The CRC uncertainty continues

By Lachlan Fulton

In the chancellor’s Autumn Statement it was announced that the future of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency (CRC) scheme will remain undecided until after the next general election in 2016. 

However, it was declared that the performance league table will be scrapped and George Osborne has pledged to remove the tax element of the CRC as soon as possible.

This statement has naturally attracted criticism from a number of environmental professionals, including Martin Baxter, the policy director at IEMA: "The chancellor’s statement on the CRC fails the business test for long-term policy certainty."

With many companies wrestling with the challenge of developing a Carbon Management Plan to address GHG emission targets, the lack of a consistent policy framework has the potential to undermine the investment case on many low-carbon initiatives.

Osborne’s intention to prioritise the removal of the CRC’s tax element may be considered by some as welcome news in tough economic times. It is worth noting that this statement comes with a caveat – “when the public finances allow.” 

As austerity measures are forced to extend to 2018 it would not be surprising if the chancellor failed to honour this pledge anytime soon. Especially when considering the sale of CRC allowances for 2011/12 emissions has already generated a considerable £657 million* for the Treasury. 

Carbon management should therefore remain essential practise for those looking to minimise tax liability.

*This figure is provided by the Environment Agency and accounts for 93% of the CRC participants.

What makes a construction site sustainable?

By Emma Nicholson

Some recent debate on two popular LinkedIn sites: WSCP – Women In Sustainable Construction and Property and CIOB London Branch Sustainability Strategy Group has raised questions about what makes a construction site sustainable. 

What has emerged is that developing a site which has positive legacy attributes can be a large factor in making a site more sustainable. This could include beneficial impacts on habitats and biodiversity, community relations and improvement to the area to meet socio-economic and environmental needs. 

Every construction project is of course different, but having the right management processes in place from the start, for example a Site Waste Management Plan and processes to ensure that materials are sustainable, recycled or reused, can make a huge difference in terms of site sustainability. 

A key factor is to check that the project team and supply chain are socially responsible and have their own KPI targets and measures in place regarding their environmental footprint. 

Establishing a supplier commodity data sheet or some form of agreement which identifies the suppliers’ proposal for reuse and recycling of their product afterwards is advisable prior to the supplier/contractor starting work on site.

Monitoring compliance and including sustainability obligations in supplier and contractors’ contracts also help ensure a sustainable site.

Checking the sustainable source of materials at procurement stage is also imperative,  for example ensuring timber is procured from sustainable woodland, and steps are taken to eliminate hazardous waste where possible, such as utilisiing water based paints.

Some clients or contractors may consider that achieving sustainability can be costly, but it is important to stress that this is not the case; recycling materials can be cash positive and achieving large energy savings through careful procurement, planning and specification can reduce not only energy costs but carbon emissions as well. 

If you want to find out more, there is a CIOB panel discussion by professional experts taking place in December - details here.

Carbon offsetting - a force for good or corporate catharsis?

By Lachlan Fulton  

Carbon offsetting remains a slightly contentious subject, so when a company voluntarily chooses to purchase carbon credits to compensate for its emissions it is not uncommon that this is met with a level of scepticism… But why is this?

Well, in 2008 an unregulated market and a growing demand for voluntary carbon credits resulted in an explosion of companies offering solutions through a variety of projects ranging from tree planting to hydroelectric power. The projects differed drastically in terms of quality and price (per tonne of carbon) and led to a series of questions about the credibility of the credits, which couldn’t always be answered.

High carbon emitting companies marketing themselves as carbon neutral added to the growing zeitgeist that ‘carbon offsetting provides a practical way for companies to continue with business as usual and appear green’.

When Rider Levett Bucknall recently decided to offset the GHG emissions generated from its domestic air travel, the aforementioned meant this decision wasn’t taken lightly.

To avoid the issues which have led to trouble in the past, the credits purchased were covered by one of the market flexibility mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol (Certified Emission Reductions) as this guarantees that they meet the ‘Good Quality’ criteria established by Defra.

This ensures that the issue of additionally (i.e. if national carbon legislation dictates that the project would have occurred regardless of credit suppliers intervention, the project is not considered additional), and the worry of permanence (e.g. forestry projects are at risk of disease or fire) are avoided.

Rider Levett Bucknall chose to purchase ‘Good Quality’ credits through The Converging World for the quality of the credits, and the difference they make to the lives of Indian community groups through education, health and energy projects.

(Image provided by The Converging World)

Find out more about the Good Quality criteria.

Have you heard about Ska?

By Simon Chesworth
 
The variety of environmental assessment methods available within the construction industry can be confusing.  If you are a landlord, tenant, designer, contractor or FM provider the new RICS Ska assessment system may be just what you are looking for.
 
Ska Rating is a new system which only assesses the elements that are being changed or replaced for refurbishment and fit out projects. 

It was developed by RICS to help landlords and tenants assess commercial fit-out projects against a set of sustainability focused criteria.

It involves measuring a number of impacts including; energy and CO₂ emissions, waste, water, materials, pollution, wellbeing and transport.

The benefits of more sustainable fit-outs include improved staff welfare and working conditions and enhanced corporate sustainability, alongside significant cash savings; Ska is considered cheaper than other energy assessments. The assessment is a three stage process; Design / Planning, Delivery / Construction and Post-Occupancy Assessment.  Projects can achieve a Gold, Silver or Bronze certificate. 

Rider Levett Bucknall offer quality assured assessments and issue certificates from RICS accredited Ska Assessors. For more information click here.

Giving it away

By Samantha Clements

Following on from last week’s post from my fellow blogger Tom about the importance of a CR focused philosophy, we are always looking at ways to do things differently.No one can deny the important role charities play in today’s society and as you would expect, we actively get involved in raising and donating money for a range of worthy causes.

But why stop there?

Our reputation is built on the services we provide, so when our CR rep contacted Sheffield charity Bluebell Wood Hospice to offer professional help the opportunity was snapped up.

The charity planned to turn some surplus space into a leisure room; somewhere both the patients and visitors at the centre could relax and value for years to come. As with many ideas there is always the questions of - how, what, where!?

And that’s where we stepped in…

We were able to visit site and convert their ideas into detailed design plans and a cost plan for the project. This figure will be used as their fundraising target and brings the plans into reality.

In total we donated 16 hours of professional time and waivered all fees to help out a good cause, which we will continue to support until ribbon cutting day. It’s always important to remember what it is you can offer to make a difference and we acknowledge this and play to these strengths, both through Responsible Management for our clients and our own corporate responsibilty.

And the good feeling you get after it… well that’s just the bonus.

Community Foundations, Fair Share Trust and Localgiving

By Thomas Williams

Many of us live and work in our local communities and are not aware of the valuable work our local community foundations undertake. Community foundations are responsible for providing the support and funding to these areas and do so generally from the support of key donors, philanthropists and businesses with a presence in the local community.

More recently social enterprises, such as Localgiving, have been setup to support these community foundations which provide a platform for giving, offering the ability to give to small local charities and community groups in the UK.

‘’The Community Foundation Network is responsible for using its local giving expertise to ensure the effective implementation of the £50 million UK-wide Fair Share Trust programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund…to build community skills, confidence, experience and networks to improve local neighbourhoods and leave a positive lasting legacy in areas that have not received their fair share of Lottery funding in the past…Working in collaboration with community foundations and other partners across the UK, to date more than £42m has been committed to local projects’’ (Taken from communityfoundations.org.uk).

As part of Rider Levett Bucknall’s Corporate Social Responsibility we have been working alongside the Birmingham and the Black Country Community Foundation, providing construction advice on a Fair Share Trust project in the area.

Our role has involved advising a local church group on the key design issues involved with undertaking a substantial refurbishment and re-roofing project. As part of our involvement we have assisted the client in ensuring that the architect has captured all construction and compliance issues before sending the tender documents out.

This support has then extended into offering guidance upon receipt of the priced tender returns and has ultimately ensured that the Fair Share trust grant money has been correctly committed.

This is a key element of our Responsible Management philosophy. One third of our model focuses on Corporate Responsibility, and how it links with business, asset and carbon strategy. By clarifying business objectives and benchmarketing performance in all categories, we can help businesses become more sustainable.

For more information on this subject please speak to Thomas Williams or visit the following websites:

http://www.communityfoundations.org.uk/

http://www.bbccf.org.uk/

http://www.fairsharetrust.org/

http://localgiving.com/

Meeting the demand for 'green skills'

By Emma Nicholson

The role of the Chartered Environmentalist is important in the promotion of sustainability throughout the industry and the qualification is becoming more ubiquitous as a demand for green skills grow.

The CEnv qualification establishes proven knowledge, experience and it is expected that as global membership increases the CEnv accreditation will become the international benchmark and commitment to professional standards.

There are 23 different bodies that you can apply for the CEnv qualification which are listed below. Once you're a member of the CIOB for example, you are then in a position to apply for the CEnv qualification which involves completing an application form and attending an interview at Englemere, Ascot. 

The designation also shows commitment to sustainable environmental management and development. 

As Chair of the CIOB's Sustainability Strategy Group I'll be hosting a workshop / presentation on facts about the CEnv qualification on the 21st September. Details are on the CIOB's website: 

www.ciob.org.uk\CIOBLondonBranch\CIOBSustainabilityStrategygroup  

SocEnv Members Licensed to Award CEnv

• Arboricultural Association
• Association of Building Engineers
• Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists
• Chartered Institute of Building
• Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
• Institution of Engineering Designers
• Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management
• Energy Institute
• Institution of Agricultural Engineers
• Institute of Agricultural Management
• Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management
• Society of Operations Engineers
• Institute of Environmental Management& Assessment
• Institute of Fisheries Management
• Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining
• Institution of Chemical Engineers
• Institution of Civil Engineers
• Institution of Environmental Sciences
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• Institute of Water
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• The Society of Environmental Engineers
• Institute of Chartered Foresters

Compulsory GHG emissions reporting: a mandate for change or too little too late?

By Lachlan Fulton

It’s been deliberated for a long time and when April passed without a conclusive government decision on whether to introduce a mandate for certain UK companies to report on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it felt like more unnecessary procrastination.

However, during the Deputy Prime Minister’s recent visit to Brazil to attend the Rio+ 20 Summit, Nick Clegg announced that from April 2013 it will be compulsory for all UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) to include emissions data for their entire organisation in their annual reports.

There are currently 1,648 UK companies listed on the LSE, with 108 registered in Construction or the Real Estate sector.

Of these companies it is clear that many will already have a grip on their emissions as GHG accounting has been driven by a variety of socio-economic factors and regulation such as the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.

It is therefore reasonable that the government would select companies listed on the LSE as a test-bed for mandatory reporting as the investment to respond to such regulation should not be significant.

However, if this is the first step towards a more carbon transparent future where reporting is commonplace, the big hurdle to achieving this will come from the remaining companies who are yet to undertake any GHG accounting and reporting for their organisation.

Going forward, Ministers are scheduled to review regulation in 2015 before deciding whether to extend the approach to all large companies from 2016.

Link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/06/20/greenhouse-gas-reporting/

Estate rationalisation: Lost in space

By Simon Chesworth

Perhaps an advantage of the current economic downturn is that it has stimulated a drastic change in the way we view our assets. In rationalising existing property portfolios, Government and Private Sector organisations are utilising administration accommodation in a more efficient and sustainable manner.

Through undertaking a space planning exercise, existing floor layouts and space utilisation is taken into consideration.  The optional appraisal of the space is then rationalised accordingly. 

But does this mean workforces will be working in uncomfortable and cramped conditions?

Certainly not:

• Rider Levett Bucknall has embedded the values of Responsible Management into Estate Rationalisation, developing the brief with the end users. This collaborative approach is fundamental to the successful delivery of asset management
• All space planning undertaken is carried out in accordance with the New Metric Handbook, Workplace Regulations and National Audit Office efficiency targets
• Often the final layout will be a mixture of different options
• Space utilisation is demonstrated through 3D visualisation, giving end users a better understanding of how the finished product may look and the space available

Taking BIM forwards

By Richard Tipping

The furore around BIM is certainly supporting its rapid development and integration into UK construction. The past 12 months have seen a number of industry publications and conferences dedicated to BIM and the initial hype has been surpassed by genuine enthusiasm, a wider understanding of what BIM is and, more importantly, what needs to be done to make it work.

The big push was client demand, or more specifically public client demand, with the UK government announcing that (level 2) BIM would be mandatory by 2016 on all public projects with a value in excess of £5m.

This push has followed an equally huge pull, noticeably from some of the UK’s bigger construction firms investing heavily in BIM related resources.

If these commercially minded contractors can see the immediate efficiency savings, then the credibility of BIM’s ability to save capital cost and significantly improve on operational costs carries greater credence.

So where exactly are we? The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is part way through several test projects and has committed to the full capability of BIM level 2 by all contractors on its framework from mid-2013.

Rider Levett Bucknall has been heavily involved with the development of BIM in conjunction with the cabinet office, helping to develop benchmarks and our colleague Brendan Patchell sits on the RICS’s BIM working group.

We can confidently ensure that BIM works for our clients, will lower the capital cost of their projects, decrease the risk and uncertainty, and increase the functionality and performance of their asset(s). Get in touch if you have any questions.

Powering the community

By Samantha Clements

A cornerstone of our Responsible Management philosophy is to help our clients reduce their carbon footprint – thus helping the environment and reducing costs and liabilities for carbon taxation.

One successful approach that we have developed in Sheffield is to offer clients with high energy usage the opportunity to develop Community Owned wind farms through our bespoke company, Community Energy Investments.

Increasing the production of this kind of renewable energy is a strategic aim for our Government, as well as many large corporations keen to reduce overheads.

For example, BT uses 0.7% of all UK power; it aims to ensure that 20% of this is from renewable sources by 2016.

So why Community Owned wind farms? 

• It’s different – our model secures at least 51% ownership for the community
• Communities benefit financially – for example our Roseland wind farm project will generate £750k per year for Bolsover community groups
• Our clients secure the power at cheaper rates than they would from commercial wind farm operators
• Investors and landowners secure commercial rates of return
• Whilst ownership rests with the communities, control and management of the wind farms belongs to the investors/end users
• Achieving planning using this approach will be easier as decision makers will take community benefits into account 
• Investors, land-owners and energy users will all benefit from improved reputation by providing real benefit to local communities

Our philosophy is being put into practice with a planning application for the UK’s largest community-owned wind farm being submitted in Derbyshire. We anticipate that this model could become a template for this type of community initiative and inspire similar projects throughout the UK.

What do you think?

Japanese knotweed and the impact on development

Thomas Williams

It is important that Knotweed is identified on site early; the cost for controlling the plant at the London Olympic Village is estimated to be £70m and in 2010, according to CABI, the annual cost to British Development sites was £150m.

Getting advice quickly can:

• Reduce excessive costs for destroying, disposing or managing knotweed
• Avoid potential prosecution and/or compensation claims
• Prevent further damage to the physical fabric of the building and other hard surfaces
• Provide a better environment

There are many different types of knotweed, such as Giant, Bohemica or Hybrid, Himalayan, Lesser and Japanese. It is a non-native invasive species of plant and has the following identifying factors:

• Mid- green leaf, shield-shaped, varying size
• Leaf stem has distinctive zig-zag, is often pink/purple in colour
• Stem is bamboo-like, hollow and jointed and green, often with a pink/purple speckle
• Crown is a knotty mass often partially visible above ground
• Rhizome underground stem system can spread several metres in any direction, internally orange
• Flowers are small, white, five-petalled, appearing in late August, persisting until late October 

Once these plants move into a new environment they suddenly have none of these factors present and are free to grow and spread, causing significant damage to buildings and landscaping.

  

A variety of solutions are available, from chemical treatment to burial, and costs vary from £10-25+ per m2 with timescales of up to 36 months.

For more information get in touch or try:

• The Environment Agency “Knotweed code of practice” 2006
•  “Japanese Knotweed and Residential Property” RICS Information Paper 1st Edition 2012
• Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991
• Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Don't waste the opportunity

Emma Nicholson
Last month the Government announced that Site Waste Management Plans would be scrapped, although they haven’t indicated when.

Isn’t this removal of legislation too soon for an industry still grasping how to improve its waste reduction targets on construction sites? Or has the legislation already done its job?

According to figures from the Constructing Excellence KPIs, construction waste has been cut by a third since the legislation came into place in 2008. What is the government’s intention here – simplification of procedures?  We’re going to have to wait for up to twelve months for an answer.

The DEFRA consultation states that “ministers do not believe these regulations are necessary... because they impose burdens that do not in reality help achieve environmental goals. Removing these regulations should result in a cost reduction for business/others.”

However, the importance of dealing with waste cannot be stressed highly enough. WRAP has encouraged companies to make substantial performance improvements and to prioritise waste reduction during design so that materials are used efficiently and cost savings can be achieved (Halving Waste to Landfill and Designing out Waste).

With uncertainty regarding the future of SWMP legislation, it should be noted that WRAP has also worked closely with LOCOG making pioneering strides with a zero waste policy and vision for the London 2012 Games.
 
This knowledge and insight must be retained by the industry. A number of experts and consultants have been involved in the Zero Waste Games Vision and it is something the whole industry should aspire to. 

For further information about the sustainability of the Games visit http://zerowasteevents.org/ or www.london2012.com/documents/sustainability/london-2012-zero-waste-events-protocol.pdf 

The Green Deal: Good news for RSLs, but concerns for public take-up

Lachlan Fulton 

The Government’s vision to have all practicable cavity walls and lofts, together with up to 1.5 million solid walls insulated by 2020 is dependent on the success of the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation.

With this in mind, I recently visited The University of Salford’s “Energy House”, a facility performing tests on possible Green Deal energy conservation technologies, to discuss the potential barriers which could prevent the scheme from delivering the results needed.

Following a tour of the testing facility, a traditional pre 1920’s Victorian terrace house reconstructed in a lab, the conversation moved from technology to the market.

Although it appears Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) are positioning themselves well to take advantage of the scheme, there is a valid cause for concern that the public won’t be so keen to jump on board unless they are confident that they won’t get their fingers burnt.

Homeowner’s perceived value in a Green Deal intervention, the integrity and capability of Green Deal assessors and installers, and Green Deal charge repayments affecting saleability – are all key factors raised which could jeopardise the success of the Green Deal.

With the Green Deal targeted to be available in Autumn 2012, it will be interesting to see how things develop over the coming months.