09 April 2008

How Green is Constructing Excellence?

Sustainability is one of Constructing Excellence's key themes. In June 2005 an internal group was established to improve the sustainability of our offices and business practices.

The Green Circle is made up of representatives from most of the working areas of Constructing Excellence to ensure that sustainability is mainstreamed throughout the organisation This is in order to practice what we preach with reference to sustainability. The Green Circle aims to reduce the organisation's carbon footprint by monitoring and managing: travel, waste and energy.

The Green Circle has achieved many of its targets since it began in 2005, including:

Energy

• Ensuring that monitors and IT equipment are switched off when not in use
• Using low energy light bulbs
• Promoting energy efficient practices
• Planning to invest in energy efficient technologies using the funds that would otherwise have been used to offset the carbon emissions for 2006/07.

Travel

• Measuring all business mileage and incorporating into Carbon Footprint data
• Using an eco-friendly courier that uses electronic motorbikes and hybrid vehicles
• Encouraging teleconferencing in place of business travel and measure savings
• Ensuring public transport is used where possible and limit car and air travel

Waste

• Using glasses/mugs in the office instead of disposable cups
• Recycling paper, plastic, cans, toner cartridges and electronic equipment
• Printing all publications and business cards on recycled materials
• Measuring and monitoring recycled and mixed waste

Other

Constructing Excellence also has an environmental policy and communicates this through the staff induction process. The Staff Handbook also includes a page on Sustainability in CE. Constructing Excellence aspires to be an ethical consumer, so only uses Fair Trade tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and eco-friendly cleaning products.

Green Circle Background

The group's initial remit in 2005 was to take forward the seven key actions identified at a staff "Carbon Workshop":

• Minimise waste produced by the coffee machines
• Adopt low-carbon and green purchasing policy
• Introduce company travel policy guidelines
• Introduce video conferencing facilities
• Introduce visible 'energy efficiency' campaign
• Reduce energy used by company computers
• Introduce visible waste collection and recycling provision

Once the actions had been addressed, the group assessed the carbon footprint of Constructing Excellence, offset its carbon emissions and committed to reducing its carbon impact in the future. There is still a way to go and the group meets regularly to find further ways to ensure that the organisation's processes and practices reflect this commitment.

Contact

If you would like to know more about Constructing Excellence's internal sustainability group and what it has achieved please contact Ben Stubbs on ben.stubbs@constructingexcellence.org.uk or 020 7592 1100.

Author: Catherine Smith

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