As increasing coverage is given to carbon neutral companies, some are taking things one step further and have declared they will be carbon negative by the end of the decade.

co2

What does it mean to be carbon negative?

To answer this question we first need to look at carbon neutrality.

When a company says it is carbon neutral, it is saying that the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions it produces is the same amount as the carbon dioxide emissions that it removes from the atmosphere.

co2 neutral

Whereas being carbon negative means that the company is removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it produces.

co2 negative

So, instead of simply cancelling out the emissions that the company has created, being carbon negative enables companies to do something positive for the environment and show customers that they are committed to making a difference.

How do companies contribute to carbon emissions?

Carbon emissions are created when we heat, cool and light our buildings and these activities combined account for 23% of our national carbon emissions. When we burn fossil fuels to create energy to run factories, when we drive cars and trucks to meet with customers or deliver goods, and when we create products that are energy-intensive to manufacture, we are creating tonnes of carbon that is then released into the atmosphere.

Carbon emissions also come from a range of daily activities that even the smallest of businesses contribute to:

  • Commuting to work
  • Heating and cooling offices, warehouses and factories
  • Electricity for lighting, computers and other electronic devices
  • Waste disposal
  • Air travel

Companies are now realising that this is not sustainable and are taking proactive action. The first step is to understand how big their carbon footprint is, how their daily business activities impact the environment, and then taking the steps to create a sustainable business model.

Companies leading the way

In 2021, the accountancy firm EY announced that it plans to be carbon negative by 2025 having achieved carbon neutral status in 2020. They are one of seventy-one companies to sign up to the Low Carbon Pledge which aims to help achieve the goal of a net zero world by 2050. Over three hundred companies internationally have joined The Climate Pledge and are committed to taking action to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. Companies leading this charge are the heavy hitters of the tech world and include Microsoft, Amazon, Apple and Google.

We’ve talked about carbon neutral and carbon negative, what is net zero?

Net zero is an expansion of both carbon neutral and carbon negative; where other greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and other hydrofluorocarbons are removed from the atmosphere.

The Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) is signalling big changes in the coming years via their Draft Roadmap for Net Zero Whole Life Carbon (WLC) in the Built Environment in Ireland. You can download the draft here.

This roadmap outlines strategies for achieving net zero by 2050. One such strategy is “a cut-off date of 2027 for sales of new gas and oil boilers. Assuming a typical 15-year boiler lifespan, the last remaining gas boilers are assumed to be decommissioned in 2042.”

Banning oil and gas boilers will impact businesses across industries and this has prompted many companies to look for alternatives. One of the most cost-effective and efficient choices is a heat pump, and MasterTherm has been at the forefront of facilitating this changeover. An increasing number of customers are embarking on their journey to improve their carbon footprint as they seek to achieve carbon neutral or carbon negative status. The stage is now set for more companies making the switch to heat pumps in order to achieve these targets and strengthen their brand integrity and reputations among their industry peers and customers.

How do heat pumps help with carbon emissions?

Heat pumps help to reduce the carbon footprint of a business (or indeed a home) as they do not produce any on-site carbon. There are no fumes generated which is great for the local environment especially for installations in schools and leisure centres. The running of the heat pump in the smallest property can save more than two tonnes of carbon per year and this figure will only increase when we look at similar installations for larger buildings or businesses. 

Why MasterTherm?

Heat pumps can be used in any property that requires heating, heating and cooling but they are primarily used to provide hot water or to power a heating system. Heat pumps are also increasingly being used in commercial and industrial settings replacing traditional fossil fuels. A MasterTherm heat pump can be an efficient way of repurposing heat energy that otherwise would have been wasted. This will make businesses more sustainable and economical. MasterTherm heat pumps are ultra-quiet, have a 7-year warranty, give you lower heating bills and can be controlled easily from a tablet or phone because they use inverter technology.

We will design and tailor a personalised heating system to suit your property’s requirements. Whether it’s for a complex monitored heating and cooling system using rejected heat or a central heating system with a simple hot water demand. With your interests at the heart of MasterTherm, we will ensure that you get the maximum benefit from your heat pump system. 

If you’re looking for a heating and hot water solution for a large complex building, we may suggest multiple heat pumps working together. If you are unsure about how to start the journey to renewables using heat pumps, contact us and we can start by creating a bespoke design for your heating system.