In 2010 on the M3 and M4 highways in Ireland, we installed energy saving devices on all public lighting feeder pillars and the Toll plazas and administration buildings resulting in a 25% reduction in electricity consumption. As a result of this initiative 2010 to present date the:
For the M3 highway has resulted in average savings of 122.52 Tonnes eq CO2 per year total for 10 years 1347.52 Tonnes eq CO2
For the M4 highway has resulted in average savings of 172.62 Tonnes eq CO2 per year total for 10 years 1898.83 Tonnes eq CO2.
Between the two projects to date we have eliminated 3,246.60 Tonnes eq CO2 from our projects. In other words, the savings achieved are equivalent to the catchment that would have been achieved by developing 50 hectares of forest.
Eurolink M3 & M4 have always been characterized by their support for environmental preservation, developing various actions aimed at the sustainability of their activity, with the objective of guaranteeing a better legacy for future generations. But its commitment has not only minimized the environmental impact of the highway’s own activity, it has also supported other stakeholders working to improve environmental sustainability both locally and globally.
Complete environmental strategy
In addition to complying with all applicable standards and regulations, the environmental strategy to reduce the carbon footprint is based on ongoing monitoring of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, waste, energy demand, air quality (suspended particulate matter and nitrous oxides) and water quality, and the noise impact produced by traffic throughout the highway’s operation. The efforts of the concessions are aimed at continually strengthening environmental practices in addition to providing and protecting habitat for local species.
At the same time, Irish highway have a permanent commitment to reduce and recycle waste, having adopted and implemented various initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint, many of them with significant impacts on the reduction of carbon emissions in the long term:
- Energy saving devices on public lighting columns and buildings and plazas and the removal of lighting columns
- LED lighting in offices and plazas combined with PIR light sensors in low footfall areas
- Rain water harvesting
- Permanent noise and air monitoring stations in place in two strategic locations
- Annual monitoring of rivers and streams within our projects
- Introduction of electric vehicles into our fleet
- Construction of mammal underpasses
- Creation of large sediment settling ponds, including oil interceptors, which have become natural regeneration areas and have created habitats for local flora and fauna
- Participation in the pilot program on biodiversity “Pollinator Friendly Initiatives” that is being developed at the national level with the participation of national government agencies, this program is in its second year of implementation.
