Sustainability ‘Speak’

As a regular feature, we will try to translate the language of the Sustainability Agenda to easily understood definitions and terms – cutting through the ‘Greenwash’.

• Greenhouse Effect

Heat from the sun is bounced back from the earth’s surface as long wave radiation and should, under normal circumstances, escape through the upper atmosphere back into space.  However, the build up of Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere inhibits that from happening entirely successfully and some of that retained heat returns to the earth’s surface, to add to the new direct heat from the sun.

• Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse Gases include; water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, sulphur hexafluoride and chlorofluorocarbons. All are naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere, but humans and human activity greatly and harmfully increase the levels of specific ones. 

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

In the right context – an essential and useful gas.  In the atmosphere at high levels of concentration – bad news.

• CO2 Output

It is estimated that 24,000 million tonnes of CO2 are produced worldwide each year, of which 16,000 million tonnes hit the atmosphere.

• CO2 in the Atmosphere

In March 2006, it was estimated that there is currently 30 million million   (30 thousand billion) tonnes of CO2 in the atmosphere.  Concentrations have been measured since 1958, and over the past 48 years the   concentration has increased by 21% (per cent).  It is estimated that the increase has been about 42% since the start of the Industrial    Revolution (beginning of the 19th Century).

• A tonne of CO2

We cannot see it, but a tonne of CO2 is equivalent to 270 kilograms of carbon dust, which would fill a 1 m x 190 mm x 190 mm box.

35,807 tonnes of CO2 would produce 9,668 tonnes of carbon dust which would fill a typical 25 metre, 6 lane swimming pool at your local Sports Centre.

30 million million tonnes of CO2 in the atmosphere would fill, approximately 840 million such swimming pools.

Next month, the UK context.

New Knowledge Transfer Project – Improving value in Local Authority project delivery through the effective use of innovative methods of construction

This exciting new project will provide knowledge to understand the cultural impediments to the adoption of IMC within local authorities. Gain a greater awareness of the integration of skills and the relationship between skills and supply-chains. It is envisaged that the project will generate industry focussed academic output, new teaching materials and case studies for local government procurement and IMC supply chain management.

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Blair warns homeowners to cut water consumption

British homes are using too much water, Tony Blair and the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, have warned. As climate change hits the UK, people will either have to adjust their habits or face severe and expensive restrictions on how much water they consume. The average British home uses 150 litres of water per person per day, while the Germans, Belgians and Dutch - with similar living standards and climate - manage on 130 litres each or less.

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Conference builds the case for a career in Construction

Construction Skills recently hosted the ‘Changing the Face of Construction’ conference at Loughborough University, with the aim of providing girls with practical advice and information from industry experts on pursuing a career in the construction industry. 50 sixth form students from across the East Midlands attended the conference on 7th November. Delegates met companies, universities and successful women in construction, as well as exploring the day to day working environment of a number of key roles within the industry, including civil engineering, town and country planning and quantity surveying.

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ESPO Contract Update Sustainable Products Catalogue

Global to Local wish to inform you of the fact that a number of exciting new tenders are about to be advertised by the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) on behalf of the Pro 5 consortium. Buying coverage will be across the UK. These new tenders are for sustainable products covering the following areas:

TENDER 1: Energy efficiency products

TENDER 2: Micro generation products

TENDER 3: Products for sustainable parks management

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Your Business Link guidebook

For a link to the recently updated Guidebook of Services from Business Link Leicestershire offering free advice on a number of issues including support groups available local, support for industry sectors with funding updates helplines and information on additional useful guides follow the read more link, or alternatively call their Customer Contact Team on 0845 070 0086.

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Derby Homes Offers £140m Housing Contracts

Derby Homes is inviting expressions of interest for a four-year new build and refurbishment housing framework worth up to £140
million.

The work will be divided into three bands covering projects up to £1 million, between £1 million and £5 million, and projects over £5
million.

Firms have until December 16 to contact the housing association. http://www.derbyhomes.org/

Minister says TrustMark scheme will boost perception of whole construction industry

Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Margaret Hodge, urged major contractors to lend their support to the TrustMark scheme, which offers accreditation to builders, electricians, roofers and other tradespeople working primarily in the domestic repair and maintenance sector.

Backing the scheme, the minister said that the public's view of construction as a whole tended to reflect their "personal experience of trades". As such, she said, major contractors also stood to benefit from the success of the scheme as it should improve the public's perception of the building industry as a whole, and "help the whole of the construction industry to become a top career choice".

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Small changes can make a big difference

The evidence of climate change and the impact it will have on our lives becomes more compelling by the week. There is now overwhelming scientific agreement that the world is getting warmer and that human activity - and in particular greenhouse gases - is playing a major role in this change.

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East Midlands Enterprising Scheme short-listed for finals at European Awards

The Welland Sub-regional Strategic Partnership (SSP), a finalist in the DTI’s Enterprising Britain 2006 competition, has been short listed by the European Commission for a European Enterprise Award.
The European Enterprise Awards are modelled on the highly successful Enterprising Britain competition and recognise outstanding initiatives that support entrepreneurship at a regional level and promote the role enterprise plays in society.

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Environment Agency urges industry to help reform "messy" waste regulation

Environment Agency head of waste management Chris Howes today called on the construction industry to help it rework waste
management regulations.
Speaking at NCE's Executive Breakfast Briefing at Civils 2006, Howes said: "I can't understate how much we need your help in this. We think waste legislation is a mess too and we have to find easier ways through the maze."

UK's Health and Safety performance improving

The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) have published a performance report detailing the wide range of work that it has overseen during the past year to reduce work-related fatalities, injuries and illness. Entitled measuring Up? Performance Report 2006, it gives a summary of the activities, initiatives and campaigns carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities this year. It finds that the UK has the lowest fatal injury rate in Europe.