Sustainability

Eco-friendly housing scheme wins coveted award

Leading UK placemaker, United Living New Homes, has been awarded a Premier Guarantee Quality Recognition Award for its innovative eco-friendly housing development at Shaldon Road, Bristol. The award recognises outstanding developments that have consistently delivered quality workmanship and displayed exceptional site management. Throughout the year, only 100 developments from across

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We should all have a say in building our future

Also a LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty member and Fitwel Ambassador, Heidi’s work focuses on sustainability and wellness strategies for the academic, civic, cultural, commercial and residential sectors, at the building and masterplan scales. We spend as much as 90% of our lives in buildings. It’s therefore only fair and right

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Construction supply chains building towards net zero future

Green construction supply chains will be vital if nations are to hit carbon neutral goals by 2050, yet challenges remain around cost and training… For businesses large and small, the COP26 climate summit brought into sharp focus just how important it is that they stay on track with net zero

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Latest Issue

BDC 321 : Oct 2024

Sustainability

British Property Federation sets out policy asks ahead of Spring Statement to create a greener, fairer and more affordable future

BPF urges the Government to pilot Town Centre Investment Zones to deliver rapid high-street change. To reduce carbon emissions and mitigate against increasing energy costs the BPF calls for VAT on residential repairs and maintenance to be removed.  The British Property Federation (BPF) is calling on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to use this week’s Spring Statement to take action to support the Government’s ambitions to level-up the country, decarbonise the economy and ease the cost-of-living crisis being felt by millions. The real estate sector is well-placed to deliver investment across the country, working in partnership with local and national Government. To unleash this investment and support job creation, the BPF has highlighted three key actions: A greener, decarbonised future Removing VAT on repairs and maintenance of residential buildings, to ensure that tax is not a blocker to anyone wanting to improve the energy efficiency of their own home[1]. Using capital allowances to expedite tax relief on retrofitting and energy efficiency improvement works. Thriving town centres Accelerating the renewal of our high streets through Town Centre Investment Zones[2]. Forging ahead with business rates reform by increasing the frequency of revaluations, extending empty rates relief and abolishing downward rates phasing. Housing the nation Stimulating institutional investment into affordable housing[3]. Temporarily halting all council tax revaluations of Houses in Multiple Occupation. Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, comments, “The Government has committed to reach net zero carbon by 2050 and to create a more economically balanced and socially just society. The real estate sector has a vital role to play in delivering on both these ambitions and we urge the Chancellor to use the Spring Statement to accelerate investment and action. With the public and private sector working in partnership we can revitalise our high-streets and town centres and help both businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint.” [1] See appendix: Removing VAT on repairs and maintenance of residential buildings for further detail [2] See appendix: Town Centre Investment Zones for further detail [3] See appendix: Stimulate institutional investment into affordable housing for further detail

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New Data Reveals Countries with the Most Eco-Friendly Buildings in the World

One way of enabling people to live cleaner, greener lives is by making sure the buildings in which people live and work are more eco-friendly so that the very environments in which we survive and thrive are helping us towards a more sustainable future.  With this in mind, and using data from BREEAM, Distrelec found out which towns and cities are taking the time to invest in eco-friendly infrastructure and the countries that are taking the environmental impacts of their buildings most seriously. Countries with the Most Eco-Friendly Buildings With so many English places ranking so highly among towns and cities in the full study, you’d think the UK would easily top the list of countries with the most eco-friendly buildings under BREEAMS ratings, but whilst it scores impressively overall, with 91.53% of those buildings falling into the top band, it only sneaks into the top four as the Czech Republic managed to strike back to claim top spot with 93.15% of its rated buildings coming into that superior classification.  Perhaps more shockingly, when taking a national overview, 0.40% of the UK’s buildings that undertook the BREEAM assessment came out as unclassified. Towns & Cities with the Most Eco-Friendly Buildings Of the many global cities and towns that data was gathered from, Coventry in Central England came out on top with a whopping 98.31% of the buildings certified by BREEAM falling into the Outstanding/Excellent/Very Good category with a further 1.69% coming in as Good.  A former industrial powerhouse, Coventry was heavily damaged during the Second World War and has seen major investment and restructuring in the post-war years, becoming a noted University city, which may go some way to explain how it scores quite so highly. Polish city Krakow is not far off with an impressive 97.65% of its buildings rated by BREEAM coming into that top category and another 1.18% rated as Good. Interestingly, of the remaining top 10, eight are English towns and cities with Czech capital Prague rounding out the list with an impressive 96.27% of its ranked buildings falling into that top band. Hope you enjoyed the story! If you do decide to write, Original data source: https://knowhow.distrelec.com/energy-and-power/europes-most-eco-friendly-buildings/

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Logistics 2.0: new logistics parks are becoming green, smart and environmentally friendly

The construction of new logistics parks has “turned green”, is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. According to GLP, one of the leading investors and developers of industrial, logistics and distribution parks, this is a key trend that will drive the world of logistics in the coming years. “There is a significant demand for modern, high-quality industrial and logistics facilities that offer more than just warehouse space. Companies are willing to pay for higher standards because they have a lot to gain. It also pays to integrate the development sensitively into the surrounding environment, offering more green space and also investing in the surrounding infrastructure. This helps build relationships with the municipalities and communities affected by the development,” says Jan Palek, GLP’s director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The emphasis on quality and the introduction of new technologies in the construction of logistics parks has meant a huge shift in the industry in recent years: companies using logistics developments are among the fastest growing, especially in ecommerce , distribution, but also light industrial production. For their further development and expansion, they need quality premises that can accommodate logistics or production facilities and also provide a friendly environment for employees. The demand for “smart” buildings is driven by new client requirements. They demand flexible spaces that adapt to their needs. “They want to monitor traffic and be able to control the costs associated with it. At the same time, they expect the developer to look to the future and offer innovative solutions. That’s why we are designing buildings with the possibility of installing photovoltaic panels and making technological and construction preparations for charging stations for electric vehicles. They may not be used immediately, but they will be available when it makes economic sense,” explains Filip Krzywoň, Technical Manager at GLP Czech Republic and Slovakia. GLP is building three current projects in Chrášt’any near Prague, Holubice near Brno and Ostrava-Hrušov according to these standards. Although some of them are just starting to be built, their capacity is already almost leased. Smart technologies reduce operating costs and make business easier Applying a sustainability and ESG approach to business is now also very important for investors. They consider not only how much to invest and what their return will be, but also what impact the investment will have on the surrounding environment. All of this increases the certainty of a long-term return on investment and is therefore becoming an integral part of new logistics projects. Investing in smart technology is one of the many ways we can meet our ESG commitments. “We are helping to create efficiencies by saving energy resources, time and money. The integration of various types of technologies including data analytics, robotics, automated clearance systems, digital loading docks, smart sorting, telematics, fleet management systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) are all designed to increase efficiency,” Jan Palek summarises. A practical example is technology for intelligent measurement and data collection, for example monitoring the frequency of loading gate openings. It increases gate clearance rates by 95% and loading dock utilisation by up to 50%. It also pays to improve working conditions for employees. “We are improving the quality of the environment in our buildings. We are installing technologies to improve air quality, acoustic comfort and also building rest areas. We avoid toxic or harmful materials and prefer environmentally friendly ones,” explains Jan Palek, GLP’s director. A related trend is the design of new buildings using an electronic building model using the BIM (Building Information Modeling) method. “The virtual building model contains information about all components. Maintenance can then be carried out quickly and easily. We offer a digital helpdesk linked to the BIM database, so that if, for example, a fault is reported in the air conditioning system, we immediately know where the problem is and have all the relevant documentation and information needed to solve it immediately,” explains Filip Krzywoň. Energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction The trend towards sustainability is also supported by rising energy prices, which increase the demand for energy-efficient buildings with quality insulation and traffic management technologies. These make it possible to control energy, water, HVAC and lighting use. They also allow rainwater to be used for watering or flushing toilets. “Conventional warehouses will gradually lose popularity because their operating costs will be high,” adds Jan Palek. Sustainability is also reflected in energy management. “Our vision is that we will supply the renewable solar electricity we generate to the clients we lease our premises to. It has to be economically interesting for them, of course. Therefore, the specific installations will be decided only after the projects are completed and based on the current conditions,” adds Jan Palek. A responsible approach concerns not only the development of industrial real estate, including logistics parks, but also their immediate surroundings: the local environment and communities. “We build the complexes in such a way that they blend in with the surrounding environment. We pay attention to park landscaping that serves to relax employees and visitors. Our aim is for all our new buildings to be BREEAM Very Good or equivalent in terms of sustainability,” says Jan Palek. The broader concept of accountability also includes close cooperation with neighbouring communities, especially local governments or associations. This includes investment in the infrastructure of the municipalities. “We typically invest, for example, in increasing the capacity of water supply lines, upgrading wastewater treatment plants, building bio-corridors, contributing to the construction of schools, parks and other projects that would be difficult for municipalities to implement on their own,” concludes Jan Palek, GLP’s director.

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KINGSPAN REDUCES ABSOLUTE SCOPE 1 & 2 GHG EMISSIONS AND ACHIEVES A 29 PER CENT REDUCTION IN CARBON INTENSITY

2021 Planet Passionate report published today Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions reduced 4.3% versus 2020 29% reduction in carbon intensity achieved Insulation systems sold in 2021 will save an estimated 193 million tonnes of carbon in their lifetime Kingspan Group, the global leader in advanced insulation and building solutions, has released its second annual report for its 10-year sustainability programme, Planet Passionate. Highlights include a 4.3% reduction (1) in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and a 29% reduction in carbon intensity (2) year-on-year, against a background of 42% total revenue growth for the period. For the second year running, the Group has made absolute reductions towards its 2030 net zero carbon manufacturing goal. This is underpinned by a verified SBTi (3) target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90% by 2030, from a 2020 base year. Achieving this will require the decarbonisation of Kingspan’s energy sources and processes across its existing 198 manufacturing sites (up from 166 in 2020), while supporting newly acquired businesses to decarbonise as quickly as possible. To accelerate the Group’s decarbonisation strategy, the report has announced the introduction of an internal carbon charge of €70 per tonne of CO2e, which will be implemented throughout the business in 2023.  The 2021 Planet Passionate report illustrates the positive progress made to date against the majority of the programme’s 12 measurable targets in carbon, energy, water, and circularity. Notable achievements include: Energy: An increase in the direct use of renewable energy from 19.5% to 26.1%, and an increase in the percentage of wholly-owned facilities with solar PV from 21.7% to 28.4%. The Group also achieved a 15% reduction in energy intensity (4) year-on-year. Carbon: An increase in the percentage of zero emissions company funded cars from 11% to 29%. Circularity: A reduction in company waste to landfill of 13%, as well as 843 million PET bottles recycled into our processes. Water: The Group announced its second ocean cleanup project: a partnership with cleantech startup SeabinTM, to deploy their unique technology first in Sydney Harbour followed by LA later in 2022. This follows a three-year partnership with the ECOALF Foundation which works with a network of 2,000 artisan fishermen to remove around 150 tonnes of marine debris each year from the Mediterranean. In addition, Kingspan’s science-based targets were updated in 2021 and are now in line with a 1.5°C future. Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C means that the world must achieve a 45% reduction in global CO2 emissions versus 2010 levels by 2030 (5).  While Kingspan did not make progress in 2021 against its target to halve the product CO2e intensity from its primary supply partners by 2030, the report highlights ongoing collaboration with suppliers to this end. Moreover, during the year Kingspan invested in H2 Green Steel, a company pioneering new production methods for lower-impact steel manufacturing using green hydrogen. Use of lower-emissions steel could help Kingspan reduce the embodied carbon of its insulated panel products by up to 45%.  The report also presents the impact of Kingspan products sold during 2021. The built environment is responsible for roughly 39% of global carbon emissions (6), and high-performance insulation is one of the most important ways to increase energy-efficiency in buildings. The insulation systems Kingspan sold during 2021 are projected to save 193 million tCO2e (7) during their lifetime. That’s equivalent to the emissions from 42 million passenger vehicles in a year (8). In addition, Kingspan announced a new initiative called Planet Passionate Communities, a programme that will support people and communities around the world. The report unveils the programme’s flagship project: a five-year partnership with GOAL, the international humanitarian response agency, to support them in their transformative work in areas of most need. Gene Murtagh, CEO of Kingspan Group, said: “The climate crisis, the pandemic, and now recent global events all serve to concentrate the mind on the need to build a more resilient and equitable world while ensuring energy security. Planet Passionate is our contribution to a future that uses resources efficiently, protects the natural world and delivers high-performance, energy-efficient products and solutions to our customers and global communities.” Bianca Wong, Head of Sustainability of Kingspan Group, said: “Delivering a programme of this scale against a background of rapid business growth takes huge effort and determination and I would like to thank and commend the incredible efforts of our people across the world to achieve positive progress against the majority of our targets for the second year in a row.”

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Revolutionary building technology enables HS2 to tap carbon-free renewable energy

Breakthrough offers potential to power Britain’s new high speed railway stations An HS2 building site is the test bed for a revolutionary new building method that could ultimately provide carbon-free energy to stations on Britain’s new high speed rail network. The breakthrough, part of HS2’s Innovation programme, and soon to be trialled by contractors Mace Dragados at the project’s Euston station site in London, will draw ground heat up through the foundations of a newly built construction site office. The innovation’s developer, civil engineering experts, Keltbray, estimates its technology will harness enough energy to supply 80% of the building’s heating and hot water. With such obvious potential benefits, engineers are already exploring how the new piling technology known as HIPER* pile could be incorporated into HS2’s stations at Euston and Curzon Street in Birmingham to supply zero-carbon renewable energy. The environmentally-friendly innovation takes advantage of a new piling technique that swaps solid concrete foundation piles for recyclable hollow ones made from a steel industry waste product that reduces the carbon-intensive cement content by up to 70%.   How it works As part of the site office’s foundations, the hollow tube piles are bored up to 25 metres into the ground and filled with water, before pipes carrying cold flowing water to and from the building above are run through each pile cylinder. As the ground’s heat warms the standing water in the cylinders, heat is transferred to the pipes and carried to the surface to supply the building’s heating system and hot water.    In a novel twist, the technology can be reversed in the summer to be used like air conditioning to cool the building by transferring heat back into the ground. HS2 Ltd innovation manager, Heather Donald said: “The potential benefits of this innovation are obvious. By harnessing ground heat this technology has the potential to provide both heating, cooling and hot water to HS2 stations – increasing sustainability by reducing their carbon footprint and running costs.” Mace Dragados Programme Director, Ben Wheeldon, said: “One of our ambitions at HS2 Euston Station is to be recognised as a leading project by the public, the industry and our neighbours, and so it’s incredibly exciting for us to have the opportunity to trial this innovative piling technology. It has the clear potential to reduce the use of materials, streamline the piling process, reduce costs and significantly shrink our carbon footprint.” Keltbray Technical Manager, Asha Panchal said: “The innovation combines a number of novel technological breakthroughs to deliver the first major change in the piling industry for over 70 years. HIPER Piles use zero-cement concrete, halving embedded carbon emissions compared with a traditional methods.  The fact that HIPER piles are hollow also means that they are 60% more thermally conductive so they can harness the earth’s natural zero-carbon thermal energy more efficiently than conventional solid thermal piles.”   

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Eco-friendly housing scheme wins coveted award

Leading UK placemaker, United Living New Homes, has been awarded a Premier Guarantee Quality Recognition Award for its innovative eco-friendly housing development at Shaldon Road, Bristol. The award recognises outstanding developments that have consistently delivered quality workmanship and displayed exceptional site management. Throughout the year, only 100 developments from across the UK are expected to receive this prestigious award – about 4% of the total number of sites inspected by Premier Guarantee. The Shaldon Road development captured the judge’s attention for the high quality of the new homes and the excellent standard of site management, craftsmanship, health & safety performance, site tidiness and general cooperation with the inspectors.   As a winner of the Quality Recognition Award, United Living New Homes will be considered for this year’s National Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards, scheduled to take place in the summer. On behalf of leading social housing provider, Brighter Places – and supported by Bristol City Council, Bristol Community Land Trust and Homes England – the £10 million eco-friendly scheme has seen land south of Morris Road, transformed into a carefully designed sustainable community. Built to ‘PassiveHaus’ principles, the energy-efficient properties will provide a high level of tenant comfort, while using very little energy for heating and cooling and minimising each home’s carbon footprint. The development will include two, three, and four bedrooms houses with a mixed tenancy of shared ownership and affordable rent. Solar PV panels will also feature at the development, further reducing costs and a green transport plan which includes electric car charging points, a car share scheme and improved pedestrian and cycle access. Communal green space around the homes is also being created with a dedicated and protected green corridor to enhance biodiversity by providing a safe space for wildlife. The ultra-green project is expected to be completed in early 2022. Jason Ivens, Project Manager, United Living New Homes, said: “We are delighted and honoured to receive this Quality Recognition Award for our Shaldon Road development. It is testament to the dedication, efforts and care of the entire team working on the project. “These eco-friendly properties are a reflection of our company’s wider commitment to deliver high quality, sustainable new homes that suit the needs of the local communities in which we build”. Ian Granger, Account Manager, Premier Guarantee, said: “What a great team effort from Jason and his colleagues, achieving a fantastic product on a challenging site using new and innovative solutions. They are worthy Quality Recognition Award winners”.

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We should all have a say in building our future

Also a LEED Fellow, WELL Faculty member and Fitwel Ambassador, Heidi’s work focuses on sustainability and wellness strategies for the academic, civic, cultural, commercial and residential sectors, at the building and masterplan scales. We spend as much as 90% of our lives in buildings. It’s therefore only fair and right that buildings are influenced by those that use them in a way that positively impacts climate change and supports health, wellbeing and quality of life. Climate and end-user wellbeing are intimately intertwined. Yet buildings are currently responsible for 40% of all annual global emissions. The same emissions contribute to climate effects inducing catastrophic events like flooding, wildfires and pandemics – events that typically impact individuals and communities least equipped to combat them. This isn’t right. It’s not fair and it’s not good enough. Which is why we at Buro Happold are committed to improving it. Below are six relatively simple yet key pledges that can help the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) community mitigate climate impact, address inequalities, and make buildings healthier and more inclusive for all: Adopt a human-centric approach and make design inclusive from the start. This will positively influence buildings and places, and enable more equitable outcomes. Approach every project with a holistic view of health, wellbeing and social equity. This requires early, meaningful engagement of stakeholders – both in the problem-solving and decision-making process – so that they may better voice the needs of the community. Create buildings that make people feel good. That means ensuring water quality, access to nature, inspiring movement, and comfort (amongst many others). It means proper ventilation and air filtration to eliminate odors, allergens and viruses, as well as thoughtful operations including waste reduction and green cleaning methods. Specify materials with consideration. This means considering not only for the health of building users, but also for the workers and communities where raw materials are extracted and manufactured, and for those impacted by building demolition or fire. Join aligned organizations and support them in their advocacy efforts. Embed equity into approach and team makeup when pursuing any building, masterplan or advisory project. The AEC community is ideally placed to drive meaningful change and create buildings that are better for both the planet and the people that spend time in them – “happy people, healthy planet,” to borrow a recent meme. That means addressing inequalities and decarbonizing building stock by first providing a robust platform for those who typically wouldn’t be involved in the decision-making process. In getting there, the importance of users in the economics and physics of design must be acknowledged. Moving beyond first costs, AEC leaders are instead focused on the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. Considering the lackluster results from COP26, where the commitments made thus far are not enough to prevent warming from exceeding 1.5°C, it is clear that follow up policies and actions by all nations and a strong push from the AEC industry will be required to substantially curb our dependency on fossil fuels. Finally, but perhaps most important, the AEC community must work together to shape this more inclusive and equitable future for ourselves, our buildings, and our communities. We must all play a key role in advocating and designing with empathy to create a resilient future in which people thrive.

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Construction supply chains building towards net zero future

Green construction supply chains will be vital if nations are to hit carbon neutral goals by 2050, yet challenges remain around cost and training… For businesses large and small, the COP26 climate summit brought into sharp focus just how important it is that they stay on track with net zero deadlines. The British government was one of the first to enshrine in law its commitment to be net zero as a nation by 2050. The clock is ticking ever louder.  Construction giant Balfour Beatty says the UK’s building and infrastructure sector supply chain will have a vital role in helping the country meet its net zero commitments. It says the supply chain is responsible for 80% of the sector’s emissions. Balfour Beatty is at the forefront of efforts to make sure construction supply chains are as green as can be. Recently it published a paper, called ‘Greening the Chain’. For this, the company surveyed around 40,000 UK construction and infrastructure industry suppliers, in a bid to understand the barriers, issues and opportunities around sustainability faced by the sector. It was a joint effort with the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS). Sustainability a struggle for smaller construction firms  One of the strongest messages to come out of ‘Greening the Chain’ was just how difficult it is for smaller businesses to make progress on sustainability, because they lack the resources and expertise of larger companies. “It’s more challenging for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to meet new sustainability requirements, such as supplying carbon data,” confirms Katherine Rusack, senior sustainable procurement manager at Balfour Beatty.  She continued: “Last year we spent £1.28bn with SME suppliers. They are a key part of our supply chain. For us to achieve our sustainability goals, we need to support them in a way that’s relevant to their business and operations.”   To this end, the company has partnered with the SCSS, who provide materials and training free to Balfour Beatty supply chain members. “It’s a collaborative initiative,” Rusack says. “Many customers, such as National Highways, and larger supply chain partners, also support the school. This is a great example of the construction industry coming together to support the upskilling of the supply chain of all sizes.”   SME businesses need all the help they can get on sustainability training, agrees Megan Adlen, group sustainability director at Travis Perkins.  She says: “Smaller companies have smaller teams. Unlike larger suppliers, like us, or larger manufacturers, they won’t necessarily have in-house teams who understand sustainability, who can calculate carbon, or who understand net zero and the key interventions needed to achieve it”. Supplier forum will share sustainability best practices She adds: “This is why we’re looking to bring them together in a supplier forum, starting next year. The aim is to share best practises across the supply chain, and hopefully inspire some of the smaller manufacturers around measures they can take to decarbonise their operations and supply team.” Adlen says a great starting point for smaller companies struggling with sustainability is to use the free SCSS carbon calculator tool.  “It’s no good talking theoretically to smaller companies about what needs to be done if they have no understanding of exactly what it is they’re supposed to be measuring and managing. It’s that old adage: if you want it to count, count it.” To that end, she says, the SCSS tool is a good first step to supporting smaller companies’ carbon calculations. In ‘Greening the Chain’ Balfour Beatty says one barrier to companies in the building supply chain moving to net zero is the skills gap, and a lack of training to plug that gap. Balfour Beatty’s Rusack says design is one of the areas in which sustainability training is important. “Equipping the design community with information about more sustainable products and methods can and should be implemented where possible,” Rusack says.  Balfour Beatty developing carbon conscious training She adds that Balfour Beatty is also developing carbon-conscious training to help its workforce understand the carbon costs of their behaviour, both for them as individuals and Balfour Beatty as an employer.  Yet she also sounds a note of caution, warning that businesses need to be careful not to go over the top: “Not everyone needs to be a sustainability expert. The challenge is to provide training which is relevant and proportionate to an individual’s role.”   There’s no doubt that some of the net-zero training that’s required in the building supply chain is onerous. Adlen offers the example of the switch from gas boilers to heat-exchange systems: “Adapting to new technologies such as heat-pumps means tradespeople skilled in traditional boilers will either need to upskill, or an entirely new trade will be needed to support the installation of these new solutions. What will probably happen is that it’ll be a blend of the two.” Adlen adds that the pace of change across the built environment means upskilling is absolutely vital. She says the construction sector has already approached the government for help on this front, but anticipates that much of the upskilling provision is likely to fall to the supply chain itself.  “A number of different upskilling solutions are likely to evolve,” she says. “Certainly in Travis Perkins we’re looking at how we might be able to play our part in supporting the upskilling of the trade in some of these areas.” She explains the company is exploring options on this front.  Whichever route Travis Perkins ends up taking, there will be plenty of training to provide. “I gave the example of upskilling around heat pumps but that’s just one example among many, many others.” Procurement sustainability training ‘vitally important’ Asked what the most important steps Balfour Beatty has taken to green its own chain, Rusack says that providing its procurement team with training on sustainable procurement is right up there. She said: “We’ve reviewed all the products and services we regularly use and have conducted a heat-mapping exercise against 13 key sustainability areas, including social, environmental and economic impacts.” On the back of this,

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BUREAU VERITAS URGES CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES TO TAKE HEED OF NET ZERO PLEDGE REQUIRED FOR UK GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Leading compliance expert Bureau Veritas has revealed that construction businesses looking to bid for UK government contracts worth more than £5m will need to step up their sustainability credentials as a new rule requires them to commit to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – and demonstrate how they will manage their impact on the environment throughout the contract. Earlier this month, the UK government announced it will require businesses to commit to net zero by 2050 and publish clear and credible carbon reduction plans before they can bid for major government contracts1. A carbon reduction plan sets out where an organisation’s emissions come from and the environmental management measures that they have in place. Some large companies already self-report parts of their carbon emissions, known as Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect owned) emissions. However, the new rules are set to go further, requiring the reporting of some Scope 3 emissions, including business travel, employee commuting, transportation, distribution and waste. Scope 3 emissions represent a significant proportion of an organisation’s carbon footprint. Welcoming the new measures, Bureau Veritas, which has helped some of the world’s largest organisations improve their sustainability performance, has described the move as a ‘quantum leap’ for sustainability. As such, the firm is pressing construction businesses to revisit, review and independently verify their environmental strategies in preparation of the upcoming changes, due to be implemented from September. David Murray, Technical Director for Sustainability at Bureau Veritas, comments: “Considering the government spends more than £290 billion on procurement every year, these new requirements are a ‘quantum leap’ for sustainability across the UK. “However, it also means that companies hoping to win these lucrative government contracts can no longer simply pay lip service to their environmental policy but instead must demonstrate a credible, robust and ambitious plan for achieving net zero carbon emissions. “Ahead of these changes, firms that haven’t done so already will need to review their existing sustainability strategy and be confident about how they plan to reach net zero carbon emissions, which includes a focus on coherent data collection, reporting and action. “Whilst this process can be inherently complex, the good news is as a third-party sustainability expert, at Bureau Veritas, we’ve built up specialist experience in supporting businesses with the sustainability credential in recent years – invaluable expertise which we’d urge all construction business to utilise now.” Bureau Veritas has experience and technical expertise in helping some of the world’s largest organisations improve their sustainability performance in a number of sectors including food, pharmaceutical, financial and manufacturing. With a proven track record in verification of environmental, health & safety and social data, including conducting audits against the requirements of ISO 14064 Part 3, Bureau Veritas is also a GRI Community Member, an AA1000AS Licensed Provider and a UKAS accredited ISO 14064-1 Verification Body. To find out more, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk

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UK’s largest geothermal housing development taking shape in Nottinghamshire

A village in Nottinghamshire is taking a major step into the future of ecological house building with the construction of two innovative eco-estates. Constructed by Gusto Homes, the two estates; Collingham Park and Collingham Brook are at the cutting edge of green residential development. Thought to be the largest housing development in the UK to be heated using geothermal energy, Collingham Park is a residential development with 60 retirement apartments and bungalows. Using geothermal energy from 32 boreholes reaching 120 metres underground, the technology will cut resident’s energy bills by around 75%. The adjacent site, Collingham Brook offers 45 properties including spacious three and four bedroom passive solar homes. The houses at Collingham Brook, which are triple glazed and super insulated, generate the majority of their energy from rooftop solar panels, which provide free electricity for heating and hot water. Gusto Homes has previously used their passive solar homes designs at its acclaimed Woodlands Edge development in Lincolnshire, where 29 eco-homes have been built around private woodland near Lincoln, including homes which cost just £1 per day to run. Chief Executive of Gusto Homes, Steff Wright said: “Over twenty years, Gusto Homes has been at the forefront of eco-home construction, but this is one of our most ambitious green projects to date, with an entire community benefiting from geothermal energy. “The technology we’re using to create this estate is game-changing, and it has the potential to transform the way homes are built in the future as we try to cut our emissions, reduce our impact on climate change and cut the energy costs for our homebuyers. Gusto Homes has used geothermal heat pumps in custom and self-build projects for several years, but never across an entire housing development on this scale. Using this natural, renewable energy, people living here will be able to enjoy high-quality homes with very low energy bills and a minimal carbon-footprint. “Since we started designing and building eco-homes two decades ago, we’ve been the first to use many technologies and techniques which are now used across the country; if the technology we’re using in this development becomes just as widespread in future, it would make a dramatic difference in the impact new housing has on the environment.” Collingham Park and Collingham Brook are adjacent developments in the Nottinghamshire village of Collingham near Newark. Both developments use cutting edge green innovations to deliver high quality energy-efficient homes for people who want to enjoy their leisure time in comfortable, stylish homes. Alongside housing, the developments will also include green spaces, a nursery, a gym, office space, business units, allotments and a local Men in Sheds building which older men and women can use to develop their wood-working and other practical skills. The geothermal boreholes at Collingham Park are being drilled by Nicholls Boreholes; the only firm in the UK to be fully MCS accredited for the design, drilling and installation of ground source heat pumps. Drilling Manager for Nicholls Boreholes, Tim Holland said: “While this is the largest scale project we’ve worked on, geothermal technology is surprisingly straight forward, reliable and efficient: Essentially, pipes carry very cold water deep underground, where the natural heat of the earth raises the water’s temperature. The water loops back up to the surface where a heat pump extracts the heat energy using a process that’s similar to that of a household refrigerator. For every kilowatt that it takes to power the heat pump, it produces up to four kilowatts of energy which means it can cut your heating bills to just 25% of the rate you’d normally pay. “Ground source energy is a big outlay, but it quickly covers its cost through green energy production and through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) so all big developments should be using this technology so they can use renewable heat from the ground. While gas and other fuels won’t always be there and wind and solar energy isn’t as reliable in the UK as in other countries, the heat in the ground will always be there and it’s certainly the way we should be looking. “It’s great that Gusto Homes is using one of the most efficient renewable energy sources available in this country; they’ve committed to a good and efficient system which will provide green energy for many many years to come.” You can find out more about Gusto Homes and its Collingham Park, Collingham Brook and Woodlands Edge eco-home projects at www.gustohomes.co.uk.

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