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carbon

Can a building be net zero carbon?

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Following on from our post last month about COP27, and the growing importance of sustainability in the construction industry, zero carbon is also something that is increasingly in the news.

A panel has been put together to determine exactly what constitutes a net zero carbon building and is now calling for evidence.

The NZCBS is the UK’s first Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and are championing the initiative.

We are calling on UK built environment industry practitioners to share embodied carbon and in-use operational energy performance data for their buildings.

To develop the Standard, benchmarks will be agreed for the operational energy usage and embodied carbon performance levels today, and limits and targets will be set out for future years based on the industry’s required decarbonisation trajectory. To do this, the project is seeking case study data from the real estate and built environment industry.

The deadline for submission is the 16th December.

The Standard will set out metrics by which net zero carbon performance is evaluated, as well as performance targets, or limits, that need to be met. These are likely to include energy use, upfront embodied carbon, and lifecycle embodied carbon, with other metrics – such as space heating/cooling demand and peak load – also to be considered. It will also cover the approach to carbon accounting, procuring renewable energy, and the treatment of residual emissions, including carbon ‘offsetting’. However, the scope and output of the Standard may evolve throughout the development process.
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It is expected that claims will be required to be validated based on in-use measured data and interim verification of an asset at design stage or once the asset is built but not yet operating may also be considered.

The output will be for developers, contractors, asset owners and managers, occupiers, investors, financiers and funders, consultants, building industry professionals, building managers and product/material manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. It is for anyone who wants to either fund, procure, design, or specify a Net Zero Carbon Building and anyone wanting to demonstrate that their building is ‘Net Zero’-aligned with an industry-agreed Standard.
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Performance targets will align with science-based trajectories needed to achieve net zero by 2050 and a 78% reduction by 2035 in the UK, i.e. what is known to be required to stand a reasonable chance of mitigating global warming to 1.5°C. It will also align with the energy demand reductions projected to be required to enable a net zero carbon energy supply sector.
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The approach will be applicable to both existing and new buildings (e.g. Homes, Offices, Education, Industry, Retail, Hotels, Healthcare etc.). To start, the focus will be on the most common building typologies, especially those for which industry stakeholders have already robust performance data available to inform the setting of performance targets. The Standard will not apply to infrastructure.

The project will hopefully launch in May.

So, what actually is a net carbon building?

A carbon neutral building is one where the design, construction, and operations do not contribute to emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector will greatly help meet climate goals.

In the short and medium term the national grid will not be fully decarbonised and so buildings will need to make use of carbon offsetting to achieve a net zero carbon balance.

Sources: NZC Buildings / net zero carbon guide

What does COP27 mean for construction?

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November saw the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt host the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27), with a view to building on previous successes and paving the way for future ambition to effectively tackle the global challenge of climate change.

The Building to COP27, a group of sustainability-focused built environment NGOs and organisations, is working to position the built environment as a critical sector to achieve the needed transition to a resilient and zero emissions future at COP conferences. The group aims to raise awareness of the impact that the building sector can have while pointing out that more drastic measures need to be taken, as most countries do not include full building decarbonization targets, and certain areas, such as building materials are under-addressed.

Buildings are responsible for almost 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions and 50% of all extracted materials. The building and construction sector’s demand on natural resources accelerates climate change, and inefficient, unhealthy buildings negatively impact human health and wellbeing.

By 2050:

  • 1.6 billion urban dwellers will be regularly exposed to extreme high temperatures
  • Over 800 million people living in more than 570 cities will be vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal flooding
  • By 2060 the world’s building stock will double and almost 70% of the global population is projected to live in urban areas

By 2030, efficient buildings will be an investment opportunity worth $24.7 trillion Despite this, under $3 of every $100 spent on new construction goes to efficient buildings. Out of the 186 countries that have submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 136 countries mention buildings, 53 countries mention building energy efficiency, and 38 specifically call out building energy codes. Most countries do not include full building decarbonisation targets and certain areas such as building materials are under addressed.

All countries will also need to include full building decarbonisation targets, concrete policies and measures and related implementation mechanisms in their NDCs.

  • 1,000 cities and at least 20% of the largest built environment businesses by revenue committed to the UN’s Race to Zero.
  • The sector’s stakeholders unite behind a single voice and ambition towards shared goals:
  • By 2030, 100% of new buildings must be net-zero carbon in operation and embodied carbon must be reduced by at least 40%, and by 2050, all new and existing assets must be net zero across the whole life cycle (see UNFCCC Human Settlements Pathway).

For the built environment to contribute its fair share of emissions reductions and stay within the 1.5°C degree warming limit, there needs to be a halving of emissions by 2030 and net zero over the full life-cycle by or before 2050. More specifically, this means that by 2030 all new buildings should be “net zero carbon” in operation (no emissions from building energy use) and embodied carbon needs to be reduced by at least 40%.

Building and infrastructure projects have extended lead times. It can take anywhere from a few years to 15-20 years to complete a project, from the initial planning stage to execution and operational start. This means that “2030 is today”. A project that is entering the planning stage in 2022-23 needs to target the required carbon performance for 2030 imperatively.

Today, only very few building projects calculate and report their full carbon footprint, which is a critical practice if we want to understand how to reduce all emissions over the life cycle of buildings. Yet, if owners, developers and investors start requesting Whole Life Carbon assessments, architecture, engineering and construction firms offer them in all their projects, and cities require them in their permitting and procurement procedures, then we could rapidly build up the evidence allowing for benchmarking and target setting and enable everyone to act to achieve them.

During this year’s conference, the Clean Construction Accelerator was announced, an act that hopes to support the built environment sector in halving emissions by 2030 for all new buildings and infrastructure projects.

There are many positives already.  The percentage of construction companies, by revenue, that have joined the Race to Zero has doubled since COP26. Building on this over the next few years is going to be key to achieving the targets/ We look forward to COP28 to see progress.

Sources: archdaily.com / buildingtocop.org

plastics

Spotlight on plastics and packaging

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The Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched its industry-wide campaign ‘Spotlight on…plastics and packaging’ to raise awareness and showcase best practice in how the construction industry can reduce, reuse and recycle plastics and packaging.

Plastics and packaging are unavoidable in modern society, with the global market driven by consumerism and convenience, the demand for plastic is only increasing. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, more than 8 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced since the early 1950s, and around 60% of that plastic has ended up in either landfill or the natural environment.

For decades, society has ignored the environmental risks associated with plastics and packaging. However, recent scientific studies and documentary exposés such as David Attenborough’s Blue Planet have revealed just how detrimental plastics and packaging are to the environment and to human health.

The following statistics illustrate the severity of this environmental issue:

  • The UK uses over 5 million tonnes of plastic every year.
  • The UK exports around 450,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste each year.
  • Plastic packaging accounts for around 70% of all plastic waste produced in the UK.
  • Less than one third of plastic waste is recycled in the UK.
  • Globally, only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled.
  • Up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year.
  • An estimated 480 billion plastic bottles are sold across the world each year – this is around 20,000 plastic bottles every second.

Plastics and packaging

Packaging is defined as any material used to hold, protect, handle, deliver and present goods. Such materials might include cardboard, paper, timber and most notably, plastic.

Despite the environmental risks associated with plastic, the construction industry is reliant on plastic in its working practices. This is because plastic is cheap, lightweight, water-resistant and chemically inert, making it an ideal resource for the industry to use.

In fact, the construction industry is the second largest consumer of plastic in the UK:

  • The construction industry consumes 23% of all plastic produced in the UK.
  • In the construction industry, 60% of all skipped material by weight is packaging waste.
  • Around 25% of construction packaging waste by weight is plastic.
  • Piping and conduit are the largest uses of polymers in construction, and consume around 35% of production.
  • The construction industry produces three times more packaging waste than all UK households combined.

The scheme encourages businesses to create a comprehensive site waste management plan to be incorporated into every site’s waste management and logistics plan to reduce waste being disposed of to landfill.

A Site Waste Management Plan can be developed before construction commences. The plan describes how materials, including plastics and packaging, will be managed and disposed of and explains how the reuse and recycling of waste will be maximised.

Although the Scheme’s survey results found that 91% of construction industry professionals have a Site Waste Management Plan in place, over 50% said the plan is inefficient for managing waste produced on site. To build an effective Site Waste Management Plan, the following should be considered:

  • Liaise with suppliers to prevent unnecessary plastic and packaging waste and to maximise the volume of sustainable packaging used.
  • Quantify the volume of materials that will be used to avoid excess waste, particularly packaging waste.
  • Estimate how much of each type of waste will be produced, and the proportion of which will be recycled and reused. Only dispose of waste to landfill as a last resort.
  • Update the plan as construction progresses to monitor how waste is being reused and recycled.
  • Regularly communicate with your waste management supplier to ensure materials are separated and segregated to maximise recycling rates.

Using a Site Waste Management Plan not only protects the environment, but can significantly reduce financial costs. Sites could even consider implementing a Site Waste Management Plan solely for the purpose of plastic waste.

This campaign has shown that the construction industry is making considerable progress and is working hard towards reducing its consumption of plastics and packaging. However, the industry must now continue to make long term commitment to tackling plastic pollution as an entire sector.

For more information and to read the full report please go here:  https://ccsbestpractice.org.uk/spotlight-on/spotlight-on-plastics-and-packaging/#what_can_you_do

straw bales

The 7 best eco friendly materials for building

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With the inevitability of declining fossil fuels, and the threat of global climate change, reducing our energy consumption is an essential survival strategy.

Choosing to build green saves energy. The low embodied energy of green products ensures that very little energy went into their manufacture and production, with a direct reduction in carbon emissions. Eco friendly design methodology can further reduce energy consumption by minimising energy inputs for heating, cooling and light, and incorporating energy efficient appliances. Saving energy for the occupant also saves money – an issue that will become increasingly important as the cost of fossil fuels inevitably rises in the near future.

The most eco friendly construction materials for a home are as follows:

Recycled Steel

Utilises steel already in existence for structural use in a home. The reclaimed steel from 6 junk cars provides enough recycled steel to build a 2000 square for home. Recycling saves 75% of the energy costs. Steel is the most recycled material in the world and recycled steel is used in the manufacture of all new steel.

Bamboo

Bamboo is increasing in popularity as a building material. Bamboo is very sustainable since it grows quickly. While trees such as pine and cedar can be reforested, growing them can take years. Bamboo can be reforested much more promptly and grows throughout the world.  Bamboo, like true wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures. Bamboo has a higher compressive strength than wood, brick or concrete and a tensile strength that rivals steel.

Sheep’s Wool

Sheep’s wool, of course, can also be regrown quickly. After shearing, sheep inherently produce a new crop. Clothing manufacturers have long-known the insulating properties of wool, which make very cozy sweaters and socks. The same insulating features can make sheep’s wool an energy-efficient insulator in walls, ceilings and attics. Sheep Wool Insulation is totally natural, environmentally friendly, and quick and easy to install.  Wool insulation and other eco-friendly products appeal to the growing numbers of home owners and buyers looking for green buildings with an excellent energy rating.

Straw Bales

Straw bales also have fantastic insulating properties. Straw bales are placed in walls, attics and ceilings to contribute to cooler temperatures in the summer and warmer temperatures in the winter. Straw can be harvested and re-planted easily with minimal environmental impact. The making of straw into bales also has a very low influence.  Research has shown that straw-bale construction is a sustainable method for building, from the standpoint of both materials and energy needed for heating and cooling.

Precast Concrete

Concrete is a natural material that can be recycled, making it an appropriate choice for eco-friendly homes. Pre-cast concrete is eco-friendlier than concrete poured on site. It is poured into pre-made molds over rebar or wire, then cured. Once the concrete has hardened, it can be shipped and placed into multiple structures. As a result, precast concrete achieves economies of scale that concrete which is poured on-site cannot.

Reclaimed or Recycled Wood

Reclaimed or recycled wood has much less of an environmental impact than harvesting new timber. Since many homes and other structures have used wood for several years, it’s relatively easy to reclaim those structures for new home building. Wood can be used in the construction of a home — reclaimed and recycled wood can also be used to make unique floors or exposed beams with an antique look.

Earth

Many cultures throughout the centuries have used earth for building. Homes built of earth are warm in the winter and cool in the summer. While earth homes are frequently produced in China and parts of South America, they are far less prevalent in the United Kingdom.

Plant-Based Polyurethane Rigid Foam

Rigid foam is often used as insulation material in building. It’s made from kelp, hemp and bamboo. Because it is rigid — and relatively immovable — it can be used in insulation. It offers protection against mold and pests, as well as sound insulation and heat resistance.

There are many good reasons why we should use eco-friendly construction methods and materials. It can improve the health of our planet, and the health of our own lives. It also supports local business and helps strengthen the local economy, which in turn helps to build our communities into vibrant, prosperous and desirable places to live

Source: motherearthnews.com / Tata Steel Europe / Sheep Wool Insulation / Wikipedia /

reusable water bottles

Reusable bottles used in a pilot scheme to reduce plastics on site

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A pilot scheme is underway at the mixed-use Abbey Area redevelopment in Camden to use reusable water bottles instead of plastic cups, where Wates is building 141 homes as well as additional retail and commercial spaces.

Reusable bottles have been distributed to the entire workforce who can use fresh water stations to fill them up.

Previously, the Abbey Area redevelopment used an estimated 120,000 cups per year, which cost just over £1,300. The company estimates the move could save around £4,350 per site over ten years, while reducing landfill by 5,000kg over the same period.

Over a 10-year period, Wates estimates that swapping to reusable bottles could save approximately £4,350 per site, as well as reducing landfill by around 5,000kg and helping to reduce litter and marine pollution.

Wates is also hoping the change will encourage workers to cut down their use of single-use plastic bottles as the initiative is rolled-out across all of its sites.

Graphene

Wonder material Graphene could revolutionise the construction industry

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Scientists say a greener, stronger and more durable concrete made using “wonder-material” graphene could revolutionise the construction industry.  

Graphene is a form of carbon first reliably produced at the University of Manchester by researchers in 2004, work which led to two Nobel prizes. It is made up of a single layer of carbon atoms in a hexagonal lattice. Its structure gives it important physical qualities, including efficient conductance of heat and electricity and unusual strength.

A research team at the University of Exeter, which includes Cast Consultancy’s Dimitar Dimov, has developed a technique which uses nanoengineering technology to incorporate graphene into traditional concrete production.

The researchers say the new composite material is more than twice as strong and four times more water resistant than existing concretes, and has been tested using British and European industry standards.

The graphene-reinforced concentre material also reduces the carbon footprint of conventional concrete production methods, according to the University of Exeter scientists. They add that the technique could pave the way for other nanomaterials to be incorporated into concrete.

Dimitar Dimov, lead author, who works at the University of Exeter engineering department and with construction consultancy Cast, said: “This research is important as it can be applied to large-scale manufacturing and construction. The industry has to be modernised by incorporating not only offsite manufacturing, but innovative new materials as well.

“Finding greener ways to build is a crucial step forward in reducing carbon emissions around the world and so help protect our environment as much as possible. It is the first step, but a crucial step in the right direction to make a more sustainable construction industry for the future.”

Professor Monica Craciun, co-author of the paper and also from Exeter’s engineering department, said: “This new composite material is an absolute game-changer in terms of reinforcing traditional concrete to meets these needs. Not only is it stronger and more durable, but it is also more resistant to water, making it uniquely suitable for construction in areas which require maintenance work and are difficult to be accessed.

“Yet perhaps more importantly, by including graphene we can reduce the amount of materials required to make concrete by around 50% – leading to a significant reduction of 446kg per tonne of the carbon emissions.”

The paper, Ultrahigh Performance nanoengineered Graphene-Concrete Composites for Multifunctional Applications, is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

The research was supported by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Cement-making accounts for 6% of global carbon emissions, and manufacturers must make sharp reductions if the Paris climate goals are to be met, according to the Carbon Disclosure Project, in a recent study.

 

Source: Construction Manager / The Guardian

Air Pollution

Air Pollution could cause a problem

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The Considerate Constructors scheme have recently conducted a survey which reveals an urgent need for greater awareness and understanding of air pollution across the construction industry, and provides advice on tackling the issue.

Air pollution is a key concern for the construction industry due to the sector’s considerable impact on air quality.

•Less than a quarter of all air pollution-related deaths are in London, so it is clear that air pollution is everyone’s problem.

•Construction sites are responsible for 7.5% of nitrogen oxide emissions, 8% of large particle emissions and 14.5% of emissions of the most dangerous fine particles.

•The construction sector mostly contributes to air pollution through construction dust, plant machinery and construction transport.

•The industry is taking steps to reduce air pollution through air quality plans, emissions monitoring, dust management, low-emission plant machinery, delivery management and raising workforce awareness.

Air quality plans

At the outset of a large project or one adjacent to sensitive receptors, it is important to incorporate air quality considerations into the management and logistics plans. These can include the following:

•Where the risk of dust is deemed to have a negative impact on amenity, health and the natural environment – relative to site-specific factors such as proximity to sensitive receptors – an Air Quality Assessment may be required. This assessment should identify the level of risk to air quality during each stage of the project.

•Air Quality and Dust Management Plans should outline the steps being taken to mitigate the adverse impact of construction activities on air quality.

•In preparing Construction Logistics Plans, contractors should engage with their client/developers to demonstrate how they will deal with pollution issues during construction. This can include the controls and systems outlined in the above documents and traffic/delivery considerations.

Monitoring

It is difficult to assess a site’s impact on air quality if no monitoring is carried out, so sites could consider the following:

•Baseline monitoring of air quality levels in the vicinity of the works before the project commences will act as a reference point to identify good and bad practice throughout the project.

•Dust emissions should be monitored through specialised machinery, visual inspections, daily dust logs etc.

•Continuous air quality and particulate monitoring will alert the contractor to any rapid increases in pollutant concentrations, so that mitigation measures can be put in place.

While 84% of survey respondents acknowledge there is an issue with air pollution in the construction industry, nearly two thirds (64%) feel the industry is not doing enough to tackle this issue.

The survey, which involved over 600 respondents from across the UK and Irish construction industries, also revealed:

•91% said air pollution is a nationwide issue.

•88% said the importance of minimising air pollution is being communicated to the workforce on their site.

•62% said their site has appropriate measures in place to address air pollution.

•56% have a good or detailed understanding of air pollution.

•39% have an average understanding of the regulations surrounding air pollution.

Considerate Constructors Scheme Chief Executive, Edward Hardy said:

A staggering 40,000 deaths a year are linked to air pollution in the UK, and many people are suffering long-term health problems caused by poor air quality. As construction is a significant contributor to air pollution, it is essential for the industry to put measures in place to clean up our air by working together to reduce our impact on air quality.

The Scheme’s ‘Spotlight on…air pollution’ campaign provides everyone within the industry access to a practical suite of resources including best practice, guidance and case studies from Scheme-registered construction sites, companies and suppliers on how to tackle this issue, as well as guidance from organisations including the Institute of Air Quality Management, Healthy Air Campaign and the Greater London Authority.

We are proud to be at the forefront of collaborative efforts to tackle air pollution, having partnered with the Institution of Civil Engineers to produce Scheme posters for registered sites, companies and suppliers to raise the issue of air pollution to their workforce. The Institution of Civil Engineers has also recognised the value of the industry being committed to the Considerate Constructors Scheme, having highlighted Scheme registration within its London Air Quality Taskforce report published in 2017.

Professor Peter Hansford FREng FICE, Chair of ICE Air Quality Task Force commented:

The Institution of Civil Engineers is delighted to be partnering with the Scheme for the launch of its ‘Spotlight on…air pollution’ campaign. The Scheme offers a golden opportunity for the industry to ‘up its game’ in relation to air quality around our construction sites and is a key driving force in helping to address this issue across the industry.

For the full report please go here:

https://ccsbestpractice.org.uk/spotlight-on/spotlight-on-air-pollution/#Introduction

Sources: cscscheme.org

renewable

UK sets renewable energy records

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The UK broke 13 renewable energy records in 2017, including some especially notable ones.

The year 2017 has been the greenest ever in how the UK generates its electricity.

Renewable sources of energy produced more than three times the amount of electricity that came from coal.

More electricity was generated by wind than coal on more than three quarters of days in the year, and more by solar energy on more than half the days.

In March, the largest amount of renewable electricity was produced – 19.2GW.

In April, the UK had its first 24-hour period for more than 150 years without using power from coal.

In June, wind, nuclear and solar were generating more than gas and coal combined for the first time.

In December, the country generated the most wind power in a day – 281.5GW.

The figures have been welcomed by environmental campaigners, including Gareth Redmond-King, of the environmental campaigning group WWF.

He told Sky News: “A huge part of it is government support to install new renewables, offshore wind particularly, but also onshore wind and solar that’s enabled the industry to grow – and for much more renewables on the system.

“Of course, companies have had to adjust to provide for that and build those power stations, and of course the more consumers that switch to clean energy the more demand there is for that to be built.”

The UK has seen its greenest ever summer as low carbon energy production spikes and offshore wind farm subsidies at a record low.

The figures from the National Grid reflect a UK government commitment to reduce carbon emissions and meet its targets on greenhouse gases.

It has targeted 2025 as a date to end the use of “unabated coal” – coal from which the carbon emissions are not captured.

However, while the news is good on the use of renewables versus coal, there are less encouraging figures regarding gas.

This year, output from wind was more than from gas – a fossil fuel – on only two days, and overall renewables outstripped gas on just 23 days.

Source: Sky News / UK Construction Week

green gas

15 million homes could be powered by green gas by 2050

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Biogas produce from domestic waste could generate enough power to fuel 15mn homes by 2050, according to a new report by UK gas distribution firm Cadent.

This would be enough energy to cover households across the south east of England, London, and East Anglia, and the most effective way of managing the large amounts of waste produced in the UK.

Biogas could grow significantly in the next 30 years, allowing black domestic bag rubbish, agricultural waste, energy crops, food waste, and sewage to generate 183TWh of biomethane.

Two-thirds of renewable gas could be sourced from energy crops and agricultural residues, with the remaining third coming from waste. Of that third, 83% would be produced by Bio-Substitute Natural Gas (BioSNG) and 17% would derive from biomethane, generated by anaerobic digestion.

BioSNG production is a thermochemical process that utilises gasification and the methanation of the produced “syngas”. It can be transported through existing natural gas networks to be used in domestic, commercial and industrial heating and CHP applications.

“The findings of this report show that with the right policies in place renewable gas could play a significant role in helping the UK meet its carbon reduction targets, particularly in heat and transport, which are lagging behind electricity,” commented Cadent Director of Network Strategy, David Parkin.

“Alongside other green energy solutions, renewable gas offers us an affordable, sustainable route to heat our homes and fuel transport, while tackling climate change, and contributing towards more sustainable waste management and cleaner air.”

In November of last year Ecotricity – the UKs greenest energy company claimed that by 2035, almost all homes in Britain could be heated by the green gas from grass – creating an industry worth £7.5 billion annually for the economy.

They received planning permission to build a prototype of the first-of-a-kind green gas mill at Sparsholt College in Hampshire.

Their report also stated that the green gas production will be “virtually carbon neutral” and could play a significant role in Britain meeting its climate targets.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince said: “As North Sea reserves run out, the big question is where we’re going to get our gas from next. The government thinks fracking is the answer, but this new report shows there is a better option.

“Recently, it’s become possible to make green gas and put it into the grid, in the same way we’ve been doing with green electricity for the last two decades. The current way of doing that is through energy crops and food waste – but both have their drawbacks.

“Our first green gas mill has just been given the go-ahead, and we hope to build it soon – though that does depend on whether government energy policy will support this simple, benign and abundant energy source. I call on Theresa May to review the government’s plan for where Britain gets its gas – post-North Sea.”

Green energy is electricity and gas made from renewable sources, green electricity from the wind, sun and sea, and green gas made from organic materials and is completely carbon neutral. In 2013 there was just one green gas plant in the UK. Now there are over 60 projects using anaerobic digestion to make biomethane useful to us.

Green gas is incredibly versatile, used as a source of electricity, a replacement to petrol, and a new way to heat homes. Using greener gas means “It’s not disruptive in terms of the roads and our urban environments,” says Chris Train OBE, chief executive of National Grid Gas Distribution Limited. “It’s also not disruptive in the home, for customers. It allows us to use existing appliances. That’s a great advantage.”

Sources – Energy digital / Utility Week / Ecotricity

carbon

How can the construction industry reduce its carbon footprint?

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With the threat of global warming constantly looming, reducing the carbon footprint within the construction industry has become a point of upmost importance.

Eco friendly buildings are on the rise in the UK, and pressure is mounting to build in a more environmentally friendly way – so are we reaching our goal? The number of eco friendly construction companies is growing, and those who haven’t started using these methods may fall behind the times.

One of the main ways to become more environmentally friends is by using better insulation. The best ones, made from recycled material, reduce energy waste and have a low environmental impact. Buildings need to ensure that their hot water, heating, lighting and cooling systems all meet energy efficient measures. Windows, doors, vents and roof lights also need to be draught proofed.

Sustainable materials are also crucial. Cement production is responsible for around half of the industry’s CO2 output because of the energy required to make it, and the chemical reactions that are involved. Choosing an alternative cement that has different chemicals or use different methods such as wood, straw bales and compressed soil, have a much lower carbon footprint than cement.

The old adage of reduce, reuse, recycle is an important message with regards to reducing waste. Making sure that materials are not over ordered and recycling where ever possible is key. Sourcing materials locally is also a plus, because it means that there is less need for transporting them, and using materials that can be packed more efficiently and weigh less mean that energy is saved.

Optimising natural light and using solar power can be a great energy saver. Lighting can account for up to 40% of the energy used in a typical commercial building so making savings here seems obvious.

Water usage can also make savings. Efficient fixtures and appliances can reduce water usage. Reduced flush toilets and rain water harvesting are becoming more popular as people seek to reduce their costs as much as possible.

Passive houses are also becoming more prominent. Passive house is a rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, reducing its ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. Passive House is not a brand name, but a construction concept that can be applied by anyone and that has stood the test of practice.

Carbon reduction is a complex challenge, and companies that can demonstrate green credentials are at the top of the construction sector in the UK. Managing and reducing the carbon footprint is becoming increasingly important in such a fast paced industry as ours.

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