Like previous years, 2018 proved to be another busy and successful year for KORE and its employees. Every so often we think it’s important to take a step back and reflect on our accomplishments, and acknowledge the hard work and dedication each and every employee brings to the team. In our latest post on the KORE Blog, let’s take a look back at 2018 and our proudest moments!
KORE Insulation in use on new projects across Ireland
Centre Parcs, the U.K. Holiday Resort Company, is currently building a €233 million site in Co. Longford, which aims to be open for summer 2019. KORE Floor will be used in 466 lodges and 30 apartments on site that will house up to 2,500 guests this year. KORE Void Formers have also been used in construction of roadways on site.
KORE Insulation is being used for floor and wall insulation in Glavloc’s Rapid Build Systems. These high performance builds are completed in less than a quarter of the time as traditional builds. Glavloc Rapid Builds are the first buildings systems to have a zero thermal (cold) bridge rating.
With an A1 Building Energy Rating, these passive homes are time, cost and energy effective.
KORE Insulation has been used in a variety of Glavloc homes including this 3 bedroom home (below) in Dublin. We are delighted our energy efficient products are being used in passive and low energy developments such as these.
Please see a completed home below in Carrickmines, Co Dublin. Read the full case study of this property here.
We look forward to seeing the completed project, until then you can read more here.
KORE successfully participated in online campaigns for health & safety and the environment
KORE completed a week long campaign on environmental awareness for World Green Building Week in conjunction with the Irish Green Building Council, and the World Green Building Council.
During the campaign all employees made pledges to the environment including installing a thermostat, conserving rain water, installing LED lights and much more. We also held tool box talks for employees on the importance of environmental sustainability and how they can make a difference at home.
In October, we participated in Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Safety Week where we held tool box talks on the importance of personal protective equipment, mental health in the workplace and ran a quiz on health & safety at work. We gave all employees a platform to voice their opinions on how we can improve health and safety and we have since implemented those excellent ideas. We had an office and factory clean up day to ensure a safe environment for all employees and gave out some prizes including a fire blanket, first aid kit and fire extinguisher.
KORE have completed CPD’s with County Councils and colleges around Ireland
Andrew Butler, KORE’s Technical Sales Manager has conducted a number of continual professional development trainings on KORE products such as KORE Fill, Cavity Wall Insulation, KORE Floor, KORE Loft and KORE Insulated Foundation System.
The CPD’s have been received by architects, insulation contractors, quantity surveyors, college students and County Councils members.
Most recently Andrew has presented to Fingal County Council in Dublin, Westmeath County Council and Engineering students in Waterford Institute of Technology. KORE are thrilled to be able to educate such a variety of people and aim to increase CPD numbers in 2019. If you or your organisation wish to receive CPD training please contact us.
KORE held events for employees and contractors
KORE held an employee appreciation day in September where they celebrated the achievements of the company and the hard work of the employees. The day consisted of presentations from all departments including sales, production and deep retrofit, a number of games were played and awards were given out. To learn more about our employee appreciation day please see here.
KORE also held a ‘Get Future Ready with KORE’ event in October where all KORE contractors were invited to gain knowledge in the upcoming proposed changes to Part L Building Regulations under the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Recast 2010 (EPBD) requiring all new buildings to be nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEB) by 31st December 2020 and all buildings acquired by public bodies by 31st December 2018.
Nearly Zero Energy Buildings can be defined as a building that has a very high energy performance, where the low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby. Programme Manager – Near Zero Energy Buildings & High Performance Retrofit from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Orla Coyle spoke on the proposed regulations and changes, as well as presentations from KORE’s Technical Sales Manager Andrew Butler on how KORE products meet and exceed the proposed changes to Part L, and presentations from KORE’s Deep Retrofit Manager John. B Smith and Waterford Insulation’s Eoin Madigan on the future of retrofit works in Ireland.
For more on the presentations that day and to learn more about the proposed changes please see here.
KORE participate in various trade shows & events this past year
Starting with the Sustainable Energy Authority Authority (SEAI) Energy Show in the RDS, Dublin in April, KORE showcased their energy efficient products over two days, while KORE’s Technical Sales Manager Andrew Butler gave a presentation on cavity wall insulation on the Retrofit Best Practice stand.
KORE took part in the two Self Build Shows in Dublin (September) and Cork (November), where we had huge interest in our wall insulation and Insulated Foundation System from eager self builders.
We also took part in the Cavan Energy Expo (November) in the Johnston Library, Cavan, where we educated and informed the local community on grant schemes available to them.
KORE welcome new employees
KORE welcomed a number of employees over 2018. Production, Technical, and Marketing have acquired new additions including Pauric Kavanagh, Operations Director, Paulina Mlodwaska, Product Development Engineer and Lisa Downey, Marketing Executive. In January 2019 we welcomed Steven Kilbride, a Technical Sales Representative for KORE.
KORE Better Energy Community Scheme 2018 is a huge success
In 2018 KORE successfully retrofitted 14 properties under the Better Energy Community Scheme. The projects include energy efficiency retrofits in a variety of building types, including residential, community organisations and commercial businesses. SEAI’s Better Energy Communities Scheme includes a wide range of upgrades including insulation, heating systems, solar PV systems, LED lighting upgrades, EcoDrive training among others. Measures are determined on a site by site basis.
Pictured below is a former Post Office in Ballinahown, Co. Galway, which took part in the BEC 2018 Scheme. The property was derelict for 10 years until purchased in 2018. The property began with a Building Energy Rating (BER) of G, and the new homeowners wanted to retrofit the home to an A rating.
The following measures were applied:
- 150mm of KORE External Wall Insulation
- Triple Glazed windows and doors
- Warm Pitched Roof
- Mechanical Heat Recovery
- New Floors installed with Under Floor Heating
- Daikin Air to Water Heat Pump
After all retrofit measures were completed, a new Building Energy Rating (BER) OF A3 was established. To read more on KORE’s Better Energy Communities Scheme and KORE’s Retrofit Solutions please see here.
KORE win big at awards
In 2018, KORE had a successful year being shortlisted, and winning a variety of Awards, including the Cavan Business & Tourism Awards, SEAI Energy Awards and KPMG Irish Property Industry Excellence Awards.
On October 19th, we collected our first award at the Cavan Business & Tourism Awards 2018. We won the ‘Most Innovative Company’ Award, and ‘Overall Company’ Award. Next were the SEAI Energy Awards 2018 where we were finalists in the ‘Small Business Category’.
In November we had the honour of collecting the trophy for the ‘Energy Efficiency’ Award at the KPMG Irish Property Industry Excellence Awards 2018 at the Convention Centre Dublin. We won this award for our work on the Better Energy Community Scheme 2017, where we retrofit a number of commercial, domestic and community properties.
Most recently we have been shortlisted for ‘Green Small Organisation of the Year’ at The Green Awards 2019, ‘Sustainable Energy Finalists’ at the SFA National Small Business Awards 2019, and ‘Small Medium Large Manufacturing Company of the Year’ at the IMR Manufacturing & Supply Chain Awards 2019. It is with great pride that we receive these accolades as we strive to be best in class with quality and service. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our employees, who without their help, none of this would be possible.
KORE provide advanced technical expertise
KORE have developed technical drawings for all our products, moving from 2D imaging to 3D, giving better view points for technical assessments of a property. KORE have also updated product technical information in line with the proposed changes to Part L Building Regulations. All KORE products will meet and exceed Nearly Zero Energy Building Standard and a variety of brochures are available upon request (see below).
If you have any questions for our Technical team please contact us now.
