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TRANSCRIPT
The Green PerspectiveA UK constructionindustry reporton sustainability
Research by Jamie Dale, CIOB
Survey 2007
CONTENTS
1. FOREWORD
2. INTRODUCTION
3. METHODOLOGY
4. FINDINGS
• Areyouamember?
• Areyouacharteredenvironmentalist?
• Whatisyouremploymentstatus?
• Whichdescriptionbestsuitsyourprofession?
• Whichofthefollowingsectorsareyoumostcloselyinvolvedwith?
• Howmanypeopleareemployedatyourorganisation?
• Howmuchdoesyourcompanyturnoverperannum?
• Whereareyoulocated?
• Howimportantissustainabilityfortheconstructionindustry?
• Doesconstructionhavearoletoplayinthesolutiontoclimatechange?
• IfYESwhatisscaleofimportance?
• WhatelementofthebuiltenvironmentcandomosttoreduceCO2?
• WhichofthesewillgivethemostbenefittoreducingCO2currently?
• Whichoftheseneedthemostimprovementonsustainability?
• WhichofthebelowcontributemosttoCO2?
• Inthelastfiveyearshastherebeenanincreaseindemandfromclientsforenergy efficientbuildings?
• Aretherefinancialbenefitstoproducingenergyefficientbuildings?
• Is‘green’buildingthefutureforconstruction?
• DothecurrentUKbuildingregulationsgofarenoughtocreateenergyefficientbuildings?
• Aretheyenforceable?
• IstheindustrycurrentlyabletoproduceZeroCarbonBuildingsonmass?
• Ifno,why?
• Doesyourcompanycurrentlyemploy‘green’constructionmethods?
• Ifyes,how?
• Ifno,why?
• Inyouropinionwhatprojectisthebestexampleofgreenconstruction?
• WheredoyouseethefutureUKinvestmentforcleanenergy?
• WhatenergysourcesshouldtheUKdevelop?
• WhatwouldyouliketoseetheCIOBdotohelptheindustryachieve greatersustainability?
• Ifyouhada£1mbudgetforsustainabilitywhatwouldyoudevelop?
5. DISCUSSION
6. RECOMMENDATIONS
7. RESOURCES
2
FOREWORD
The Green Perspective
ThefourthreportfromtheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)hasshownthatenergyuseinbuildingsgenerates33percentofman-madegreenhousegasemissionsglobally.Thatmakesthebuiltenvironment,andourbuildingstock,akeysectorforreducingCO2.
IntheUK,theGovernmenthascommittedtoa26percentto32percentreductionby2020anda60percentreductionofCO2by2050.TheformerDepartmentofTradeandIndustry(nowreplacedbytheDepartmentforBusiness,Enterprise&RegulatoryReform)hasstatedthatapproximately50percentoftheUK’stotalcarbondioxideemissionscomefrombuildings.
WhilstthesestatisticsshowthescaleofimportancethebuiltenvironmenthasinreducingCO2,itwouldalsosuggesttherearemanyopportunitiesfortheindustrytoemploynewandexistingtechnologiesonamuchwiderscalethanseenbefore.
Almost850builtenvironmentprofessionalshavetakenpartinthissurvey.Theaimwastofindoutwhattheybelievedtheissueofclimatechangeandsustainabilitymeansfortheindustry,aswellashowtheyviewcurrentandfuturegreenpractices.
Thereisaclearmessagefromtherespondentsthattheyrecognisethesignificantroleandresponsibilitytheindustryhastoplayinthesolutiontoclimatechange.Theincreasingpublicandpolicyopinionthatthebuiltenvironmentcanmakeconsiderableandfastchangetoemissionsisreflectedbythosewhotookpart.
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3
INTRODUCTION
“…within 10 years every new home will be a zero carbon home…we will be the first country ever to make this commitment.”GordonBrown,PrimeMinister,2007
Purpose of study
Sustainabilityhasbecometheconstructionindustry’smostimportantandchallengingissue.Withgreaterpublicdemandforsustainableproducts,newgovernmentinitiativesandtargetsconcerningcarbonemissions,aswellasstatisticsshowingthattheconstructionandrunningofbuildingsarethebiggestcarbonculprits,demandontheconstructionindustrytochampionsustainabilityisincreasing.
TheGovernmenthasnotonlyannouncedtheaimtomakeallnewhomescarbonzeroby2016,butinJuly2007GordonBrownpledged“atotalby2020ofthreemillionnewhomesforfamiliesacrossthecountry”tobebuilt“inenvironmentallyfriendlywaysusingprincipallybrownfieldlandandbuildingecotownsandvillages”1.SustainabilityisnotonlyacurrentbuzzwordintheUK’sconstructionindustry,butitisaglobalissuefacedbybusinesscommunitiesandgovernmentsacrosstheworld.
WiththiscurrentpoliticalclimateinmindtheCIOBwantedtodiscovertheopinionsurroundingthepracticality,implicationsandfutureofsustainabilitywithintheconstructionindustry.Thesurveyexaminedhowimportanttheissuesofclimatechangeandsustainabilityarefortheconstructionindustry,whilstalsolookingattheeffectivenessofcurrentgreenpractices,andgaugingrespondents’perceptionsonwheretheyfeltthelargestgainscouldbemadetowardsamoresustainableconstructionindustry.
Background Research
“Green construction is quite simply better construction”PaulKing,ChiefExecutive,GreenBuildingCouncil
Thecausesofglobalwarmingandclimatechangehaveuntilrecentlybeenasubjectthatdividedscientificandpublicopinion.HoweverinFebruary2007theIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)2statedthatthereisagreaterthan90percentprobabilitythattheclimaticchangesseenaroundtheworldwerecausedbyhumans.Thisresearchisregardedasthemostfar-reachingandcomprehensivestudyintoclimatechangethathasbeenundertakenandprovidesconvincingevidencethathumansareaffectingtheworld’sclimate.
Manyacademicsandgovernmentsarenowcallingforathirdindustrialrevolution:the“greenrevolution”.Therecanbelittledoubtthatconstruction,asoneoftheworld’slargestindustries(wortharound£1.6tnworldwide,employing111mpeople3andaccountingfor10-15percentofGDP),willbelookedupontoleadthewayina‘greenrevolution’.Theindustryalsohasagreatmultipliereffectontheeconomy,withonejobinconstructiongeneratingtwomorejobselsewhere.Asmuchas20percentofallemploymentmaybelinkedtoconstructionactivitiesinsomeway.IntheUK,constructionisthelargestindustryconsistingofover250,000firms,employingaround2.1millionpeopleandaccountingforeightpercentofGDP4.Itisestimatedthatconstructionaccountsforapproximately40percentofallresourceconsumptionandproducesabout40percentofallwaste.
PublicopinionhasfocusedonthetransportindustrieswhenlookingtoreducecarbonemissionsbutmorerecentlyopinionhasshiftedtowardsthecarbonfootprintsofthebuildingsinwhichweliveandworkasthegreatestcontributortoCO2levelsandclimatechange.TheUKrepresentsonepercentoftheworld’spopulationandyetproduces2.3percentoftheworld’sCO2andworldwidethefourthreportfromtheIPCChasshownthatenergyuseinbuildingsgenerates33percentofman-madegreenhousegasemissions.
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4
IntheUK,thegovernmenthasannouncedstrictdeadlinestocutcarbonemissionsbyatleast26percentby2020and60percentby2050.Toachievethesetargetstheconstructionindustrymustplayavitalrole,asbuildingsofferthelargestsinglepotentialforenergyefficiency.AccordingtotheEuropeanCommissionDirectorate-GeneralforEnergyandTransport,“Researchshowsthatmorethanone-fifthofthepresentenergyconsumptionandupto30to45metrictonesofCO2peryearcouldbesavedby2010byapplyingmoreambitiousstandardstonewandrefurbishingbuildings-whichrepresentsaconsiderablecontributiontomeetingtheKyototargets.”5
Withnewextensiveplanstoreducecarboninnewbuildsandthroughrefurbishmentofexistingbuildingsthereisademandontheconstructionindustry,andothers,toshowthatthesechangestohomesandbuildingsarenotonlybetterfortheenvironmentbutcanactuallyhavefinancialbenefitsaswell.AsofApril2007allzerocarbonhomesintheUKwillbeexemptfromstampdutyforatleastthenextthreeyears.Thegovernmenthasalsoannouncedplansforthreemillionnewhomesby2020withtheaimthatallnewhomeswillbecarbonzeroby20166.TheGovernmentstated“Thereisnodoubtthatconsumerdemandforlowandzerocarbonhomesisgrowing.Inarecentsurveynearlytwo-thirdsofpeopleaskedthoughtthatsustainabilityoptionsshouldbecompulsoryinanewhome.”
ThesechangesinpublicandgovernmentalattitudeshaveveryrealimplicationsforaUKconstructionindustrythatisexpectedtoadaptquicklyandefficientlywiththesechanges.SincetheKyotoProtocolinspiredtheintroductionoftheEUDirectiveontheEnergyPerformanceofBuildings7,therehasbeenwidespreadpublicconcernsurroundingtheenergyefficiencyandcarbonfootprintofthebuildings.TheintroductionofEnergyPerformanceCertificates(EPC)willinformconsumersabouttheimpactthatahomehasontheenvironment.Better-ratedhomesshouldhavelessimpactthroughcarbondioxide(CO2)emissionsandwillsavebuyersmoneyinenergybills.Theideabehindtheintroductionofthecertificatesisnotonlytoraiseawarenessofhowtomakeabuildingmoreenergyefficient,butishopedwillincreasepublicdemandforsustainablebuildingsandhomesthatalreadyhaveagoodenergyperformancerating.
In2006,theCodeforSustainableHomes8waslaunchedtoallowanationalstandardagainstwhichtocomparelevelsofsustainabledesignandconstructioninnewhomes.TheCodeforSustainableHomes(CSH)islikelytobecomemandatoryintimeandwillbefilteredintobuildingregulationsiftheUKistoreachitscarbonreductiontargets.TheCSHexaminestheentirebuildenvironmentaswellasscrutinisingoninsulation,electriclighting,heatingsystems,domesticappliances,householdrecyclingfacilities,sitewastemanagement,andcompostingfacilities.TheintroductionoftheCSHisaclearindicationthattheconstructionindustrywillbeheavilyaffectedbytheGovernment’spushtoreachitscarbonreductiontargets.
Carbonemissionsandglobalwarmingarenottheonlysustainableissuethattheconstructionindustryisbeingchallengedwith.Ithasbeenreportedthattheconstructionindustrygeneratesone-thirdofallwasteintheUK.Wasteintheconstructionprocessisanequallyseriousissuethattheindustrymustaddress.Theconstructionindustryusesover420milliontonnesofmaterialresourceseachyear,anditisestimatedthat20percentofnewbuildingmaterialsontheaveragesitearethrownaway.109milliontonnesofconstructionanddemolitionwasteisgeneratedeachyear(accordingtoDefra).TheindustryproducesthreetimesthewasteproducedbyallUKhouseholdscombined.
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1BBCNews,Politics,InFull:Brownstatementonplans,viewed11July2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6291972.stm
2TheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)wasestablishedbytheWorld MeteorologicalOrganization(WMO)andtheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme (UNEP)toassessscientific,technicalandsocio-economicinformationrelevantfor theunderstandingofclimatechange,itspotentialimpactsandoptionsforadaptation andmitigation.TheIPCCdoesnotcarryoutresearchnordoesitmonitorclimate relateddataorotherrelevantparameters.Itbasesitsassessmentmainlyonpeer- reviewedandpublishedscientific/technicalliterature.
3 InternationalLabourOrganization,2004
4DepartmentforBusiness,EnterpriseandRegulatoryReform(FormerDTI)
5 Legislation:COM2002/91/EC:DirectiveontheEnergyPerformanceofBuildings, viewed12July2007,http://www.managenergy.net/products/R210.htm
6Azerocarbonhomeisahomethatproducesnetzerocarbondioxideemissionsover thecourseofayear.Thistakesintoaccountalltheenergyusedinthehouse-for
lighting,heating,cooling,cooking,runningthetelevision,andsoon.Lowandzero carbonsolutionscanbedevelopedacrossasite,notnecessarilyforeachindividual home.
7TheprincipalobjectivesoftheDirectivearetopromotetheimprovementofthe energyperformanceofbuildingswithintheEUthroughcosteffectivemeasures,and topromotetheconvergenceofbuildingstandardstowardsthoseofmemberstates whichalreadyhaveambitiouslevels.Themeasurestakeninclude:methodologyfor calculatingtheenergyperformanceofbuildings,applicationofperformancestandards onnewandexistingbuildings,certificationschemesforallbuildings,regular inspectionandassessmentofboilers/heatingandcoolinginstallations.
8 TheCSHwillassessthesustainabilityofahomebyawardingpointsinninedesign categories.Theninecategoriesare:energyandcarbondioxide,materials,ecology, pollution,healthandwell-being,water,surfacewaterrun-offandmanagement.The totalledpointsarethentranslatedintoastarratingforthehome.Onestaristheentry levelforasustainablehome(abovetheminimumrequirementsofthe2006Building Regulations)andsixstarsreflects“exemplardevelopment”insustainabilityterms.
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METHODOLOGY
Thesurveywasconductedusingaweb-basedquestionnairewhichrespondentscouldaccessthroughtheCIOBwebsite(www.ciob.org).
Respondentswereaskedgeneraldemographicquestionsregardingtheiremploymentstatus,theircompanyandtheirprofessionwithintheindustryinordertoexplorethediversityofthesamplewithintheconstructionindustry.
AbulkemailwassenttomembersoftheCIOBinformingthemthatthesurveywasonline,butthesurveywasalsoavailabletothewiderindustrythroughtheCIOBwebsite.
Threeopenquestionswereincludedtogivepeoplethechancetoexpressthefollowing:what‘green’constructionmethodstheircompanyemploys:theiropiniononwhatprojecttheybelievetobethebestexampleofgreenconstructionandachancetoexplainwhattheywoulddevelopwitha£1mbudgetforsustainability.
The sample
Thesampleconsistedof847constructionindustryprofessionals,themajorityofwhomwerecompanydirectorsormanagers(616respondents).ThevastmajorityweremembersoftheCIOB(91.9percent).86.7percentofrespondentswereeitheremployedorselfemployed.1.7percentoftherespondentswereunemployedwhilst7.4percentwereownersorproprietorsoftheircompanies.
Therespondentscamefromavaryingsizesoforganisationswith39.2percentofthesampleworkingforlargeorganisationswithover500employeesand41.7percentworkingforcompanieswhoseannualturnoverexceeded£100mannually.Therewerealso16.6percentofrespondentsfromcompaniesthatemployedlessthat20peoplethusrepresentingawidescopeoforganisationswithvaryingfinanciallimitationsandmanpower.
TherespondentswerelargelyfromtheUK(75.9percent),however24.1percent(or204respondents)werebasedoutsideoftheUK.
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7
FINDINGS
Are you a member?
Are you a chartered environmentalist?
4
Chart1
nYes (778)
nNo (69) 8.1%
91.9%
Chart2
nYes (43)
nNo (804) 5.1%
94.9%
Note:100percentoftherespondentswhoansweredyestothisquestionalsoansweredyestoquestion10(Doesconstructionhavearoletoplayinthesolutiontoclimatechange?).
8
What is your employment status?
Chart4
nCompanydirector/seniormanagement (285)
nMiddlemanagement/juniormanagement (331)
nSupervisor (26)
nOtherprofessional (151)
nClerical/administrative (4)
nSkilledmanual (4)
nUnskilledmanual (2)
nOther,pleasespecify (44)
5.2%
33.6%
39.1%
Chart3
nEmployed (679)
nSelf-employed (55)
nOwner/proprietor (63)
nUnemployed (14)
nOther,pleasespecify (36)
80.2%
1.7%4.3%
7.4%
6.5%
Which description best suits your profession?
3.1%
17.8%
0.2%
0.5%0.5%
Chart6
nLessthan20 (162)
n20-50 (77)
n50-100 (78)
n100-200 (92)
n200-500 (106)
nMorethan500 (332)
39.2%
9.1%
12.5%
19.1%
Chart5
nConstruction (466)
nEngineering (28)
nSurveying (81)
nArchitectureanddesign (63)
nFacilitiesmanagement (52)
nLegal (1)
nEducation (31)
nConsultancy (67)
nOther,pleasespecify (58)
6.8%
3.3%
9.6%
55%
9
Which of the following sectors are you most closely involved with?
How many people are employed at your organisation?
7.4%
6.1%
0.1% 3.7%
7.9%
9.2%
10.9%
10
Chart8
nUK (643)
nRestofEurope (44)
nAsia (87)
nAfrica (21)
nAustralasia (16)
nUS (8)
nRestoftheworld (28)
0.9%1.9%
3.3%
75.9%
Chart7
nUpto£500,000 (141)
n£500,000-£10M (153)
n£10M-£100M (200)
n£100M-£250M (81)
n£250M-£500M (87)
nAbove£500M (185)
10.3%
9.6%
21.8%16.6%
How much does your company turnover per annum?
Where are you located?
Note:24.1percentofrespondentswerefromoutsidetheUK.
18.1%
23.6%
2.5%
10.3%
5.2%
11
Chart10
nYes (829)
nNo (18) 2.1%
97.9%
Chart9
nVital (563)
n Important (279)
nNotimportant (5)
32.9%
0.6%
66.5%
How important is sustainability for the construction industry?
Does construction have a role to play in the solution to climate change?
Note:Ofthe2.1percentthatwhoanswered‘no’tothisquestion,50percentthoughtthattherewerenofinancialbenefitsfromenergyefficientbuildingsand55.6percentsaidthattheircompanydidnotcurrentlyemploygreenconstructionmethods.
Note:100percentoftherespondentswhostatedthattheyarecharteredenvironmentalistsinquestion2believethatsustainabilityiseitherimportantorvitaltotheconstructionindustry.
12
Chart12
nEducation/trainingproviders
nBuildingregulations
nResearch
nPlanning
nProductmanufacturers
nArchitecture/design
nSurveying
nConstruction
nFacilitiesmanagement
nDemolition
nOther,pleasespecify
Chart11
nVital (447)
n Important (310)
nThesameas anyotherindustry (72)
8.6%
37.4%
54%
If yes, what scale of importance?
What element of the built environment can do most to reduce C02? (Tick three boxes)
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
262
152
370
432
12
282
95
5423
449
235
Chart14
nLocalAuthorityBuildingControl
nTradeassociations
nGovernment
nProfessionalbodies
nEducationproviders
nClients
nContractors
nEndusers
nConsultants
nDesigners
nPlanning
nSurveyors
nOther,pleasespecify
13
Chart13
nEnergyperformancecertificates
nCodeforsustainablehomes
nPPS22renewableenergy
nCarbonneutralbuildingproducts
nLowCarbonBuildingProgramme
nPrefabrication
nRecycledbuildingproducts/materials
nSolarpanels/photovoltaics
n Insulation
nWastemanagement
nBuildingregulations
nCarbontrading
nMicrogeneration
nHeatpump
nCommunityheatingprogrammes
Which of these will give the most benefit to reducing C02 currently? (Tick three boxes)
Which of these need the most improvement on sustainability?
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
125
292
246
67
276
159
266279
239
193
155
37 3141
55
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
0
151
22 19
171
93
132
13
131
2513
60
314
14
Which of the below contribute most to CO2?
Chart16
nYes (618)
nAboutthesame (180)
nNo (49)
5.8%
21.3%
73%
Chart15
nMaterial/productproduction (216)
nTransport (181)
nConstruction (63)
nWaste (67)
nUseofbuildingsafterconstruction (318)
nDemolition (2)
7.4%
25.5%
0.2%
21.4%
In the last five years has there been an increase in demand from clients for energy efficient buildings?
37.5%
7.9%
Note:65.3percentofrespondentswhostatedthattherehasnotbeenanincreaseindemandfromclientsforenergyefficientbuildingsalsostatedthattheircompanydoesnotcurrentlyemploy‘green’constructionmethods.
15
Chart18
nYes (801)
nNo (46) 5.4%
94.6%
Chart17
nYes (730)
nNo (117)13.8%
86.2%
Note:Oftherespondentsthatstatedthattherearenofinancialbenefitstoproducingenergyefficientbuildings92.3percentstillbelievedthatconstructionhasaroletoplayinthesolutiontoclimatechangeand84.6percentofthemstillbelievedthat‘green’buildingisthefutureforconstruction.
Are there financial benefits to producing energy efficient buildings?
Is ‘green’ building the future for construction?
16
Chart20
nYes (194)
nNo (64)
24.5%
75.5%
Chart19
nYes (258)
nNo (564)
nAlreadytoofar (25)
66.6%
3%
30.5%
Note:76percentoftherespondentswhofeltthattheUKbuildingregulationsgotoofartocreateenergyefficientbuildingsbelievedthattheindustrydoesnothavegoodleadershiponissuesofsustainability.56percentofthesamerespondentsalsostatedthattheircompaniesdonotcurrentlyemploy‘green’constructionmethods.
Do the current UK building regulations go far enough to create energy efficient buildings?
Are they enforceable?
17
nNofinancialincentive (178)
nNotenoughmarket(client)demand (155)
nNotenoughcarbonneutralbuildingproducts (52)
nPoorenergyefficientdesigns (37)
nRestrictiveregulations (12)
nThegovernmentscarbonprogrammegrants aretoolow (24)
nLackofcleardefinitionforwhatazerocarbon buildingis (104)
nShortageofspecialistskills (27)
nLackofinformationonhowto (65)
nLackofleadershipwithintheindustry (55)
nOther,pleasespecify (35)
14%
24%
20.9%
Chart21
nYes (103)
nNo (744) 12.2%
87.8%
Is the industry currently able to produce zero carbon buildings en masse?
If ‘No’ why?
7%5%
1.6%
3.2%
3.5%
8.7%
7.4%4.7%
18
Chart22
Does your company currently employ ‘green’ construction methods?
If Yes, how? (Top five returns)1. Wastemanagement2. Throughgreendesign3. Energyreduction,energyefficiency4. Recycledmaterialsandcarbonneutralproducts5. Bysettingandmeasuring‘green’performancetotalsandCO2footprinttoimproveperformance
If no, why? (Top five returns)1. Cost/andnotenoughfinancialincentives2. Insufficientclientdemand3. Poordesigns4. Lackofleadership5. Notenough‘green’technology/products
Note:Ofthe38.5percentoftherespondentswhoclaimedthattheircompaniesdidnotcurrentlyemploy‘green’constructionmethods(326people)44.8percentwerefromcompaniesthatemployedover200people.
In your opinion what project is the best example of green construction?(Top five returns)
1. Bedzed2. Don’tknow/unknown3. BREEAMeco-homes4. Edenproject5. WelshAssemblyBuilding(Senedd)
nYes (521)
nNo (326)
38.5%
61.5%
Chart25
What energy sources should the UK develop? (Tick three boxes)
19
Chart24
Where do you see the future UK investment for clean energy?
nNuclear (297)
nRenewables (393)
nCarboncaptureandstorage (44)
nFossilfuels (9)
nLocalenergyprojects (104) 35.1%
46.4%
5.2%
1.1%12.3%
nCleancoal (99)
nGas (45)
nNuclear (329)
nWind (520)
nTidal/wave (428)
nBiofuels (310)
nMicro-generation (128)
nSolar/photovoltaics (374)
nFusion (120)
nOther,pleasespecify (21)
11.7%
38.9%
61.5%
44.3%
5.3%
50.7%
36.7%
15.1%
14.2%
2.5%
Chart26
nYes (266)
nNo (581)
68.6%
31.4%
Does the industry have good leadership on issues of sustainability?
20
If you had a £1million budget for sustainability what would you develop? (Top 10 returns)
1. Education,training,CPD2. Solar,windandwavetechnologies3. Wastemanagementsystemsforindustryandhomes4. Createagreaterclientawarenessofthebenefitsforbuildinggreen5. Developsustainablematerialsandproducts6. Promotionofbuilding‘green’andbeing‘green’7. Research8. Cleanertransportofbuildingmaterialsoff-siteandon-site9. TechnologythatconvertsCO210. £1mwouldn’tbeenoughtodosomethingsignificant
Thereisaclearindicationfromtheresultsofthisresearchthattheindustryseesthevalueinsustainablebuilding.However67percentofrespondentsfeltthatthecurrentUKbuildingregulationsdonotgofarenoughtocreateenergyefficientbuildings.Inaddition,buildingregulationswereseenasthemostvaluablewayforthebuiltenvironmenttoreduceCO2,withthemajority(75percent)believingthatbuildingregulationswereenforceable.Thiswouldsuggestthattheindustrywouldliketoseeamoreforcefulsetofregulationsinplacetodrivesustainabledevelopmentandmarketdemand.Althoughthissurveyhasidentifiedanincreaseindemandforsustainableproductsoverthelastfiveyears,thisincreaseappearsnottohavereachedsignificantenoughlevels.Thereasonforthislackofwidespreadmarketappetiteisseenasashortageofclientawarenessandeducationtowardsthefinancialbenefitsforbuildinggreenprojects.Andyettheindustry(86percentofrespondents)believestherearefinancialbenefitstobehadfromproducingenergyefficientbuildings.
Therearesomeverystrongstatisticsthatstandoutfromthisstudyandclearlyshowthatawarenesswithintheindustryhasbeenheightenedinregardtoenvironmentalissuesandtheirimplicationsforthefutureoftheindustry:98percentofrespondentsacceptthatconstructionhasaroletoplayinclimatechange,91.4percentbelievethatthisroleiseitherimportantorvitaltoclimatechange,94.6percentbelievethat‘green’buildingisthefutureforconstruction,and86.2percentbelievethattherearefinancialbenefitstoproducingenergyefficientbuildings.
Despitethefactthatmajorityoftherespondentshavestrongopinionsonclimatechangeandbelievethat‘green’buildingisthefuturefortheconstructionindustry;68.6percentbelievethattheindustrydoesnothavegoodleadershiponissuesofsustainabilityandthesecondmostpopularanswerfor‘Whatprojectisthebestexampleofgreenconstruction?’was‘Don’tknow/unknown’.
Fromthiswecanseethatthereisclearconcernaboutclimatechangeandadesiretoenforcesustainableconstructionbutthereisalackofunderstandingaboutwhatisbeingdoneandwhatcanbedonetotackletheseissues.Theproblemmaylayinthefactthereisstillmuchdebateamongexpertsandpoliticalleadersconcerningpossiblesolutionsandtheeffectthattheywillhaveinreducingclimatechange.Whatiscertainisthatreducingwasteandcarbonemissionsfrombuildingswillnotonlyhelptheenvironmentbutisalsoprofitabletobusinesses.Fromtheseresultswecanseethatthereisnodebatetobehadwithintheconstructionindustryinregardstothedirectionthatneedstobetaken,butreachingthesepeoplewitheverydaysolutionsandpracticalchangesseemstobewherethe‘greenrevolution’isfallingshort.
TheCIOBisencouragedtoseethat98percentofrespondentsbelievedthattheconstructionindustryhadaroletoplayinthesolutiontoclimatechange;with54percentconsideringthattheindustry’sparticipationwasvitalinreducingCO2levels.However,14percent(or104)ofthosewhoansweredthattheybelievedtheindustrywasnotcurrentlycapableofproducingzerocarbonbuildingsenmasse,hadvoicedthatitwasduetoalackofa“cleardefinitionofwhatazerocarbonbuildingis”.Thiswouldsuggestthatmorecanbedonetocommunicatethetechnicalelementsthatproduceazerocarbonbuildingandagainwouldsuggestthatgreaterawarenessandeducationisrequiredsurroundingtheimplementationof“green”practices.
Thereareanumberofbodiesavailabletoofferadviceandpracticalsupporttohelpcompaniesimplement“green”changestotheirbusiness.Inresponsetothedemandforimprovededucationandleadership,thatcanbeseenfromtheresultsofthisresearch,relevantinstitutionswillbelistedinthe“Recommendations”sectionofthisstudyinordertoraiseawarenessofwhatindividualscandotoreducetheircompaniesimpactontheenvironment.
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DISCUSSION5
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RECOMMENDATIONS
TheCIOBregardsclimatechangeasthesinglemostimportantissuetoaffectthebuiltenvironmenttoday,andfortheforeseeablefuture.Theconstructionindustry’saimistomaketheprocessofbuildingmoresustainableandatthesametimeproducemoresustainablebuildingsandstructures.Publicawarenessofsustainabilityandthewayweuseourresources,aswellastheimpactthatconsumptionhasontheenvironment,hasneverbeenhigher.Howeverthroughoutthissurveyrespondentshavevoicedthatwhilstthereisanincreaseinclientdemandforgreendevelopmentsitisnotyetatsignificantenoughlevelstomakewidespreadchange.
Financialincentivesandcontinuededucationofclientsandend-users,aswellasmorechallengingbuildingregulations,wereseenbymanyofthosewhotookpartinthissurveyasthebestwayofincreasingthatdemand.TheCIOBwelcomestheUKGovernment’smovetomakeallzerocarbonhomesexemptfromstampduty,butwouldliketoseethatwidenedtoallnewzerocarbonbuildingsearningthesameexemption.Whilstexemptionsofstampdutywillhelpincentivisenewbuildingprojects,ourexistingstockneedsfurtherimprovement.TheInstituterecommendstheinstallationofenergyefficientlighting,cavitywallinsulationandrainwaterattenuationaswaysofmakingexistingstockmoreefficient,butfurtherinitiativesneedtobeexplored.Toencouragegreeninitiativesandtheemploymentofnewtechnologiesinboththedomesticandcommercialsectors,theCIOBbelievesthatalargeincreaseinthecurrentlevelofgovernmentfundingfortheLowCarbonBuildingProgramme(currentlyat£30moverthreeyears)isneeded.
Wastemanagementinconstructionwasregardedasanareathatneedscontinuedimprovement,althoughitshouldbenotedthatmanyofthosewhotookpartinthissurveystressedtheywereactivelyemployingwaystoreducewaste.Nevertheless,constructionaveragesat48percentofallwasteinEnglandandcreatesalmost190milliontonnesofwasteayearnationally.InresponsetheCIOBhascalledforallconstructionprojects,involvingmorethan30daysor500persondaysofconstruction,toplanandimplementaSiteWasteManagementPlan(SWMP).
Thiswouldcreatealevelplayingfieldwithintheindustry,encouragemoreefficientuseofmaterialsandreducewastecrime.TheproposedthresholdalsoprovidesconsistencywithnotifiedprojectsunderthenewConstruction(DesignandManagement)Regulationstherebyminimisingadditionalredtape.TheGovernment’sincreaseintheLandFillTaxshouldalsoencouragetheconstructionindustrytoreduceitscurrentoutputofwasteandoversupply.
Whilstcleardemandforstrongeramendmentstothebuildingregulationsisencouragingtherearealsoorganisationsandschemesthatcanthatcanbepursuedinordertomakeadifferencebeforetheseenforcedchangesoccur.Thefollowingbodiesareexcellentresourcesforfurtherinformationon‘green’issuesandsustainablepractices.
• BuildingResearchEstablishment(BRE):www.bre.co.uk• TheEnvironmentAgency:www.environment-agency.gov.uk• UKGreenBuildingCouncil(UK-GBC):www.ukgbc.org• TheSocietyfortheEnvironment:www.socenv.org.uk• TheCarbonTrust:www.carbontrust.co.uk• CABE:www.cabe.org.uk• EnergySavingTrust:www.energysavingtrust.org.uk• Envirowise:www.envirowise.gov.uk• LowCarbonBuildingProgramme:www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk• CIRIA:www.ciria.org• DepartmentforBusiness,EnterpriseandRegulatoryReform:www.berr.gov.uk
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RESOURCES
www.bre.co.uk
www.dtistats.net
www.dti.gov.u
www.defra.gov.u
www.eca.co.uk
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.greenregister.org
www.greenweek.co.uk
www.grida.no
www.hmrc.gov.uk
www.ipcc.ch
www.rics.org
www.sustainable-development.gov.uk
www.statistics.gov.uk
www.ukgbc.org
www.worldgbc.org
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The Chartered Institute of BuildingEnglemereKings Ride
AscotBerkshireSL5 7TB
Tel: 01344 630700Fax: 01344 630713
www.ciob.org.uk