Can sustainable construction & maintenance behaviours& maintenance behaviours really make a difference?

Dr. Stephen ThomsonHead of Environment & Sustainabilityy

Transport Scotland

S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y

Disclaimer

• Views expressed in this presentation do not represent those of LOR or TS!

“The winner was really making a difference in a sector often accused of indifference. Laing O’Rourke has created a faultless business case for implementing far-case for implementing far-reaching CSR policies – that in itself ensures the sustainability of the programme.

ADAPTIVE Vs TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

“There are a whole host of problems th t t bl t th it ti

ADAPTIVE Vs TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

that are not amenable to authoritative expertise or standard procedures …these are adaptative challengesbecause they require new y qexperiments, discoveries, adjustments, attitudes, values and behaviours.”

“So, the sustainability of change depends on having the people with the problem internalize the change itself.”

“Segregating waste helps with recycling. Do you segregate your waste?”

“No need. We only produce mixed waste”“We’ve tried it before and it does not work”

“OK what about timber? You must produce quantities of this waste”

Environmental approach

OK, what about timber? You must produce quantities of this waste

“No, there is very little timber waste produced”

(…following a quick walkround site inspection)

“Just had a look at your skips. The setup is a bit of a mess”

“Every site is like that”

“About 50% of the waste is timber. Do you know it’s about 50% cheaper to remove timber only skips from site. I can organise this for you.”

“Really? OK, lets give it a trial”

(…the site kept the segregated waste skips for the rest of the contract).

Economic approach

£500 00031 101 3 f i 2009

£500,000• 31,101m3 of waste in 2009

• 4,409m3 to landfill

• 85.82% recovered in 2009

Can sustainable construction & maintenance behaviours ll k diff ?really make a difference?

• Big difference between – saying…

itti t– committing to…– promising…

• and actually doing…and actually doing

What are YOU going to do that makes a difference…that makes the built environment that little bit better?

Defining sustainability?Defining sustainability?

Sustainable development is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

Bruntland Report 1987Bruntland Report, 1987

Sustainable development aims “to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations”

Choosing our Future: Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy (2005).

CSR is business communities response to the sustainable development agenda

CIRIA Engage-Construct

‘Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large.’

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY IS THE PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Orange idea from Prof Ed McCann – The London 2012 Olympic Velodrome -the most sustainable sports venue in the world? (Centenary Lecture)

Definition(s) remain constant Appetite to deliver “sustainability” changes with time

Ciria C695 A guide to sustainable procurementIn construction (2011)

Scottish Governments interpretation ofScottish Governments interpretation of sustainability:

Government Economic Strategy

Ciria C695 A guide to sustainable procurementIn construction (2011)

Sustainable Design

FLEXIBLE

CLASSROOM AREAS

FLEXIBLE TEACHING AREAS

• Dense masonry load bearing spine walls

PRE CAST PORTALS

walls

• Zero waste in production

• Reduced waste onsiteeduced as e o s e

• Future-proofing into operational phase to avoid realignment waste

Sustainable Procurement

M74 - Recycling demolition rubble from two 23 storey flats & +500,000 tonnes of aggregates for embankment fill

Clackmannshire Bridge - 80% fill material from RSA sourced onsite+ all excavated material from

the site was reused

Make sure the sustainability deliverables are in theMake sure the sustainability deliverables are in the contract

Behaviour of the client and contractor is likely to be driven by the contract…this is certainly true

when it comes to sustainability elements of construction

Employer Requirements

Contractor Proposal

“…may”…may

” d””…are encouraged”

“ would be expected to”…would be expected to

“…shall”• Elements of control by client; from voluntary to mandatory

“Social” during construction & gmaintenance phase:

Community Benefits, Employability, Community Engagement & EducationCommunity Engagement & Education

“Environment” during the construction &“Environment” during the construction & maintenance phase:

Climate Change & Waste

“Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get” Robert A. Heinlein

Climate is a long term average of weather (usually over 30 years) and t d i th diti li t htrends in these average conditions are climate change.

Weather is what we experience hour-to-hour, day-to-day or even year-to-year, and as anyone living in Scotland will know, it can be highly variable. y , y g , g y

West Scotland1961-2004

+23%

est Scot a d

Average Annual Precipitation

Future Projections

The key climate change trends for Scotland are:

Future Projections

The key climate change trends for Scotland are:• Hotter, drier summers• Milder, wetter autumn and winters

We can also expect to see:• Increase in summer heat waves extreme temperatures and drought• Increase in summer heat waves, extreme temperatures and drought• Increased frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events• Reduced occurrence of frost and snowfall• Sea level rise

• 80% GHG reduction by 2050 (vs. 1990)

• Interim emission target of at least 42% below 1990 levels by 2020

A85 Glen Ogle A9 Raigmore Slip Road

Rest and be Thankful

Operational Carbon“ b i i i t d ith l ti ti iti“carbon emissions associated with annual operations, activities

& services which are not defined as standalone projects” (including the activities of the Tier 1 supply chain organisations)

Project carbonProject carbon“carbon emissions associated with delivery of major road or rail

projects, and larger road structural maintenance schemes.”

CMS pilot p blishedCMS pilot published:

Fox et al (2011)Fox et al. (2011)Proceedings of the

Institute of Civil Engineers. Transport Vol. 164 August 2011 I TR3 P 165Issue TR3 Pages 165-

179

Measuring sustainable construction &Measuring sustainable construction & maintenance:

BREEAM & CEEQUAL

• GlueGlue

Who involved in influencing the rating?

• Design managers• Client / developer

• Supply chain of contractors

• Architects• Landscape architects

• Material suppliers• Quantity Surveyorsp

• Construction contractors

• FM contractors• Occupiers or users of

• M&E Engineers• Civil Engineers

structure

Civil Engineers

BREEAM Credits & scoring% worth for% worth for

each weighted credit (f/b) dependant on total

Credit criteria from BREEAM 2006 Credit available

Weighting factor

Maximum credits available if total credits are

achieved

number of credits available

Management 20 0.15 15.00 0.75Health & Wellbeing 18 0.15 15.00 0.83Energy & Transport 25 0.25 25.00 1.04Water 7 0.05 5.00 0.71Materials 17 0.1 10.00 0.58Landuse and ecology 12 0.15 15.00 1.25Pollution 14 0.15 15.00 1.07

Total = 113 100

high weighting

medium weighting

low weighting

Are the BREEAM 2008 Minimum performance ratings represent the ‘basic principles of sustainable design’?basic principles of sustainable design ?

BREEAM Rating: Minimumnumber of credits

BREEAM issue P G VG E O

Man1 Commissioning 1 1 1 1 2

Man2 Considerate Constructor 1 2

Man4 Building User Guide 1 1

Hea4 High Frequency Lighting 1 1 1 1 1g q y g g

Hea12 Microbial contamination 1 1 1 1 1

Ene1 Reduction of CO2 emissions 6 10

Ene2 Submetering of substantial energy uses 1 1 1

E L b h l i 1 1Ene5 Low or zero carbon technologies 1 1

Wat1 Water consumption 1 1 1 2

Wat2 Water meter 1 1 1 1

Wst3 Storage or recyclable waste 1 1

LE4 Mitigating ecological impact 1 1 1

Compliance Requirements & Info i drequired

The cost of sustainable design? g

Primary School

BRE ‘Putting a price on sustainable schools’ (2008)

So, what makes a “sustainable project” [ di t BREEAM? ][according to BREEAM?...]

T5 - Cycle facilities

T5 - Changing facilities

HW3 – Glare Control

HW3 – Glare Control

MW7 – Recycled aggregates

MW10 – Design for robustness

Project 141 Bothwell Street• No BREEAM requirements in

ER’s or CP’s

• Client requested BREEAM assessment mid-constructionwith a target of ‘Excellent’

I iti l D kt A t• Initial Desktop Assessment showed a project score of 50.46% - Very Good with a Potential to achieve 72.81%

• Client paid for additional works to achieve Excellentworks to achieve Excellent = Very Unusual

Rainwater attenuation tanks Automatic BMS linked to daylight controls

+60 cycle racks & shower facilities Green roof (x10 species) across 200m2

Lessons learntLessons learnt• “The devil is in the detail” of the BREEAM &

CEEQUAL manual compliance requirements• BREEAM & CEEQUAL is/was in-vogue:

– Legislation Vs Govt Policy Vs Voluntary byCEEQUAL manual compliance requirements

• Before you start on design, be sure that you know what your signing up to in your output specifications with the client

– (Pre-assessment) checklist for designers, architects and consultants needed as a design

– Legislation Vs Govt Policy Vs Voluntary by client

• Credits cannot be viewed in isolation…they are interlinked

Th diff b t E l d darchitects and consultants needed as a design brief with responsibilities and quick wins highlighted for a given rating band.

• Start BREEAM & CEEQUAL early, early, early…client has responsibility even before engaging with contractor.

• There are differences between England and Scottish building regulations

• Are contractors retrofitting current BREEAM & CEEQUAL standards into a project that may have been designed and budgeted 2 years previously

• BREEAM can have an affect on gross floor area (GFA) e.g extra showers / lockers etc = Affordability

• Everyone wants Excellent, but we should be ‘aspiring’ to excellent rather than promising delivery Vs

• Contractors could/should write employer requirements for client then ‘red-line’ the hot topics

• Contractors must have a central team or responsible person to ensure that we are compliant i th d ito excellent rather than promising delivery Vs

affordability

• Weekly design team meetings can be avoided by remote monitoring using Excel checklist; with all design members / consultants responsible for certain credits.

in the design

• Never sign up for a specific BREEAM or CEEQUAL percentage; always agree on a rating band.

• About 25% of credits [in BREEAM] are process c ed ts

• Consultants, architects and clients need to be aware of their roles and responsibilities within BREEAM & CEEQUAL

bout 5% o c ed ts [ ] a e p ocessdriven; you either do it as part of your management system or you don’t

What’s your role?Mainstream sustainability principles where practicable

Risk being a leader, agitate and influence behaviours

Make a tangible difference to the built environment

Communicate that a sustainable built environment is perhaps simply one that is a wee bit better than the oneperhaps simply one that is a wee bit better than the one we live in just now

Be realistic…up to a point – Economic austerity