NIBuilder 32-5 Oct-Nov

NEWS

Fivemiletown-based paving and building products firm, AG, has switched to 100% renewable energy with the help of Electric Ireland. Stephen Acheson, CEO at AG, said the firm will continue to reduce its carbon footprint where possible. “Working closely with our Net Zero Carbon team that’s solely dedicated to making the business more sustainable and more energy efficient, we have outlined core plans to reduce direct and indirect waste like we have done at the Fivemiletown site, as its currently operating at zero wastage.” “This new commitment to renewable energy is intrinsic to the balance between the social, economic, and environmental aspects of our business. As further evidence of this, we are working in partnership with Queens University Belfast to develop a carbon calculator to measure CO 2 in our products. Our switch to 100% renewable energy will enable us to reduce our CO 2 levels by 1,500 tonnes per year, based on last year’s consumption, so this is a significant initiative for us as part of our environmental strategy.” AGSWITCHES TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mel Higgins (left) from the Northern Regional College (NRC) with Karl McKillop from Heron Bros. Photo: NRC.

WORKSTARTSONMULTI-MILLION POUNDNRCCOLLEGECAMPUS

Led by contractor Heron Bros, construction of the new £40m Northern Regional College campus building at Union Street in Coleraine has begun. The campus will feature a fully accessible, state-of- the-art, 12,560m 2 four-storey building, incorporating the former Church of Ireland premises on Brook Street, which will be fully restored to house a 80-100 seat Performing Arts Centre. Karl McKillop, Construction Director with Heron Bros said, “We are proud to be involved in this prestigious development and look forward to the next important steps in delivering this complex education

facility and leaving a lasting legacy for Coleraine and the wider area.” It is anticipated that over 100 new construction jobs will be created and a further 300 sustained during the building phase of the Coleraine campus. Along with these full-time jobs, over 1,000 weeks of employment and training will be provided through traineeships, apprenticeships and higher level apprenticeships (HLAs) across a range of construction related trades. The Coleraine campus construction project is expected to complete in the 2023/2024 academic year.

GEDAWATERSCULPTUREMARKS FLOODALLEVIATIONPROJECT

Geda Construction and NI Water have been working with local schools in the vicinity of the Ravenhill Avenue Flood Alleviation Project and recently visited Aquinas Grammar School to make some great additions to their Wellbeing Garden.

A fantastic sculpture, which recycles rainwater via its pumping mechanism, was presented by Geda Construction as well as a waterbutt from NI Water. Many schools are seeking to improve their outdoor learning environments to enhance pupil wellbeing and mental health alongside improving the sustainability of the school grounds. Waterbutts are a great way to do this as they harvest rainwater, which can then be used to water plants encouraging pupils to save water and look after the natural environment. Once complete, in early 2023, this major £7 million Flood Alleviation project will reduce the risk of sewer flooding in the Ravenhill Avenue area.

Cathy Maguire (left) HSEQ Manager AG, Keith Scott CFO AG and Ann Lowry Cus- tomer Services Manager at Electric Ireland.

Geda Construction’s water sculpture recycles rainwater via its pumping mechanism. Photo: NI Water.

14 | NI BUILDER

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