Despite the regulations and expert advice available on the topic of sustainability in the built environment, simple solutions that would quickly make projects more environmentally friendly are not being adopted.
According to the UK Green Building Council around 10% of all UK carbon emissions are generated by the construction industry. So why are we making slow progress, and why is ‘low hanging carbon cutting fruit’ so often ignored?
Here are my top five tips that will have a significant impact on the sustainability of your project, as well as your bottom line:
- Evaluate the need for a new building. Could you refurbish, or change your working practices to better suit an existing building – mitigating the need for a new building all together?
- Write a specific environmental plan for your project which should:
- Set specific, measurable targets and standards
- Establish risks and mitigation measures
- Establish procedures for :
- Onsite communication and training
- monitoring and reporting
- revision and required updating
- Utilise energy efficient materials and methods. Cement production, for example, is extremely carbon intensive but can be replaced with pulverised fly ash or ground blast furnace slag. Using these waste products of the power and steel industries also diverts them from going to landfill and avoids quarrying new cement.
- During dismantling and demolition, re-use, re-sale and recycle. Be mindful of local ecology, and the pollution caused by the disposal of hazardous materials. Consult local experts or the number of resources available online.
- Consider the location carefully; availability of transport and infrastructure, selection of a greenfield or brownfield site, local availability of resources and services etc…
With the construction industry being such a significant contributor to global emissions we must take sustainable construction methods and carbon cutting more seriously. It is often the simple steps that can make a big difference.
I’m David Sewell. I’m an Underwriting Manager at CNA Hardy with over 27 years’ experience.
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