Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Advanced Search
SustainabilityZone

Activities 2007/2008

In 2007/2008 the Constructing Excellence Sustainability team undertook commissioned work mainly for government bodies, but also in partnership with a number of private sector and non-profit organisations

On this page you will find summaries of each piece of work, as well as relevant downloads where available

CoRE Project

Climate Challenge Now!

Resource Efficiency in Design

Impacts of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) on Resource Efficiency


Construction Resource Efficiency (CoRE) Project

Client:London Development Agency - BREW Partnership
Themes:Materials & Waste
Timeframe:October 2006 - March 2008
Contact:Jonathan de Souza, Director- Member Services
jonathan.desouza@constructingexcellence.org.uk
020 7592 1100

Summary

The CoRE (Construction Resource Efficiency) project was designed to assist construction companies to address the issues of the waste agenda such as recycling, segregation, managing specific materials (plasterboard, packaging), logistics and supply chain issues. Over 200 companies were offered the following services free of charge:

With support from the relevant Regional Development Agencies, CoRE operated in London, the South East and East of England and projects and organisations were sought in these regions to participate. Constructing Excellence champions the project in the London region with support from BRE who supply cross-regional management.

Outcomes

Related links & downloads

CoRE Project leaflet
CoRE website
SMARTStart site
CoRE Builders merchant take back scheme

^ Projects List


Climate Challenge Now!

Client: DEFRA - Climate Challenge Fund
Themes: Energy, Pollution & Climate Change; Sustainable Communities
Timeframe:December 2006 - March 2008
Contact:Zoe Le Grand, Project Manager- Member Services
zoe.legrand@constructingexcellence.org.uk
020 7592 1100

Summary

The Climate Challenge Now! Project aimed to raise the awareness of climate change issues amongst residents and businesses in the West Suffolk region. Businesses and community groups were to be engaged through attending workshops and receiving an information leaflet. A partnership of 14 organisations was brought together to provide environmental and educational expertise, local knowledge and contacts.

Following the workshops, 82% of the groups that took part in a follow up survey felt that the workshops encouraged them to reduce their carbon impact and all groups had begun to take steps to reduce their own carbon emissions. 82% had talked to friends and family about climate change in general so the project's overall impact reached beyond those who directly took part in the workshops or read the leaflet.

Outcomes

Related links & downloads

Detailed report
Information Leaflets for Households and Businesses

^ Projects List


Resource Efficiency in Design

Client:Envirowise
Themes: Energy, Pollution & Climate Change; Materials & Waste; Water
Timeframe:October 2006 - April 2008
Contact:Jon de Souza, Director- Member Services
desouzaj@constructingexcellence.org.uk
020 7592 1100

Summary

Resource efficiency is particularly important in the built environment because of the sheer scale of the impacts caused by the construction, operation and demolition of buildings and infrastructure:

Much of this impact can be reduced through careful design and specification: perhaps through simple measures, such as choosing more sustainable materials, or more complex approaches like designing for deconstruction.

What is appropriate will depend on the scale and nature of the project, and other factors such as where it is located and what facilities, materials or skills might be available nearby. Every project can incorporate resource efficiency, and indeed it makes good business sense to do so.

Outcomes

The Constructing Excellence Sustainability team were commissioned by Envirowise to produce a guidance document for designers to incorporate resource efficiency in the built environment. This document, entitled "Resource Efficiency in Design", addresses the following issues:

Related links & downloads

Envirowise website

^ Projects List


Impacts of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) on Resource Efficiency

Client:Envirowise
Themes:Materials & Waste; ">Energy, Pollution & Climate Change
Timeframe:October 2006 - April 2008
Contact:Jon de Souza, Director- Member Services
desouzaj@constructingexcellence.org.uk
020 7592 1100

Summary

Constructing Excellence was tasked with the production of a report on the impact that Modern Methods of Construction can have on resource efficiency. This report encompasses a desk study of existing research to determine what work has been to date to determine the relationship between MMC and resource efficiency and is accompanied by a number of case studies on active construction projects where measurement data is being collected on particular aspects of resource efficiency.

The aim of the report was to identify areas where MMC can be shown to impact on aspects of resource efficiency and others where more work is needed to determine them

Outcomes

The outcome of this project was a report on "The impact of MMC on Resource Efficiency", which detailed the impact of MMC on the following elements of construction:

This report also includes recommendations for future research.

Related links & downloads

Envirowise website

Key Sustainability Issues