ESB Green Mentor
Limerick / Clare / Kerry Regional Waste Management Office
On wednesday 9th November 2005, ESB Customer Supply hosted a B2B Green Mentor Event at ESB Power Station Ardnacrusha. The event was held as part of the umbrella project 'Business to Business (B2B) Green Mentor Programme for Waste Prevention' for the Limerick/Clare/Kerry Region. This initiative is facilitated by the Regional Waste Management Office which was jointly established in 2003 by Limerick, Clare and Kerry County Councils and Limerick City Council. The overall role of the office is to co-ordinate the implementation of the Region's Waste Management Plan.
The B2B Green Mentor Programme encourages larger companies to become Green Mentors on a voluntary basis. For the host company, this involves the provision of waste prevention guidance to other companies in their sector or geographical area, or to their suppliers - or, for that matter, their customers!
The basic principle behind the B2B Green Mentor Programme is the promotion of what is known as Cleaner Production. This term refers to the concept of preventing the generation of waste at source rather than having to implement costly treatment further along the line. Cleaner Production covers aspects such as the efficient use of raw materials, energy and water as well as preventing the generation of waste and emissions. Thus, as well as proving to be cost beneficial to companies, environmental impact is also reduced.
Brendan Tonge of ESB Customer Supply gave an inspiring talk on the importance for companies to formulate an Energy Management Plan and he described the critical steps to setting up such a plan. Brendan also gave an outline of the useful information and services available to customers of ESB Customer Supply as described on the website www.esb.ie.
Margaret Murphy of the Regional Waste Management Office outlined the principles of Cleaner Production and the particular link it has with energy efficiency. The event also provided the opportunity for Patrick Stephens, Manager of the new Limerick Clare Energy Agency to outline the role of the Agency - further information is available on the website www.lcea.ie.
B2B Green Mentor Programme has already attracted support from leading businesses - including the latest - ESB Customer Supply. The Regional Waste Management Office wishes to express sincere thanks to ESB Customer Supply for agreeing to take on the role of Green Mentor and especially to Breda Walshe for organising the event. Many thanks also to ESB Ardnacrusha Station Plant Manager Michael Rocke and his staff for facilitating what proved to be a very interesting and rewarding morning for all.
