Kirby Group Engineering
Founded in 1964 in Limerick, Kirby Group Engineering is a leading mechanical and electrical engineering contractor operating across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe, and directly employing over 1,600 highly skilled professionals. Kirby provides full mechanical and electrical contracting services as well as specialist high voltage (HV) and medium voltage (MV) design and construction services to clients across a number of different sectors including Data Centres, Life Sciences, Industrial, and Power and Renewables.
Embedding Sustainability into the business operations provides Kirby Group Engineering with a unique opportunity to drive and contribute to positive change while reaping operational and strategic benefits. By integrating sustainable practices, Kirby Group Engineering can reduce their carbon emissions, minimize waste, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
“We are delighted to support the Student Sustainability Challenge as we recognise the importance of supporting and nurturing the next generation’s capacity to address global Sustainability challenges. This initiative not only fosters creativity and teamwork but also ensures that students gain practical experience in taking ideas from concept to implementation.” Jason Doherty, Head of Sustainability, Kirby Group Engineering
List of Proposed Projects and Thematic Areas for Kirby Group Engineering
Project 1: Project Thematic Circular Economy
Project Descriptor: Construction waste and embedding circular economy principles into activities/projects.
Project 2: Whole Life Carbon Assessment
Project Descriptor: Analyse the carbon footprint of a product/service through all stages of its manufacture, use and disposal (e.g. Cables used in Kirby projects)
Project 3: Alternatives to Plastic
Project Descriptor: Identification of alternatives to plastics/exploring plastic free office.
Project 4: Sustainable Procurement
Project Descriptor: Explore ideas/actions to make these processes as sustainable as possible.
Project 5: Complete Energy Audit
Project Descriptor: Identify tangible energy/carbon reduction opportunities.
Project 6: Community Engagement
Project Descriptor: Identify initiatives with local communities to promote sustainability and educate on environmental practices.
Project 7: Sustainable fleet solutions
Project Descriptor: This initiative focuses on reducing emissions from company vehicle fleet. Investigating options like electric vehicle (EV), adoption of HVO fuel etc could be explored. The aim is to lower Scope 1 emissions associated with the company’s fleet.
Project 8: Customer or Supply chain engagement programmes
Project Descriptor: This project would aim to foster collaboration with customers and suppliers to enhance sustainability practices. Students could potentially develop strategies for engaging suppliers in sustainability initiatives, such as setting emissions reduction targets and sharing best practices. The goal is to create a network that prioritizes sustainable sourcing and reduces Scope 3 emissions through collective action.
Project 9: Internal Carbon pricing
Project Descriptor: Implementing an internal carbon pricing mechanism can help the organization quantify the cost of carbon emissions associated with its operations. Students can research how to establish a carbon price that reflects the environmental impact of business activities. This initiative encourages departments to consider carbon costs in decision-making, driving investments in low-carbon technologies and practices.
Project 10: CSRD readiness
Project Descriptor: This project focuses on preparing the organization for compliance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Students can research the requirements of the CSRD, including the need for transparent reporting on sustainability impacts and risks. The initiative could involve developing a framework for data collection, stakeholder engagement, and reporting processes that align with CSRD standards. The goal is to ensure that the organization is well-equipped to disclose its sustainability performance and impacts effectively.
Project 11: Sustainability data reporting
Project Descriptor: This project could focus on development of PowerBi (or other platforms) dashboards to identify optimal ways for Kirby’s sustainability team to report Sustainability performance and/or progress to senior management. This could look at development of appropriate KPI’s, infographics etc that support internal and external communications.
*If you are interested in finding out more please get in touch with studentsustainability@ul.ie