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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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%

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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