Eye-opening new research from construction AR pioneer XYZ Reality reveals majority of UK and US construction projects are plagued by errors and rarely delivered on time. XYZ Reality[1], the world’s leading Engineering Grade Augmented Reality (AR)™ solutions provider for construction, publishes a landmark report on the major challenges facing UK
A guide to understanding construction options for low-carbon developers. Timber Development UK (TDUK) – the UK’s trade association for the timber supply chain – has launched a new guide to understanding options for timber construction. Aimed at developers, investors and policy makers, Timber Typologies outlines the variety of build options
In our modern, fast-paced lives, it’s easy to overlook the quality of the air we breathe. However, with the majority of our time spent indoors—around 90% according to recent studies—it is essential to recognise the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on our health and well-being. With Clean Air Day
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 1) highlighted numerous failings, one of which was the lack of wayfinding signage in stairwell landings which meant firefighters were unable to easily identify floor numbers when carrying out their duties. As such, the Inquiry recommended (Recommendation 33.27) that the owner and manager of every
Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the June 2023 edition of its Construction Index. The Index focuses on the three months to the end of May 2023, covering all underlying projects, with a total value of £100m or less (unless otherwise indicated), with all figures
Wyatt Homes is proud to announce that its Charminster Farm development, in Charminster, has received its first Quality Recognition Award. The award, which is ascribed by Premier Guarantee, recognises the exceptional craftmanship provided by the development team, including Site Managers Rod Dunford and Arron Zaple. A presentation ceremony was held
After becoming a member of the CPD certification service on 1st March 2023, DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has announced that it will be holding two accredited CPD Webinars for members on 10th and 24th August. Each webinar demonstrates the required Continuing Professional Development standards and the learning value and
Aggregate Industries UK, Balfour Beatty plc, Galliford Try and Morgan Sindall Group plc have joined forces with construction technology provider Causeway Technologies in a project to develop automated, real-time scope 3 emissions reporting. Scope 3 emissions are indirect carbon and greenhouse gas emissions that come from an organisation’s supply chain.
Aggregate Industries will once again be one of the headline sponsors for this year’s Leicester Pride event as it celebrates its 15th anniversary. The leading building materials supplier, with its group headquarters near Coalville in Leicestershire, has announced it is to be a Gold Sponsor for the event on Saturday
On World Environment Day (5 June), the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) announces its 14th annual World Green Building Week, taking place 11–15 September 2023. As the largest contributing sector to global energy-related carbon emissions (37% globally), the built environment is a key agent of change to deliver on the
Eye-opening new research from construction AR pioneer XYZ Reality reveals majority of UK and US construction projects are plagued by errors and rarely delivered on time. XYZ Reality[1], the world’s leading Engineering Grade Augmented Reality (AR)™ solutions provider for construction, publishes a landmark report on the major challenges facing UK and US construction and the solutions that are being used today to combat them. Carried out in partnership with market research experts OnePoll[2], the report surveyed 541 decision makers from the leading contractors in the United States and the United Kingdom, revealing the true scale of the delays and defects currently squeezing the sector’s already tight margins. The causes we myriad, with ongoing supply chain disruptions (47%), rising construction costs (44%), and collaboration (39%) ranked by company executives as the top three greatest challenges for the coming year. Poor cooperation, coordination and skills were also flagged as major internal contributing factors. Britain’s Rework Migraine The research also gives crucial insights into the root causes of project delays and rework, as well as the implications on budgets and schedule, output and client satisfaction, going on to showcase technology’s role in improving productivity. Taking a deeper dive into the UK-specific results, the findings reveal an alarmingly high number of respondents regularly miss deadlines (56%), with almost all companies polled reporting a backlog of projects. Design changes (28%), poor communication (27%) and labour shortages (23%) were the top three primary causes cited. Quality remains an issue too. A significant minority, around a quarter of respondents, consider accuracy to be only “somewhat important”, which is surprising given the UK’s recent focus on building safety, regulations and compliance. Against this context, it’s easy to see why most respondents added they frequently encounter errors leading to rework, suggesting the need to prioritize timely completion may lead some to overlook the importance of maintaining high standards. Commenting on the findings, XYZ Reality’s Founder & CEO, David Mitchell, said, “It’s incredibly concerning to see companies reporting frequent errors and project delays and is a stark reminder that we desperately need a proactive strategy and a forward-thinking approach in construction. If the industry is going to meet critical production and sustainability targets in such a challenging market, embracing digital transformation is no longer optional – it’s the essential key to unlocking productivity in the industry and dissolving the significant project backlog.” The Human Factor Exploring the numbers further, four fifths attributed poor quality assurance, error and resulting rework to human factors. Poor communication (41%), inexperienced workers (39%), insufficient supervision (32%) and design changes (30%) were consistently identified as the main reasons. Interestingly, under one in ten respondents blame ineffective technology. Error and rework can quickly ramp up project costs, leading contractors to desperately seek ways to bring down elevated construction costs. The report revealed stockpiling (72%), the tendency to change project design (65%) and reduce overhead costs (54%) to be the key ways companies are balancing the scales. Technology is another popular option for cost control, pointed to by a majority 56% of firms, reflecting growing confidence in tech as a solution to many of the challenges facing construction today. A changing tide This shift in momentum was mirrored by three fifths of respondents highlighting technology as a leading solution for addressing rework and errors. AR was particularly popular, with its versatile technology, – including, but not limited to, onsite measuring, drawing and markup tools, and camera capture and model viewer applications – reportedly used by an impressive 73% of respondents. Similarly, Engineering Grade AR is predicted to have the biggest impact on onsite productivity, spotlighted by 71% of companies. David concludes, “The UK construction sector has evidently embraced digital adoption to address these persistent issues, turning to advanced technology like Engineering Grade AR to provide a level of unparalleled accuracy and mitigate errors and delays. It’s also encouraging to see that cost and availability no longer seem to be the barriers they once were. However, as our report indicates, as good as these tools are, they’re only as good as those operating them – communication and collaboration must improve to realise their full potential to eliminate human error on-site, once and for all.” To download the research report click here[3] Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A guide to understanding construction options for low-carbon developers. Timber Development UK (TDUK) – the UK’s trade association for the timber supply chain – has launched a new guide to understanding options for timber construction. Aimed at developers, investors and policy makers, Timber Typologies outlines the variety of build options and methodologies available for low carbon timber construction and details the sort of building types each method is suitable or appropriate for. Written with Waugh Thistleton Architects, one of the leading ‘timber first’ architects’ practices in the UK, the book is intended as a primer or beginners guide to the variety of timber solutions available. It will help decision makers understand the options open to them and make the right choices to deliver the best outcomes. David Hopkins, chief executive at Timber Development UK, said: “Timber is vital when it comes to decarbonising construction. However, if it is going to realise its full potential, we can no longer talk in simple generic terms about this material. We need to be specific about the systems and approaches available and the benefits and risks each of these can bring. “We can’t make progress if clients, architects and policy makers are talking at cross purposes about what they mean when they talk about building in timber.” Alastair Ogle, associate at Waugh Thistleton Architects, and one of the lead authors of the book, said: “We still see enormous amounts of misinformation and misunderstanding when it comes to timber. Clients, local authorities and even insurers don’t seem to understand that all of these things they refer to as “timber” are in fact a wide range of completely different build systems with very different properties. “We’re committed to helping design and enable a low-carbon building revolution, but that will only come when we increase understanding across the market. We hope this will in turn increase confidence in permitting, designing, insuring and constructing the low-carbon timber buildings of the future.” Timber Typologies is the first in a trio of books aimed at increasing understanding options among the decision makers. It will be accompanied by Timber Policy – a guide to the variety of ways countries and city authorities are encouraging timber construction around the world, and Timber LCA, examining comparisons of lifecycle analysis between buildings constructed of different materials. You can download Timber Typologies for free from the Timber Development UK website.
In our modern, fast-paced lives, it’s easy to overlook the quality of the air we breathe. However, with the majority of our time spent indoors—around 90% according to recent studies—it is essential to recognise the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on our health and well-being. With Clean Air Day 2023 fast approaching on 15 June, the team at AICO Homelink wants to shed light on the significance of Indoor Air Quality and explore innovative solutions and initiatives that can help us improve the air we breathe indoors. HomeLINK is well placed to comment as it provides connected home solutions for more than 1,000 housing providers with over 220,000 connected devices providing safer, healthier homes for approximately 80,000 social residents. Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time data on air quality Unlike outdoor environments, the air within our indoor spaces does not undergo the same natural renewal and replenishment processes. Substances released indoors accumulate at a much higher rate, intensifying the effects of our activities which release air pollutants. These include emissions from household cleaning products, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by furniture and building materials, the by-products of cooking and heating systems, or increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) from human and animal respiration, these factors contribute to poor IAQ. In the quest for cleaner indoor air, technology has emerged as a valuable ally. Indoor air quality IoT sensors are becoming increasingly popular, providing real-time data on air quality parameters. These sensors can measure various pollutants such as CO2, VOCs, PM, and temperature, allowing users to monitor and control their indoor environment proactively. By leveraging these sensors, individuals can gain insights into the quality of their indoor air and take appropriate measures to improve it, whether through adjusting ventilation, using air purifiers, or adopting healthier habits. Monitoring ventilation to remove stale air Monitoring ventilation levels is another critical aspect of maintaining good IAQ. Insufficient ventilation leads to a buildup of pollutants and decreases the exchange of stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. For example, the impact of gas cooking on indoor air quality has also come under scrutiny. A recent study highlighted the potential dangers of gas cooking, revealing that it releases harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants can worsen respiratory conditions, trigger allergies, and even increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It is essential to raise awareness about the potential risks associated with gas cooking and explore alternative cooking methods or implement measures to mitigate pollution, such as using extractor fans and improving kitchen ventilation. IoT sensors can track ventilation rates, enabling individuals to optimise airflow and ensure a healthier living environment. By understanding how ventilation affects IAQ, we can make informed decisions about improving airflow, such as opening windows, installing mechanical ventilation systems, or utilizing air purifiers with proper filtration capabilities. Understand the right to clean air Legislation and regulations also play a vital role in safeguarding indoor air quality. In the UK, Ella’s Law, inspired by the tragic death of Ella Kissi-Debrah due to air pollution, aims to reduce pollution and establishes breathing clean air as a basic human right. This landmark legislation underscores the growing recognition of the importance of clean air and highlights the need for further action to protect public health. One indoor environment that often goes unnoticed, but has a substantial effect on our day-to-day health are our bedrooms. We spend at least a third of our lives sleeping, emphasizing the need for healthy conditions in this space. Lack of proper ventilation can lead to elevated CO2 levels, which not only affect sleep quality but can also have adverse health effects. Using devices which detect the internal conditions, we can ensure adequate airflow and ventilation in our bedrooms, creating a healthier and more restful environment. Prevent additional issues like damp and mould Poor ventilation can lead to excessive moisture building up in indoor environments which, if left unchecked, can lead to the growth of mould, posing health risks to occupants and potential damage to the property. The presence of damp and mould, in turn, have detrimental effects on IAQ, leading to increased levels of VOCs. By regularly assessing humidity levels, temperature, and ventilation, areas prone to excessive moisture can be identified and proactive measures can be taken to address them. IAQ sensors provide real-time data on humidity and other relevant parameters, alerting occupants to potential issues before they escalate. By maintaining optimal indoor air quality, including appropriate humidity levels, adequate ventilation the formation of damp and mould can be effectively prevented, ensuring a healthier and more comfortable living environment. Encouraging more government intervention Moving forward, we can expect increased awareness and prioritisation of IAQ. Organisations like DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) are actively researching and developing guidelines to address IAQ concerns and promote healthier indoor environments. The integration of IAQ considerations in building codes, standards, and health guidelines will likely become more prevalent, emphasising the importance of clean air for everyone. Evidence is mounting of the detrimental effects that hazards related to poor IAQ can have on human health and the safety of occupants. As these impacts continue to emerge, the need for monitoring the indoor environment becomes increasingly important to understand their extent and consequences. Like other safety devices such as fire and carbon monoxide detectors, IAQ sensors could become hugely important in keeping our homes healthy and safe places to live. On this Clean Air Day, let us celebrate the progress made in understanding and addressing indoor air quality issues. By recognising the impact of IAQ on our health, embracing innovative technologies like IoT sensors, and advocating for stronger regulations, we can create healthier indoor environments and ensure that the air we breathe contributes to our well-being and longevity. For more information on IoT sensors to monitor air quality, visit AICO Homelink
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 1) highlighted numerous failings, one of which was the lack of wayfinding signage in stairwell landings which meant firefighters were unable to easily identify floor numbers when carrying out their duties. As such, the Inquiry recommended (Recommendation 33.27) that the owner and manager of every residential building containing separate dwellings carry out an urgent inspection of wayfinding signage to ensure it is visible in low light or smoky conditions and that flat and floor numbers are clearly identified in the stairwells of relevant buildings. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into effect in England from 23 January 2023, making it a legal requirement for all high-rise residential buildings in England to install wayfinding signage in their buildings, including clear markings identifying floor and individual flat numbers to assist the Fire and Rescue Service in navigating their way around, even when visibility is low. The regulations require Responsible Persons in multi-occupied residential buildings which are classed as high-rise buildings, (defined in The Fire Safety (England) Regulations as a building at least 18 metres in height or at least seven storeys), and also those above 11 metres in height in an identical use of multi-occupation residencies where communal areas and escape routes exist, to provide additional safety measures with the provision of wayfinding signage directly reflecting the building plans, which are required to be made available in a secure information box on site. Existing duties under the Fire Safety Order will make sure that this signage is maintained throughout the life of the building. As part of the best endeavours of the Responsible Person, it would be pertinent that this signage is inspected regularly to ensure it is still in place, legible, and correct in the information it provides. Signage should conform to the specifications and locations set out in paragraphs 15.14 to 15.16 of Approved Document B Volume 1 edition, which incorporates the 2020 amendments, namely firefighting shafts and protected stairways, as well as the individual dwellings. Fire safety signs As it is estimated that a large number of buildings will not have this signage in place, a signage survey should be carried out with immediate effect and any findings should be remedied, with all missing signage put in place. The FPA supplies fire safety signage which can be delivered directly to site for fitting. Find out more about the FPA’s fire safety signage here. FPA Members will receive a 20% discount on all fire safety signage. Not an FPA member? Find out more here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Today, Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight experts, releases the June 2023 edition of its Construction Index. The Index focuses on the three months to the end of May 2023, covering all underlying projects, with a total value of £100m or less (unless otherwise indicated), with all figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a report which provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the last 12 months. Starts-on-site performance fell even further, down 16% on the preceding three months. Affecting the entire construction sector, these figures present the latest disappointing results in a frustratingly protracted period of decline. Despite stabilising somewhat compared with the steep decline seen during the first quarter of the year, start-levels are still floundering, remaining a significant 42% down on a year ago, as rising interest rates continue to keep public and private investors cautious about starting on new projects. Furthermore, material price inflation, labour shortages and sweeping regulatory changes are holding back shovels from being committed to soil. For example, in the residential sector, the upcoming legal-enforcement of Part L on 27th June and the promise of tighter building safety restrictions has likely resulted in an activity-dip as many implement protocol to stay compliant and bring existing stock up to required standard. Almost at half way through year, it’s looking increasingly unlikely that consistent recovery will be observed until at least Q.4 2023 or, more likely Q.1/Q.2 2024. Commenting on the findings, Glenigan’s Economic Director, Allan Wilen, says, “Despite some stabilisation in the sharp falls in project-starts seen in Q.1 2023, the industry continues to suffer a squeeze in activity with starts remaining significantly down on a year ago. The sector looks to be in for a challenging period, with commercial starts falling back as skyrocketing interest rates and a weak economic outlook continue to dampen investor confidence. “Private housing also looks to be hard hit, as housebuilders focus development on existing sites in response to a reduction in activity across the wider housing market. The pick-up in industrial starts is the silver lining in a distinctly overcast Index, with the rising demand for logistics space expected to drive sector activity in the medium term. On the flipside, it’s especially disappointing to see civil engineering starts hit a wall following a strong burst of activity in recent months, with marked declines in both infrastructure and utilities work.” Taking a closer look at sector verticals and UK regions… Sector Analysis – Residential Residential construction experienced overall decline in the three months to May as starts fell 10% to stand 46% lower than a year ago. Private housing fell back 13% against the preceding three months and registered particularly weak performance against the previous year, finishing 55% down compared with the previous year. Social housing’s fall was less severe, with work starting on site falling a modest 4% against the previous three-month period, down 1% on 2022 levels. Sector Analysis – Non-Residential The value of starts across non-residential sectors fell by 19% during the three months to May, slipping back a third (-31%) on 2022 figures. Overall performance was a mixed bag, with education the only sector vertical to experience growth (9%) on the previous year, yet failed to match this increase against the preceding three month period, declining 18%. Industrial project-starts were also mixed, with the value of project-starts increasing 9% during the three months to May but 20% lower on 2022 levels. Retail performance was especially poor, with project-starts weakening 29% against the preceding three months and 48% against the previous year. It was a similar story for offices, with the value of underlying project-starts falling 20% against the preceding three months to stand 48% down on a year ago. Health starts also slipped back sharply, declining 20% against the preceding three months to stand 52% down on 2022 figures. Hotel & leisure and community & amenity also decreased 34% and 54% against the preceding three months, to stand 10% and 54% down on the previous year, respectively. Civils work starting on-site dropped 30% against the preceding three months to stand 50% down on a year ago. Infrastructure starts dropped 26% against the preceding three-month period, down 56% on the previous year’s figures. Faltering on strong activity in previous months, civils general decline can also partly be attributed to a weakening in utilities starts, declining by 35% against the preceding three months to stand 37% down against last year’s results. Regional Analysis Regional performance was poor across most of the UK, with project-starts weakening during the three months to May. The East of England was the only region to post growth on the preceding three-month period, with project-starts increasing 19%, but remaining 39% behind 2022 levels. Wales suffered the heaviest fall, declining 56% against the preceding three months to stand 43% down on a year ago. It was a similar story in Yorkshire & the Humber, with the value of project-starts decreasing 31% against the preceding three months and remaining significantly down (-52%) on the previous year. Project-starts in the North East experienced a fall against both the preceding three months (-27%) and previous year (-26%). London and the South West both weakened against the preceding three months, falling back 1% and 12%, respectively. Both regions were down on the previous year, remaining 20% and 46% lower than a year ago. Scotland was also down on both the preceding three months (-12%) and the previous year (-43%). Northern Ireland, the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East and the North West all crashed compared to both the preceding three months and previous year. To find out more about Glenigan and its construction intelligence services click here. 2023 sees Glenigan celebrate its 50th anniversary, commemorating half a century of delivering the highest-quality construction market intelligence. To find out more about its services and expertise click here.
Wyatt Homes is proud to announce that its Charminster Farm development, in Charminster, has received its first Quality Recognition Award. The award, which is ascribed by Premier Guarantee, recognises the exceptional craftmanship provided by the development team, including Site Managers Rod Dunford and Arron Zaple. A presentation ceremony was held recently at Charminster Farm, where representatives from Wyatt Homes and Premier Guarantee were in attendance to celebrate this achievement. The Quality Recognition Award is scored during each inspection visit and is based on the following categories: the standard of site management, the standard of workmanship, health and safety, site tidiness, and general cooperation. Tara Kelly, Sales Director at Wyatt Homes said, “We are thrilled to achieve this Quality Recognition Award for Charminster Farm. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to ensure that every aspect of the development, from the design of the homes to the landscaping of surrounding areas, meets our exact standards. This award is a reflection of the commitment and expertise of our team, and we are proud to see their effort recognised in this way.” Aaron and Rod, site managers at Charminster Farm, have been instrumental in ensuring the development meets the high standards required for the Quality Recognition Award. Their attention to detail and ability to manage the complex logistics of a large-scale development has been critical to the project’s success. Rod, Site Manager at Charminster Farm said, “We are delighted to have played a part in securing the Quality Recognition Award. “Charminster Farm has been a truly rewarding project, and we are proud to see it as a leader in quality and craftmanship.” Aaron, Site Manager at Charminster Farm said, “We would like to thank the entire development team for their hard work and dedication, as well as our partners and suppliers for their support throughout this project.” Charminster Farm is a development of beautiful two, three, four and five bedroom homes located in Charminster, Dorchester. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
After becoming a member of the CPD certification service on 1st March 2023, DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has announced that it will be holding two accredited CPD Webinars for members on 10th and 24th August. Each webinar demonstrates the required Continuing Professional Development standards and the learning value and practicality of each course has been examined thoroughly to ensure both are of high quality and comply with CPD requirements. The complimentary webinars will feature force limitation and non-contact presence detection for doors, gates, and traffic barriers respectively and will be aimed at installation and maintenance engineers of industrial & garage doors, powered gates, and traffic barriers, as well as managers of installation and maintenance engineers; business owners of installation and maintenance companies, and facilities managers, retail landlords/managers with responsibility for maintenance teams. The force limitation webinar explains how to assess force limitation on industrial & garage doors, powered gates, and traffic barriers under EN 12453 including what safe force and time limits apply in a range of hazard locations, how to test at the main closing edges and how to verify safe force at hazards that cannot be easily or safely measured directly to achieve legal compliance. The non-contact presence detection webinar covers one of three ways in which powered doors, gates and barriers can be prevented from injuring people and how compliance with EN 12453 can be achieved. It explains how to assess non-contact presence detection on industrial & garage doors, powered gates, and traffic barriers under EN 12453 and will enable delegates to understand what non-contact presence detection is, how non-contact presence can be used to prevent powered doors, gates and barriers harming people and how to test it for compliance in a range of hazard locations. The webinars are delivered via Teams and last around an hour and a half, including time for a Q&A session. Although the webinars are delivered electronically, these can also be delivered at members’ open days, face-to-face upon request, and is a further benefit of membership. “DHF continues to stress the importance of a competent workforce and that the correct training is sourced, including increasing knowledge on important topics like those covered in our webinars,” says DHF’s Commercial Director, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. “We encourage companies involved in the installation and maintenance of doors, gates, and traffic barriers to ensure they are meeting safety standards, as well as recognising when to bring in a specialist contractor. Our CPD-accredited webinars offer information on topics that enable staff to understand how these safety elements can be used to ensure doors, gates or traffic barriers are safe and we are delighted to be able to provide these for our members.” To enquire about membership of DHF to gain access to these webinars free of charge, visit www.dhfonline.org.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aggregate Industries UK, Balfour Beatty plc, Galliford Try and Morgan Sindall Group plc have joined forces with construction technology provider Causeway Technologies in a project to develop automated, real-time scope 3 emissions reporting. Scope 3 emissions are indirect carbon and greenhouse gas emissions that come from an organisation’s supply chain. In the case of construction, for example, this could include the embodied carbon from the production and transport of concrete, steel and timber. The accurate measurement of scope 3 emissions is increasingly seen as the biggest challenge to reducing the construction industry’s carbon footprint on the road to net zero. Speaking recently at Digital Construction Week, Dr Adam O’Rourke, Causeway’s emerging technologies consultant, explained: “The construction industry has been grappling with the measurement of scope 3 emissions for some time with increasing pressure from regulators, investors and campaigners adding to the sense of urgency for a viable solution. “But at present, few construction product suppliers find it easy to provide consistent transaction-level data on the full carbon emissions of their products, and so contractors are heavily reliant on using generic carbon calculators for estimating scope 3 emissions. “These calculators are useful estimating tools, but Causeway’s scope 3 initiative is different – it provides contractors, for the first time, with an accurate, consistent and automated reporting tool that reflects the actual materials and products used, not just what was planned. “More accurate reporting means better choices and lower risk for contractors. It also means competitive advantages for suppliers who are supporting their customers to meet their carbon reporting obligations with an automated solution – no further effort is required. It really is ‘Scope 3 made easy’.” The scope 3 initiative is well advanced in developing a software solution that can deliver a credible, verifiable, efficient and scalable way to measure scope 3 emissions in real-time, using invoice data automatically extracted from Causeway Tradex, the largest connected construction supply chain community in the UK. Invoices represent the actual materials and services consumed and quickly allow buyers and sellers to see the impact of the changes they make as they implement their net-zero strategies. Causeway Tradex already processes 6.7 million invoices from over 60,000 suppliers, amounting to billions of construction value. Using Causeway Tradex in this way, scope 3 emissions can be associated with specific projects and specific transactions, and emissions measured in real-time as a building or structure is constructed. In initial tests, Causeway was able to sample 25,000 invoices from Aggregate Industries, Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall and Galliford Try focusing on materials with the highest carbon impact. The system is capable of addressing embodied carbon figures down to line-level items such as tools and plant purchases, with the range of materials and products growing as the project matures. Causeway and its partners are currently engaging with more suppliers and contractors, as well as validating and testing elements of the software. The project is also being supported via a partnership engagement with the Engineering Department at the University of Bath. Dr. Adam O’Rourke added: “One of the biggest innovations on this project has been bringing together major contractors’ finance departments and sustainability teams. The detail and accuracy of existing financial reporting provides the level of information needed for transparent benchmarking, tracking and reporting on carbon emissions for ESG reporting, but we found that this connection had not been made in many businesses. The Scope 3 initiative bridges this gap.” To register for updates on the scope 3 initiative, go to: https://www.causeway.com/carbon-reporting/scope-3 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aggregate Industries will once again be one of the headline sponsors for this year’s Leicester Pride event as it celebrates its 15th anniversary. The leading building materials supplier, with its group headquarters near Coalville in Leicestershire, has announced it is to be a Gold Sponsor for the event on Saturday September 2, following a successful sponsorship in 2022. This year sees a change of venue with the annual celebration moving to Leicester’s Abbey Park. The sponsorship will see Aggregate Industries take up a prominent pitch at the event, where members of its team will be on hand to discuss the diverse careers available across the business, the company’s approach to inclusivity, and the High Viz LGBTQ+ Network. The sponsorship of Leicester Pride forms part of Aggregate Industries’ continued focus on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) within the business, with the aim of continuing to build a progressive and inclusive workplace, where everyone is encouraged to be their true selves. Thomas Edgcumbe, Managing Director for the Surfacing Solutions division at Aggregate Industries, said: “Within Aggregate Industries we’re committed to creating a workplace that is inclusive for all. I’m delighted that we are once again able to be a headline sponsor of Leicester Pride, the largest pride event local to our country head office, and I’m proud of the difference that this makes to our colleagues and the wider LGBTQ+ community.” Martyn Parker, Chair of Leicester Pride, said: “Leicester Pride is thrilled to announce that Aggregate Industries has once again chosen to be one of our Gold Sponsors for this year’s celebrations. Their ongoing support enables us to host one of Leicester’s largest cultural events of the year, allowing thousands to celebrate all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community as well as promote diversity and equality within the county.” The company’s High Viz network creates a safe and welcoming environment for all employees who identify as LGBTQ+ and those who simply support equal rights for all. It also acts as a voice for LGBTQ+ employees within Aggregate Industries as well as driving change by continuing to educate, raise awareness and up-skill colleagues. Aggregate Industries also has Affinity Groups supporting women in the construction sector, age, ethnicity and nationality, veterans and disability. For more information on careers at Aggregate Industries visit our careers pages. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On World Environment Day (5 June), the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) announces its 14th annual World Green Building Week, taking place 11–15 September 2023. As the largest contributing sector to global energy-related carbon emissions (37% globally), the built environment is a key agent of change to deliver on the systemic transition needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. This World Green Building Week — #BuildingTheTransition — calls on the global building and construction sector to accelerate the transition to secure an energy efficient, regenerative and just future for all. Led by a network of over 75 national Green Building Councils (GBCs) and their 46,000 members, the week-long event will show how through systems change thinking, and leveraging local solutions, we can transition to sustainable built environments. This year, all eyes are on the world’s first Global Stocktake, expected to show the status of our efforts in implementing the Paris Agreement. Political and private sector leaders across the world are asking “how far have we come?”, and importantly, “how far do we still have to go?” in order to tackle the worst impacts of global warming, humanitarian challenges and economic uncertainties. There is no question that the world must undergo a transition to ensure better outcomes for nature and people. But this transition won’t happen on its own. It requires systemic transformation across all sectors, including buildings and construction. An urgent understanding of what the transition entails, and a profound shift in how all stakeholders think and act on any given choice is imperative to secure an equitable and just future for all. Throughout World Green Building Week, WorldGBC’s network will host events across the world and share examples of #BuildingTheTransition across three themes: the energy transition, regenerative transition and just transition. This year’s campaign will also lead into the UN’s 2023 SDG Summit (18–19 September) and therefore pinpoint 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that are essential to catalyse a sustainable built environment. #BuildingTheTransition’s three themes highlight how the built environment can support the Paris Agreement and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals: The Energy Transition The energy transition is about more than switching to renewable energy. We’re talking about a complete systemic change. Accelerating the uptake of built environments that reduce energy demand, store and share clean energy, and produce more energy than they use. It’s investing in clean technologies and driving economies of scale. And it’s deep retrofitting existing buildings to be exceptionally energy efficient. The Regenerative Transition How do we advance regenerative principles in the built environment from niche to normal? Our planet’s resources give us life, but they are not infinite. Humans and the built environment must exist together within a cycle of natural systems. That means not just protecting biodiversity but prioritising its restoration, embracing nature-based solutions, and creating a thriving circular economy across the entire building value chain. The Just Transition We cannot achieve climate justice without social justice. The people who have contributed the least to environmental degradation are suffering the biggest consequences. Equality is not the same as equity. Advancing a just transition in the built environment means committed solidarity to protect human rights from financial flows, to supply chains, to geopolitics. Cristina Gamboa, CEO, World Green Building Council: “A final reminder. That’s what we have from this year’s Sixth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). A final reminder before we are evicted by an uninhabitable planet. In the run up to COP28 in Dubai, UAE, and in the world’s first Global Stocktake year, we must remember that 1.5ºC is a limit, not a target. Our aim cannot be to only avoid the worst-case scenario when we are capable of so much more. The building and construction sector has the ability to mobilise and scale available solutions now to deliver a future that is energy efficient, regenerative and just. Scaling these solutions requires political will and industry ambition. As the largest contributing sector to carbon emissions, the built environment is at a historical juncture to deliver on the required transitions in a decisive decade. That’s why this World Green Building Week our #BuildingTheTransition campaign is leveraging localised solutions from the built environment to accelerate a global transition to a decarbonised, sustainable and resilient society. Between 11–15 September, we’re inviting our global community to take urgent action to accelerate the UN Sustainable Development Goals and transition to energy efficient, regenerative and just built environments for everyone, everywhere.” Find out more and join the social media campaign at @WorldGBC, #BuildingTheTransition and #WGBW23. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
