back to the grid, reducing carbon emissions by 7,000kgCO2. These systems even meet all the hot water requirements for both sites, generating 6kW of heat and 1kW of electricity.
100%
Also in our Dublin Head Office, Calor installed Air Handling Units which were retrofitted with high-efficiency condensing boilers. Each unit contains thermal wheels which suck cool air in before heating it for the office environment. This equates to a heat recovery of 70%, and a highly efficient heating system.
50%
0% CO2 emissions from charcoal BBQ
CO2 emissions from LPG BBQ
Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
In 2011/2012, major renovations will be completed in our filling plants in Whitegate and Belfast. We are investing significantly to completely overhaul the heating systems in both buildings, and are implementing an
insulation plan to improve heat retention. In both plants, boilers have been upgraded to improve efficiency by up to 90% . This will reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 50,000kgCO2e. Our new Water Harvesting System enables a reduced dependency on water consumption from the grid. This ties in with Calor’s KPIs in relation to reducing water usage from the national grid by 30% by 2015. In addition, water meters have been installed at all our filling plants to enable better monitoring of our water usage.
Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting • Reduce water bills, including city storm sewer charges • Alleviate demand on public systems
CO2 benefits of renovations at selected sites Whitegate Filling Plant
Dublin Filling Plant
CO2 savings per year using PVC double glazing (kg)
3,530
2,083
CO2 savings per year for heating upgrade (kg)
21,000
20,040
Total CO2 savings per year (kg)
24,350
24,970
62%
33%
Percentage reduction in CO2 production per year
24 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 25
Operational Sites Investments in filling plants and logistics reduce Calor’s CO2 footprint.
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Calor installed a new electronic carousel in our Belfast filling plant in October 2011.
................................................................ The new carousel has electronic scales and offers greater filling accuracy. It also enables more cylinder types to be filled, giving greater flexibility to the cylinder filling operation in Belfast. The new carousel also reduces energy consumption per cylinder filled due to higher efficiency. Calor Gas has also invested significantly in our digital logistics systems in recent times. This is to ensure that the company keeps improving its delivery standards all the
time. Digital logistics allows for a paperless method of route planning and scheduling. The fleet routing system enables Calor to optimise the routes for its deliveries on a daily basis. The schedulers in the depot can plan, using digital logistics and the silicon telemetry units on each customer tank, what size of load to send out to each customer. This system ensures a reduction on mileage travelled by our fleet, as well as a reduction on annual fuel consumption. Each vehicle is built to the current ADR requirements and to the highest build quality standards. They are equipped with an anti-drive away system and an emergency shutdown system to increase safety when delivering.
100
CO2e per mT Gas Sold
90
2009 benchmark tCO2e per mT sales
80
tCO2e per mT Sold
70 60
We provide renewable solutions for living. That begins at our own premises.
50 40 30 20 10 0
Year
2010
Calor’s Emissions vs Sales
26 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
2011
Source: Annual External Carbon Data Audit
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 27
our Customers Calor pride ourselves not only on the produCts We provide, but on the Customer serviCe and adviCe that We offer alonGside them.
Customers during 2011, Calor undertook several initiatives to communicate the sustainability measures we are taking as a company to our customers.
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it also gave us the opportunity to • Calor Gas offered all customers a free engage with an enthused audience energy audit of their home/business to demonstrate the effi ciency of and offer initiatives/advice to their current system, and what help customers themselves improvements they could make to become more sustainable. become more sustainable. these are outlined below. eNerGy survey softwAre
................................................................ iNitiAtives/AdviCe • in all welcome packs sent out to customers in 2011, an energy effi ciency booklet was included, advising customers on how to conserve energy around the home. • At any events where Calor exhibited in 2011, we included carbon emissions information about LPG compared to other fuel types, showing customers how they can become energy effi cient by switching to gas for their fuel supply. • Calor Gas exhibited at the following events, showcasing the various applications of Calor as a sustainable fuel for homes and businesses:
one of the core competencies of Calor is developing complete, custommade energy solutions. our skills in recommending the right appliances and systems enables sports clubs to become more energy effi cient - and ultimately, more cost effective. we developed energy survey software, with which we can carry out a complete energy survey for sporting or other organisations. this provides an immediate report on the energy effi ciency of the organisation’s facilities, and outlines a list of suggested tailored recommendations.
• the energy show • the sustainable building show • the National Ploughing Championships
Calor sustainability report 2012 29
Customers
Customers
Calor meets the needs of a wide variety of industries, and while their needs may vary, our dedication to customer service does not.
At Calor, we aim to improve customer experiences by exploring and exploiting new Information Technology advancements.
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Hospitality Industry Calor has been working with the hospitality sector to provide customised energy packages that are both cost efficient and sustainable for businesses over the longer term. Calor LPG has been the fuel of choice for chefs all over Ireland for many years because of its versatility. Many in the hospitality sector are turning to LPG because it is the cleaner, high efficiency fuel for their business.
Industrial Customers Calor helps businesses by providing tailored energy solutions using best-in- class environmental practice. We deliver this service through a professional, highly skilled and knowledgeable sales team. Our Energy Advisors are supported by a dedicated Customer Support Team and 24-hour technical and safety support all over Ireland, and being part of SHV Energy, the world’s leading LPG distributor, means that our customers benefit from secure and reliable supplies of LPG. One of the great benefits of LPG is its versatility; many applications can run off the same supply of Calor LPG, including water heating, catering and space heating.
The enhanced reliability also ensures reduced equipment downtime, maximising production and efficiency. What’s more, businesses never have to worry about gas running out, due to Calor’s unique telemetry system, ensuring the tanks are automatically filled before they get too low. Each business also enjoys environmental advantages, with reduced CO2 emissions, compared to oil, and the reassurance that any risk of contamination or oil spillage, whether within or outside the premises, has been eliminated.
“Calor strives for customer service excellence through innovation and employee training.”
Calor aims to be contactable for customers at any time. Recently we extended the opening hours of our customer service centre.
................................................................ Our web portal, mycalorgas.com, offers customers online access to their account and payment options 24/7. We now offer customers a paperless billing option. By setting a flag on their account, we will suspend printing the customers’ Statements, Invoices and Credit Notes. We will notify them by SMS and email whenever any of the above documents are posted to their account. The customer can view the documents by signing into their ‘mycalorgas’ account. Calor strives to improve the customer experience year-on-year, by using data compiled annually from the Customer Satisfaction Analysis and Calor’s Complaint Management. Data is based on overall satisfaction, staff attitudes towards customers and Calor’s online account facility. Our Net Promoter Score also takes on customer opinions by referring Calor to friends.
Colm Daly Group Customer Care Manager
30 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 31
Bulk Tank Improvements
National Retrofit Programme
We are currently working through a process of introducing Nano-painted tanks into our bulk tank stock.
Calor can provide sustainable solutions for business premises of all sizes, ages and locations.
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Nano is an innovative paint which has an additive that gives it particular properties or special effects similar to what is known as the ‘Lotus Effect.’
................................................................ These effects simply mean that the Nanopainted tank surface has added protection against dirt and corrosion. This should reduce the amount of washing and unplanned maintenance. Ultimately we will have a better quality finish on our bulk tanks and the aim is that all new customers using tank capacities of up to 2-tonne will be given Nano-painted tanks. We are currently purchasing all new bulk vessels with this special paint on them and working towards integrating the paint into our refurbishment process for recycled tanks. This technology has been exclusively developed by Calor in collaboration with an international partner.
There are approximately one million buildings in Ireland that would benefit from some form of energy efficiency retrofit which could generate future energy savings worth €16 billion, along with additional health and wellbeing benefits.
................................................................ To date, efficiency upgrades have been completed in over 33,000 homes this year, and over 96,000 homes since the programme commenced in 2009. In total, the estimated energy savings achieved are 529 Gigawatt hours or just over €33 million.
There are still obstacles that can create barriers to realising the full technical and economic potential for energy efficiency at the moment. These barriers include a lack of knowledge of the benefits of energy efficiency measures; a lack of access to capital; and high costs of capital. One of the ways in which this is being addressed is by energy suppliers signing up to voluntary agreements as part of Better Energy: The National Upgrade Programme, to deliver competitive energy savings upgrades to homes and businesses across the country. Calor, as a responsible energy supplier, has signed this agreement. We are consulting with home
32 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
and commercial customers to ensure that a sustainable and efficient heating system can be designed which will reduce dependency on highcarbon heating fuels and lower heating costs. To view the full document, please visit the website of The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
Commercial Energy Survey Application Calor has developed a tool to assist our sales team in offering energy saving advice in terms of cost savings and CO2 emissions, relating to commercial LPG solutions. The energy survey application can be used in any commercial premises requiring or using space heating, water heating, catering or laundry. The application is installed on iPads, making it portable and enabling the team to complete energy surveys while at customer premises. A four-page report is generated, detailing the customer’s current energy use, benchmarking information and improvement recommendations. Calor’s motivation for developing and using the new application is to help reduce our customers’ fuel bills and impact on the environment. The report details LPG solutions that offer a cleaner and more environmentally friendly option to rural customers. Source: Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 33
Our innovative solutions offer customers a choice of gas storage solutions for domestic cooking and heating.
Calor Sustainability Report 2012  35
health & safety by its nature, Gas and its supply need to be treated With partiCular Care to ensure the Continued safety of everyone.
health and safety in order to remain certifi ed partners of Calor, we always ensure our service providers have the most up-to-date systems and continue to provide the highest level of service to our customers.
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As an energy company, Calor is committed to safety policies that ensure our customers, employees and the general public are well protected from any potential harm arising from our business.
................................................................ A number of initiatives were introduced in 2011 as a means to ensure that our continuing safety programme in the LPG market remains of paramount importance to Calor as a company. the specifi c initiatives undertaken are detailed below:
sub-CoNtrACtors ANNuAL meetiNG ANd sAfety meetings took place during 2011 to discuss any relevant safety issues that needed to be addressed, along with any new initiatives that could be introduced to ensure maximum safety.
boiLer trAiNiNG training was provided to registered Gas installers to ensure that regular services are carried out effectively for customers to ensure maximum safety and reduced health issues.
LiQuid/vAPour trAiNiNG for CoNtrACtors training in both these areas was provided for the practical and written guidance on how to safely work with LPG and, in the event of any problems arising, how to deal with them in a quick, effi cient manner to bring the situation under control. there were several training sessions held throughout 2011.
Calor sustainability report 2012 37
health and safety
health and safety
To help avoid incidents and accidents involving LPG, Calor regularly communicates health and safety updates to our customers.
Calor maintains a state of the art fleet to ensure the best possible level of service and the safest means of transport for our customers.
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Product Information Evenings Calor invited contractors and installers to participate in product information evenings around the country where issues such as safety were discussed, as were new legislations and regulations being introduced and highlighted. Questions and answers were part of these meetings, along with any new ideas that may benefit the safety of LPG.
or maintained. Anything that burns with a flame can potentially emit Carbon Monoxide. In addition to getting appliances serviced annually by a qualified engineer, you should also use a Carbon Monoxide alarm. We recommend the following two models: 1. EI Electronics EI 204EN Alarm; and 2. Honeywell SF450EN Alarm.
Carbon Monoxide Detection Carbon Monoxide can be released by appliances as part of the combustion of all carbon fuels (oil/gas/solid fuel/ wood) if they are not properly installed
38 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
................................................................ The following is a list of these features and equipment.
1. Drive Away Inhibit – vehicle will not release handbrake unless hose is rolled up and rear door closed.
Communication to customers Boiler Service Letter (Domestic Central Heating and Metered Customers); Butane Safety Alert; Cooker Safety Alert. These letters were sent to remind customers of the importance of having their boiler serviced periodically to ensure it is running efficiently and safely. Also, the importance of ventilation, handling, storage and setup when using gas cookers is continually highlighted to customers.
The Calor tanker is a unique and sophisticated piece of equipment; it contains several safety features designed to eliminate accidents which may be caused by human error or other outside factors.
2. Emergency Shutdown – remote control (zapper) or three push buttons on vehicle. Consumer Incidents Market Segment
Number of Incidents
Cylinders
1
Bulk
0
Autogas
0
Total
0
3. Deadman Shutdown – if driver does not communicate with the remote control every two minutes while pumping, the emergency shutdown will occur automatically. 4. Fire Extinguishers.
Vehicle accident per 1,000,000km per annum Number Gas distribution
0.7
Cars
0
5. First Aid Kit. Category
6. Wheel Chocks.
Explosion
0
Fire
0
7. Eye Wash Station.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
0
8. Anti-Trip Placards.
Falling Objects
0
9. Earth Reel.
Asphyxiation
0
Categories for Gas Distribution Accidents Only Tanker Roll-over
0
Tanker Overfilled
0
Collision with Other Vehicles
0.7
Other
0
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 39
health and safety Health and Safety records are regularly reported, recorded and analysed to maintain the highest possible safety standards.
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Health and Safety at Operational Depots Calor has achieved the ISO 9001 certification for health and safety. The ISO 9001 is certified by an accredited certification body and shows commitment to quality, customers, and a willingness to work towards improving efficiency. It demonstrates the existence of an effective quality management system that satisfies the rigours of an independent, external audit.
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Employee Health and Safety, 1st Jan - 31st Dec 2011 Categories
Calor has prepared and submitted a safety report for each of our depots. These safety reports have been approved by the Health and Safety Authority. The Health and Safety Authority also carry out annual inspections of each depot which include a review of the documentation of our Health and Safety management system and a walk around inspection of the site. Following these inspections, a report of inspection is given and any corrective actions are agreed.
Explosion/Fire
0
Collapse of building/structure
0
Failure of or leakage from on-site LPG vessels/pipework
0
Other
0
Total Number of Property/Equipment Damage
0
Gas escape from cylinder
1
Gas escape from bulk vessel
0
Collision (vehicles on site)
0
Electrical fault
0
Falling objects
0
Slips, trips and falls
2
Manual Handling
0
Housekeeping
0
Slips, Trips and Falls
0.0000652
Leakage from hoses
0
Moving or Falling Objects
0
Lack of PPE
0
Burns
0
Unsafe handling
0
Road Traffic Accident
0.0000489
0
Entrapment
0
Electric Shock
0
Safeguard removed Other
40 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
annual health and safety report findings
1
Lost Time at Work 2011 per 100,000 Hours Categories
days lost in 2011
Other
0.0000161
Total Number of Days Lost
0.0001305
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 41
Underground storage offers customers a discreet way to experience all the benefits of Calor gas.
42  Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012  43
teChnoloGy Calor employs the latest innovations and leadinG teChnoloGy to ensure maximum effiCienCy and an onGoinG reduCtion of Carbon emissions.
miCro Combined heat and poWer the irish Government aims to reduce residential Co2 emissions by 2,436,000 mt by 2020.
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LPG has always been a low carbon emission fuel. this not only means that LPG has positive environmental benefi ts, it also makes LPG an ideal partner fuel for renewable energies such as solar or wind power.
................................................................ Calor is already partnering with renewable energy providers to enable LPG to complement these new green technologies.
the losses associated with centralised generation and transmission, resulting in a far higher energy effi ciency of 80-90%. that’s an improvement of up to 55% in energy effi ciency. Calor LPG could potentially play a major part in this energy revolution through LPG micro CHP technology. in addition, localised power generation reduces demand on the national grid, which in turn reduces the requirement for imported electricity. this could also reduce the amount of investment required to upgrade the national grid in the future.
reducing the emissions of rural homes will play a signifi cant part in overall targets to tackle climate change. we must also consider how we can increase energy effi ciency. Localised power generation will form part of the solution. typically, energy produced centrally and transported to the end user is only 35% effi cient when it reaches them. that is because ireland currently operates a centralised electricity generation system which requires that the electricity is transported over the national grid. by switching the point of generation to the point of use, we remove most of
Calor sustainability report 2012 45
Micro Combined Heat and Power
Bio-Propane
Micro combined heat and power, or Micro CHP for short, is the process of generating both electricity and heat from the same source - close to where it is to be used.
Bio-propane is the term commonly used to describe propane (C3H8) and other LP gases that are derived from production processes that use biomass as the feedstock.
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With a Micro CHP unit, both electricity and heat are generated through a quiet, efficient electro-chemical reaction.
.............................................................. A number of fuel cells are combined into a fuel cell “stack”, which can generate most of the power needed by a typical Irish home in a year. The stack is integrated with a high-efficiency LPG boiler into a single wall-mountable unit which looks just like an ordinary boiler. At the back of the unit there are connections for fuel, central heating, hot water and power. Your home is also connected to the mains power grid as normal. The LPG Micro CHP boiler can be connected to existing heating controls and will supply power to the home, even working when there is a power cut.
a corresponding reduction in centralised electrical capacity of 1kW. Over time, this reduces the need for large scale capital investment in electricity distribution infrastructure. 2. It achieves energy efficiency of 80-90%, which is an improvement of up to 55% over centralised power generation. This results in a reduction in total fuel usage of 0.4 Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (TOE) per annum. 3. Potential to reduce average rural household CO2 emissions by over 40%, or 3.6 tonnes of CO2 per year. The cumulative effect of this reduction over 10 years is a reduction in residential CO2 from rural areas of 1,616,400 tonnes, resulting in exchequer revenue of €32,328,000 in offset carbon credits.
Benefits of the Micro CHP Boiler
Renewable propane is an ideal biofuel. It has the same properties as petroleum-derived propane, but can be produced outside every town and city from domestic waste or unusable agricultural wastes. Biofuels - derived from renewable sources such as biomass, vegetable oils, and waste - offer an option for producing fuel that can decrease dependence on imported and non-renewable fuels and reduce upstream carbon footprint.
................................................................
New techniques being developed and commercialised can produce these gases from renewable biomass feedstock - either as the primary output or as a by-product.
Future Prospects Interest in bio-propane is growing, as it could provide a way of decarbonising or ‘greening’ LPG to combat climate change, in the same way that traditional renewable biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are helping to decarbonise conventional transport fuels. Bio-propane could also bring broader environmental, economic and energysecurity benefits. A growing number of countries around the world are introducing measures to support the production and/or use of biofuels (liquid fuels for transport) and other types of bioenergy. In general, these measures are strongest in the advanced, industrialised countries, but emerging economies dependent on imported oil are increasingly looking to biofuels to meet their rapid growth in demand for transport fuels.
Going forward, bio-propane could make a big difference in helping reduce the carbon intensity of energy in the countryside. It’s not just electricity which has the potential to be decarbonised - it’s gas as well. Biopropane can be derived from renewable sources such as biomass (sugarcane, switchgrass), vegetable oils and food waste.
1. The LPG Micro CHP boiler generates most of the power and all of the hot water and heating needed by a typical Irish home. This reduces the need to buy electricity from the national grid. Each household that switches to Fuel Cell Technology results in
LPG Micro CHP Boiler – how it works Image courtesy of Ceres Power.
46 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 47
Whatever your needs, Calor can provide a tailored energy solution for you.
48  Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012  49
employee learninG and development Calor launched a Graduate Programme in 2010 to assist in attracting talent to the organisation and to help position Calor as ‘first Choice’ employer for high calibre graduates.
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employee development We plaCe a Great emphasis on the development of our staff. our Continued suCCess depends on it.
each year, in both the republic of off-site CALor sPoNsored Courses ireland and Northern ireland, we • Gas installer safety (Gis) and Gas installer take graduates in areas such as it, domestic (Gid) – these are two courses finance, marketing and engineering.
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training and development needs arise from the annual employee review where managers discuss training, development and career progression. At this point, it may be considered valuable for the employee to take part in a training course to develop their skills. this training may be provided internally or externally, depending on the contents. there were approximately ten external courses completed by employees during 2011.
ACAdemiC Courses Academic courses can also feature in an employee’s development plan. Calor will provide fi nancial support for third level courses of employees where the course is relevant to their work. during 2011, employees completed each of the following courses: masters, higher degree, mbA and accountancy exams, etc. Calor also allows for study leave and time off for employees taking exams.
iNterNAL Courses • A comprehensive induction programme run for all new employees. • l pG product Knowledge Course – runs every 2 months for 2 hours, open to all employees.
which can be taken by our engineers and installers. Courses of this type were taken in 2011 by our employees.
• operations – drivers attend gas safety courses and must renew their Adr licence. they are also required to attend manual handling courses. All necessary training for relevant drivers was carried out in 2011. • link Course – run by sHv energy. • C-programme – run by sHv energy. • external Coaching – if a manager feels they need to develop themselves further, challenge their strengths and build on their management competencies, Calor will assist by providing them with external coaching. this year, we have developed a management development programme called iGNite, based on the needs of our middlemanagement team. this course has been highly successful to date. “in Calor, we know that when we invest in people, they will deliver results. our company is our people and therefore we strive to support them not only in their development, but in everything they do.”
Caitriona o’toole Hr manager
Calor sustainability report 2012 51
Employee Learning and Development
Great Place to work Initiative
Calor actively promotes Succession Planning within the organisation, whereby we help develop an individual’s potential with a view to filling key positions within the company from within.
Great Place to Work Institute Ireland has been assisting companies to become Great Places to Work for over 20 years. Each year, they create a list of Great Places to Work which is placed in the Sunday Independent.
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Employee Development Plan Our focuses are: 1. Develop and invest in people – by providing Internal Training Courses, Voluntary Projects and Management Development.
their ongoing career. It has been a pleasure to work with our interns and we wish them every success in their future.
Great Place to Work - Mission • Recognising best workplaces and inspiring companies to become great through our Best Workplaces programmes. • Helping companies to transform their workplaces through our consulting and training services.
2. Succession Planning – Calor’s process of identifying and developing internal people with potential to fill key positions within the company.
• Sharing the knowledge, strategies and practices of the best companies through impactful events and research.
3. People movements – Calor has increased our focus on creating development opportunities for people via movement – both internally and internationally.
“Calor has been extremely supportive in my career development. I have progressed to a level I did not expect this early. Within 18 months of joining as a Marketing Graduate, I was promoted to Segment Marketing Manager for Cylinders, with a welcome opportunity to excel and prove myself within my role.”
This year, we are also participating in the National Internship Scheme, as the company feels that it is something we would like to do as a matter of social responsibility. Therefore, we aim to help in breaking the cycle where jobseekers are unable to get a job without experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training, or as unemployed workers wishing to learn new skills. To date, this scheme has provided the company with highly talented people who have gained valuable experience for
As part of our People Development Plan, the Human Resources Department is working towards Calor being recognised as a Great Place to Work. Being part of a great place to work is about more than having a range of benefits and a number of social events each year. A company that is officially recognised as a Great Place to Work is one where employees believe in the credibility of its management; one where employees feel supported both personally and professionally; and one where they are treated equally. Great Places to Work are also those wherein people take pride in their work, have camaraderie with their peers and trust the people they work with and for.
benefits
improved organisational performance Increased Reputation, Customer Loyalty and Profitability
Productivity • Attraction and Retention • Engagement and Loyalty • Motivation and Innovation
Costs • Labour Turnover • Hiring Costs • Absenteeism Rate
Aoife Dromey Segment Marketing Manager Cylinders (2010 Graduate Intake)
52 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 53
Health Initiatives Another initiative Calor implemented in recent times to support staff general well-being is that a doctor and counselling service are available to employees at all times.
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Absenteeism is recorded by Calor in percentage form, i.e. how many days lost out of the available days in each particular month, and how does this compare on a month by month basis.
................................................................ The average annual figure has declined significantly year-on-year since 2009 to the point where the average rate of absenteeism is around 0.5 days per month. This is an excellent result, especially taking into account the fact that the figures are strongly influenced by a limited number of long-term sickness cases.
regards to the basic cost of providing the glasses, or of the new lenses where an employee already wears glasses, Calor contributes €60.
Employee Assistance Programme Calor offers an EAP service (Employee Assistance Programme); this is run by an external company and is a fully confidential service. The purpose of the EAP is to provide employees with easy access to confidential counselling and information services to assist in coping with work/life balance, relationships, childcare, health, debt, disability and illness, careers, workplace pressures, stress, bereavement, etc.
Employee Health Initiatives Vaccinations We provide a qualified doctor to administer the flu vaccine annually to any employee who wishes to have it. Eye test policy Open to employees who use VDU – test is carried out every 2-3 years, Calor contributes €30 towards the test. When lenses are required solely for VDUs, with
2009 2010 2011
2.74% 2.64% 2.53%
Absenteeism Record
54 Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012 55
With Calor, being off the grid no longer means being left in the cold. We provide gas for heating and cooking to customers right across the country.
56  Calor Sustainability Report 2012
Calor Sustainability Report 2012  57
Community Calor was involved in several community initiatives during 2011, in both Northern ireland and the republic of ireland.
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Community When you are involved With helpful initiatives in the Community, it’s not a responsibility, it’s a pleasure.
some sponsorship has been held with Calor for many years and other sponsorships are on a local ad hoc basis each year.
Calor recently presented the environmental restaurant Award 2011 to radisson blu Hotel, dublin Airport at the irish restaurant Awards in the burlington Hotel, dublin. the event is the irish restaurant industry’s largest and most prestigious event.
Calor is also involved in initiatives with local communities and the company supports employees in giving back to the community.
in conjunction with the GAA social initiative, we sponsored the theatrical production of shane Connaughton’s play ‘the Pitch’ (Nov ’11 to Jan ’12). we are currently sponsoring seamus o’rourke’s play, ‘victor’s dung’. the production is usually held in GAA clubs and it brings people together for a night’s entertainment, as well as allowing the club to fundraise.
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some of the sponsorships and initiatives are outlined below; however, as most are local, they are grouped into ad hoc sponsorships, which include sponsorship of GAA Clubs, Golf Classics, Charity events, Local schools, Cookery demos, etc.
examples of Calor sponsorships westmeath Hospice
€3,000
taste of offaly
€1,000
taste of monaghan
€2,500
irish Hotels federation
€3,000
rally of the Lakes killarney
€1,800
Ni Poultry Conference
£500
Hospitality exchange
£1,000
eddie irvine sports
£3,000
Ad Hoc sponsorships
the village of the year competition is a celebration of rural communities in ireland and of local people’s contribution to their communities. Communities are judged on fi ve categories, consisting of building Community Life, business, young People, older People and environment. the winner receives not just the title of village of the year but also a cash prize. Cash prizes are also awarded to the winners of the fi ve individual categories.
€43,000
Calor sustainability report 2012 59
Notes .................................................................................................................
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Calor Sustainability Report 2012  61
Notes .................................................................................................................
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Calor Sustainability Report 2012  63
Calor Gas Head Office, Longmile Road, Dublin 12 1850 812 450 info@calorgas.ie Calorgas.ie/sustainability