Posts
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.
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.