At first glance, it might seem that running a building materials wholesaler does not exactly have green technology as a mainstay. However, the opposite is true. The family is constantly considering, evaluating, selecting and then implementing various green activities.
The first ones include the decision from around 2012 regarding photovoltaic power plants. At that time, it was a novelty with high state support, but untested, extremely expensive, financially demanding and no one had experience with their operation. Nevertheless, the family decided to invest (the company premises are family-owned) and built 3 photovoltaic power plants of 30 kW each. The family did not know back then that with this step they were embarking on the path of so-called energy independence, so important and valuable today. Now, in 2024, the family can see exactly when their consumption is high, when consumption peaks, and at what times of the working day the company needs more or less energy to run, and the family works effectively with this data. Pavel summarizes the situation as follows.
“The task before us is to build another 10 kW, purchase storage for 50 MW and thus become almost self-sufficient and independent from external sources. In 2014-2016 we installed heat pumps everywhere, got rid of solid fuel boilers, hot water connections and gas boilers.”
Electromobility is also a big topic for the family. In addition to a fleet of cars and trucks, they have discussed purchasing electric forklifts and pallet jacks for warehouse and shop operations. They currently own 2, but plan to gradually replace all of the existing vehicles. However, as electric trolley is not considered an electric vehicle, its purchase is not supported by any subsidy and the investment must therefore be economically calculated. Apart from the ecological benefits, Mr. Pavel also emphasizes employees’ satisfaction – “The trucks are quieter, without breakdowns, so we also support the elements of corporate culture in relation to the care of our employees”.
Another area in which the family-owned company is innovating is waste management. The construction and wholesale industry produces a relatively large amount of waste, which must be sorted and disposed of in some way. The family has therefore purchased lysing containers, which it uses to sort and dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly way, in accordance with current legislation. Instead of the bins or conventional containers being taken out every second or third day, the container is taken out only once a month. “We have an arrangement with a local recycling company; this cooperation has been working for about five years now and it’s great!”, explains brother Pavel, adding:
“We recently had an inspection from the Ministry of the Environment regarding waste management, and we got three A’s from them, so the best thing is that we are a model of what it should probably look like. And again, we can appeal to the elements of social responsibility, corporate culture and sustainability, where we encourage our employees, customers, and suppliers to sort waste in a non-violent way.”
Pavel
Indirectly related to this issue is the reduction of paper consumption, printer ink consumption and consequently the saving of electricity thanks to the implementation of automation of accounting and warehouse systems. An application for managing all documentation in electronic form in a company brings several major advantages that can increase efficiency, reduce costs, save time, improve work and make company processes more transparent. There is an increase in data security and protection, savings in storage space, easier sharing of documents and faster access to data needed for management decisions.
Currently, the family is researching what technologies and options exist for controlled ventilation with heat recovery that they would like to incorporate primarily in office buildings. The offices face both north and south, which means that on one side, the rooms are very hot with a constant need for air conditioning, while on the other side, the offices are cold and need to be heated permanently. The brothers are, therefore now commissioning a proposal to ensure that the heat from the south side goes to the north side and vice versa, including calculating the cost and return on investment.
“We expect to save a lot of energy but also avoid humidity in the interior or prevent pollen allergens and noise from the surrounding area. This issue is little talked about, but it would certainly be worth considering in schools in general, in public spaces and so on. At the same time, we anticipate that all of our properties that have a one-sided overheating problem would save energy costs, improve air quality, reduce the building’s carbon footprint, and improve worker productivity and comfort with the introduction of heat recovery.”
Pavel
The father and the siblings initially discuss all ideas for introducing ecological technologies or new methods. If a decision is made not to implement the idea, it is also discussed with the staff or external experts on the subject. Discussions are also held about the return on expected investments, forms of financing and the overall benefit to the company’s goodwill, employee, customer and supplier satisfaction.
The ecological approach to business is not only a matter of social responsibility for the Chýle family but also a deeply rooted part of family values. It is through discussions that sustainable solutions can be found that respect the environment as well as the needs and expectations of family, employees and clients. Each step the family ultimately takes is evaluated with an eye to the future – knowing that this work is beneficial not only in the present but also for generations to come. The family’s goal is not only to minimize its environmental footprint but also to inspire other corporate partners, clients and suppliers to take a responsible approach.
