Using new technology to save energy

We are using Voltage Optimisation (VO) technology to save energy on our sites.

In what are believed to be among the first installations of VO equipment on construction sites within the UK, the technology has been installed on two of our projects – 10 Fenchurch Avenue and Lillie Square. We have also installed the technology at our head office.

Within the EU, the minimum voltage delivered through the grid must be 207 volts and this means that equipment is designed to work at this voltage. However in the UK, the grid targets a higher figure of 220v.

The higher the voltage, the harder transformers have to work, the quicker motors burn out, and the more maintenance equipment requires. Site transformers reduce the voltage, but generally to a level still above 207v. VO technology seeks to reduce the voltage on site to 207v.

The voltage delivered to site at our 10 Fenchurch Avenue project is between 240-249v. This means that by installing VO there is a potential energy saving of 9-11%. By leasing the VO units we are able to deliver a cost neutral, carbon saving on the project of ~10% of the electricity-based carbon emissions.

Saving water at Leeds Victoria Gate

At Leeds Victoria Gate, water consumption was minimised by using groundwater for dust suppression and a 'waterless wheelwash'.

We saved around 900,000 litres of mains water by using groundwater for dust suppression. Groundwater from the piling was pumped into a settlement tank, transferred to a storage tank and analysed before use. The water was then used on site to control dust arising from demolition works. By using groundwater that would have otherwise been discharged, we also saved and carbon as well as improving air quality.

The waterless wheelwash was used as an alternative to standard wheel washing systems. The system acts like a series of rumble strips, shaking a vehicle and its wheels in order to dislodge loose mud. Advantages of the system include that no water or power is required, the need for road sweepers and the disposal of dirty water is reduced, and less time and space is required for wheel washing.

Recycling in the mix

We continue to make progress on maximising the use of replacement or waste materials within the concrete mixes on our sites.

Recent successes include the use of 100% replacement coarse aggregate and 20% fine aggregate in the concrete mix at Walbrook Square in London. This equates to in excess of 71,000 tonnes of virgin aggregate saved.

The lessons learnt at Walbrook Square helped ensure the buy-in of our project partners on the nearby 70 Mark Lane scheme where 85% replacement coarse and fine aggregates were used in the concrete mix for the piling. This equates to 16,389 tonnes of mining waste diverted from landfill/virgin aggregate saved.

Click to enlarge chart

Demolition material crushed and reused

On the Victoria Gate retail development in Leeds, optimising the amount of demolition waste diverted from landfill delivered a significant cost saving while reducing our overall impact on the environment.

Ninety-nine per cent of the demolition waste from the concrete-framed building was crushed and recycled on site for the 5,200m3 of fill material required on the project.

As well as saving some £91,000 in waste disposal costs and 14 tonnes of carbon, this approach removed the need for the extraction and delivery of virgin material, in all avoiding a total of 1,300 lorry movements.

Lighting the way forward

We have replaced sodium lamps with LED technology along stretches of our A19 road concession in the North East. As well as improving safety for the travelling public and our workforce, this is reducing carbon emissions, light pollution, energy costs and maintenance requirements.

Using LED technology:

• Increases the lifespan of the light source from 4 years to 20 years for the LED modules and 12.5 years for the control equipment
• Increases the timescale between maintenance visits and reduces the risk to operatives
• Can significantly improve visibility for drivers and reduce light pollution for adjacent communities
• Reduces the need for maintenance interventions and the requirement for lane closures, allowing additional savings in energy and carbon that would be otherwise associated with this activity
• Allows greater flexibility to dim the lighting units during light traffic periods, delivering further energy and CO2 reductions

The anticipated whole life savings from the replacement of 33 sodium lamps with LEDs at a single interchange is £8,129 and 14.5 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Reducing material usage and carbon emissions through design

On our WestQuay Watermark retail project in Southampton, a design review of the façade resulted in a radical change in approach which significantly reduced the quantity of materials used and the associated carbon emissions.

The original aluminium and stainless steel façade design used a total of 41,250 linear metres of material. Our optimised design reduced the material usage by 46%.

This translated into a reduction in the embodied carbon associated with the façade from 528 tonnes to 250 tonnes, a saving of 278 tonnes.

This demonstrates the positive impact that can be achieved when sustainability is considered as part of the design process on a project.

Helping increase understanding of project impacts

We are helping our clients to conduct Life Cycle Analysis modelling and Life Cycle Cost assessments using approved BRE software called IMPACT.

The tool gives in-depth understanding of the total environmental and cost impact of both the materials and the operation of buildings – all the way through to the maintenance and deconstruction impacts.

Setting up the model early in the virtual environment and linking the life cycle analysis template to the energy model (using IES software), allows for constant tracking and 'optioneering' for optimum design solutions, as environmental and cost impact can be seen concurrently, helping to inform decision making.

Using these tools means that an additional Innovation credit can be achieved for BREEAM 2014 assessments. It also informs and upskills the design team on relative impacts and where savings can be made in terms of embodied impact and cost. These skills can then be used to positively influence other projects.

Materials use 'Outstanding'

The M74 Completion Project in Glasgow won the 2013 Outstanding Achievement Award for Materials Use from CEEQUAL, the sustainability assessment and awards scheme for civil engineering.

The judges said: “The project had a primary focus on the use of materials from secondary sources. The substantial majority of this was sourced locally from other projects. Achievement of this strategy also required the stabilisation of large quantities of contaminated ground.”

• 2.5 million tonnes of recycled or reclaimed aggregates used
• 86,000 tonnes of chromium waste remediated
• 25,000 tonnes of clay sourced through the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme recycled on the project

Encouraging biodiversity at Fitzroy Place

The site-wide landscaping strategy for Fitzroy Place in central London helped deliver a more than fivefold increase in the ecological value of the site of the former Middlesex Hospital.

The strategy, which included a combination of approaches – from green and brown roofs, to bird and bat boxes, and the creation of biodiverse gardens – contributed to the transformation of a site which was previously of low ecological value.

A new biodiverse public square was created providing a quiet oasis just off Tottenham Court Road, which acts as a new focal point for the local community.

The project went above and beyond the project requirements for BREEAM and planning to increase biodiversity in the area.

Protecting water quality

At the Prime Four Business Park near Aberdeen we implemented a series of measures to protect the nearby Den Burn. This mitigation was especially important as the burn is a tributary to the River Dee which is classified as a Special Area of Conservation.

With the ground sloping down towards the burn, measures to control run off from site entering the waterway included the use of three settlement lagoons to manage dewatering of part of the site.

The lagoons drained to the burn via a series silt fences which acted as a secondary protection in the event of incident or extreme high flows during a storm.

To further reduce site run off into the burn during the bulk excavation phase the permanent Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) was installed early and all temporary drainage was diverted to this during the remaining works stages.

SUDS installation helped ensure there were no pollution incidents and was carried out in full consultation with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Host of biodiversity measures

We have implemented an array of measures to protect and enhance the ecology of the green belt site of a new development for Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. The scheme is designed to maximise the opportunity for biodiversity across the 22 acres.

Our team is working to help maintain and enhance ecological connectivity through the site to ensure it continues to function as a green corridor during construction and operation.

Biodiversity measures include:

• The installation of 2,000m of reptile fencing to exclude breeding slow-worm, a protected species, from the development when they emerged from hibernation.
• The creation of reptile hibernacula to provide a safe refuge for the reptile population and help increase the site’s capacity to accommodate reptiles.
• Vegetation clearance completed as early as possible in the year to avoid potential conflicts with nesting birds.
• Installation of 3,000m of tree protection fencing.
• Erection of solid hoarding to help protect known bat roosts from light and noise associated with construction.
• Green roofs measuring up to 3,168m2 are to include wood pile features for diverse species.

Avoiding pollution

Conservation issues were a key consideration at the site of a new paint manufacturing facility for AkzoNobel in Northumberland. An early study of potential oil spillage resulted in the introduction of a biodegradable diesel alternative for use in site plant.

Reflecting our lessons learnt culture and commitment to sharing best practice, this approach was subsequently adopted by the piling contractor at our Walbrook Square site in the City of London to prevent land and water contamination.

Helping community garden get established

As part of our work on the City of Glasgow College project, we provided the local community with the opportunity to apply for funding via a Supported Futures Trust Fund for the betterment of both student life and educational experience, together with community engagement or enhancement. One of the successful applications was from Townhead Village Hall to develop a community garden.

The Fund covered the purchase all of the required materials for the project, with college students from various construction-related courses carrying out the work as part of their coursework.

The project gave an opportunity for students to produce a resource that will be highly valued by the local community while also gaining practical experience and gaining confidence that will be valuable in their college work going forwards. All of the students involved were presented with a certificate of thanks from the local community.

The garden is now being used as an outdoor leaning space for college students with learning disabilities, particularly to assist with group-working skills.

Preserving water quality

Our Severnside Energy Recovery Centre project team has worked closely with the Environment Agency (EA) to ensure our activities don't impact on water quality in the nearby Severn Estuary.

To accommodate the significant dewatering required during construction on the 5ha site we have developed a comprehensive water management strategy.

With no nearby sewer, little space for water attenuation and storage, and the site lying close to the SPA, RAMSAR, SAC and SSSI designated estuary, this has proved a complex challenge.

Under the strategy:

• Water is pumped through a treatment system and discharged into two French drains and a settlement caisson.
• The overall strategy provides sufficient attenuation and storage to meet the 1:30 year flood requirement of the EA’s discharge consent.
• The water is filtered, tested and if necessary treated further prior to discharge into the Severn Estuary.
• A testing regime developed with the EA ensures discharges comply with the consent.

Benefitting local ecology

We are protecting and improving the biodiversity of the areas bordering our A19 road concession, significant stretches of which pass through an internationally important Magnesian Limestone habitat.

The work, which goes beyond our contractual obligations, forms part of a long-term landscape planning and management strategy designed to deliver meaningful and enduring benefits to the local ecology.

Targeted management, carried out in consultation with Durham Wildlife Trust and Highways England, includes:

• The creation of wildflower meadows. Clearance and re-seeding using species characteristic of Magnesian Limestone grassland.
• The formation of hibernacula using materials from scrub clearance and grass cuttings.
• The creation of ponds to increase habitat diversity.
• Utilising self-sown trees to provide additional planting stock.
• Where required maintenance leads to the removal of trees and scrub, this material is chipped and removed for use as biomass fuel. The initiative, which avoids the denitrification of the soil caused by leaving chippings on site, was highly commended at the Highways Agency’s Supplier Recognition Scheme Awards.

Urban space transformed

A barren area of hardcore at our West Quay Watermark site in Southampton has been transformed into a temporary garden, providing a space for site workers and the local community to enjoy and helping to increase biodiversity within an urban environment.

College students and pupils from various schools helped to build and plant the garden which features hanging baskets created from redundant hard hats, and planters packed with a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Fifty flowering shrubs donated by a local garden centre were also planted. Chosen for their pollination benefits, the plants have attracted previously absent species including bees, butterflies and ladybirds to site.

Members of a Nature Group from one of the local schools are involved in maintaining the space, providing the opportunity for them to learn more about wildlife and gardening.

Local economy the winner

The number of local subcontractors and suppliers benefitting from winning contracts on our Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome project had a significant impact on the economy of the City of Glasgow and the surrounding area.

Using the New Economics Foundation's Local Multiplier tool, it has been established that within a 20 mile radius of the site, for every initial pound invested, 64p of additional value was generated. This equates to approximately £60 million generated within the local economy.

Thirty-nine SMEs from within the city boundary were invited to tender for opportunities advertised by the company through the 2014 Business Portal. Nine of these were awarded the contracts which were worth £6.4 million to the local economy. When considered overall, 70% of the contracts were awarded to SMEs, while 107 new entrants and 44 apprentices were recruited into the supply chain.

We now use the Local Multiplier tool on all our projects. This reveals that an additional 30p approximately is generated for the local community for every £1 invested.

• Local Multiplier Case Study: The Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow
  pdf [2.6 MB]

Trade Apprenticeship Programme goes from strength to strength

Our successful trade apprenticeship programme in the North East continues, with a further five new starts taken on in 2016, bringing the current regional total to more than 20. The five successful candidates were selected from the 203 applications received.

To source suitable candidates for this year's intake, we engaged with local authority employability partners, attended career fairs and provided STEM support within schools.

As with previous years, an 'open night' was held in our Newcastle Regional Office for the apprentices and their parents as an introduction to the company and the apprenticeship programme.

Regional Works Manager Dave Rowe said: "The selection and interview process was once again rigorous with some very good candidates rising to the challenge. I believe we have got another excellent intake to carry on our proud and successful tradition of producing excellent trades people and works staff, adding value to the future success of the company."

Enhancing the school curriculum

One of the ways in which we work with local communities is by engaging with schools and colleges to enhance the curriculum. In addition to staff members visiting schools, students are regularly invited to sites to gain first-hand experience of construction.

In one recent example, biodiversity and engineering were the topics for the day when pupils from a nearby primary school visited our Walbrook Square project in London. As well as finding out about the project and different aspects of engineering, the children from Sir John Cass Foundation Primary School also learnt more about biodiversity, including the importance of providing a habitat for bees and other insects.

As part of their day, the youngsters visited the site gantry where they helped plant flowers in planters made using waste wood off-cuts from the site. They were also asked to create pictures showing what biodiversity meant to them. These were used to create a banner to decorate the site gantry.

As a token of thanks each child was given a ‘grow your own’ sunflower or cherry tomato plant kit.

Glasgow Community Impact Report

A new report highlights the hugely positive impact on the Glaswegian and wider Scottish community of our City of Glasgow College project.

The report covers the impact of the scheme's two new campuses on the built environment, the benefits the project has had for the students of the college, and the socio-economic effects of the work involved.

Highlights of the report include:

• £114,000 raised for a Supported Futures Trust fund to increase access to education
• 148 job opportunities created, of which 78% went to local people
• 102 days of community engagement

Writing in the report's foreword, Janis Carson, Vice Principal of City of Glasgow College, said: "A key element of our brief, alongside our very specific and detailed educationally driven requirements, was an ambitious strategy to maximise economic, social and community benefits both within the regional economy and, very particularly, to take full advantage of the amazing potential for education and skills enhancement for current students … I believe we have gone beyond the laudable delivery of contractual requirements to provide a fantastic educational and social legacy."

The full report can be accessed here.

Supporting Westminster University Technical College

As part of our work to encourage more young people to take up careers in construction, we are supporting the Sir Simon Milton Westminster University Technical College as an employer partner.

Opening in September 2017, the new college is aimed at 14-19-year-olds who are interested in becoming the next generation of engineers, technicians and innovators. Students will study for GCSEs and A Levels in many of the core subjects alongside developing project management, problem solving and technical skills by working with real companies.

As a partner we are working with the UTC to create a learning environment where subjects such as maths are made relevant by applying them to real projects.

Leeds Victoria Gate Socio-Economic Impact Report released

A new report has revealed the significant positive impact of our Leeds Victoria Gate project has had on the city of Leeds and the wider area.

Highlights of the socio-economic impact report include:

• 18% of the project value was spent locally
• 16.4% of those employed on the project were from Leeds
• 17 apprentices were employed on the project

The results reflect our work to help meet the key objectives outlined by Leeds City Council and client Hammerson at start of the project around maximising local employment and apprenticeships, and engaging with local schools, colleges and the wider community.

The full report can be accessed here.

Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship completed

Following a year of research, Liz Waters from our Broadgate Redevelopment team completed her Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship by presenting her findings to an invited audience at the Institution of Structural Engineers in London.

Stakeholder Communication and Community Manager Liz used her scholarship to research why more young people aren’t choosing to go into construction and what the industry can do to promote itself as a viable and attractive career option.

The scholarship programme is a joint initiative between the Chartered Institute of Building and the Worshipful Company of Constructors and provides the opportunity for construction professionals to undertake a research project which will benefit both their company and the industry as a whole.

The company has been involved in the programme since 1999.

New entrant target surpassed

We surpassed our new entrants target on our City of Glasgow College campus project, a year ahead of project completion.

Reflecting the strength of our commitment to providing opportunities for those looking to join the industry, the project has seen the equivalent of 5,696 weeks worked by new entrants, nearly 500 weeks more than our target.

The total number of new entrants on the project has now reached 121, including 51 apprentices.

Among those benefitting from the opportunities provided is Connor Jackson, who became the project’s 100th new entrant when he was taken on as an apprentice by one of our Riverside campus subcontractors.

Connor said: "I wanted to get a trade under my belt and there aren't many opportunities for people looking to get a start in the industry. I managed to get this apprenticeship... and it has been great. It's such a large project which means I’ll be able to gain a wide range of skills and experience that I wouldn't be able to get anywhere else."

Researching Natural Capital

As part of our work to drive progress within the construction sector, Sustainability Manager Szilvia Zakar conducted research designed to increase industry understanding of Natural Capital Assessment and its importance in helping to appropriately value natural resources.

Natural Capital Assessment uses the language of business to attempt to place a monetary value on natural resources and services. This increases companies' understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with their relationship with Natural Capital. Companies are then better placed to manage these interactions and to integrate their impact into business strategy.

Szilvia's research, conducted through the CIOB Sustainability Scholarship programme, focused on producing:

• A clear statement of industry understanding of Natural Capital and its applicability to the sector
• A description of the data available on the topic, including how the data could potentially be utilised
• A suggested set of tools and mechanisms to allow management to understand Natural Capital with the same ease and clarity as a balance sheet

Further to this, we undertook a natural capital impact study in partnership with Hammerson, looking into the potential benefits to the construction sector.

More information can be found here.

Urban sustainability at The Core

With The Core office development in Newcastle upon Tyne envisaged as an exemplar of urban sustainability, the importance of achieving our client’s sustainability requirements was clear from the outset.

Early planning, effective collaboration and a flexible one-team approach ensured our shared aspirations for this BREEAM Excellent scheme were achieved.

By ensuring robust subcontract packages and scopes through the procurement and subcontract design process, we were able to minimise change proposals and in turn protect the BREEAM requirements.

The building features a spectacular 27m-high vertical garden containing more than 35,000 plants. We worked with architect FaulknerBrowns, landscape architect Land Use Consultants, living wall experts ANS Group Europe and engineers Mott MacDonald to design, engineer and install the feature.

The Core was named winner of the Legacy Award – Sustainability, at the Constructing Excellence in the North East (CENE) Awards.

Working with the UK‑GBC

As part of our work to share and promote sustainability best practice within the industry, we teamed up with the UK Green Building Council to provide an On-site Learning Tour of our Birley Fields campus project in Manchester.

The event, part of the UK‑GBC’s Learning and Development programme, enabled us to showcase this highly sustainable project and pass on the lessons learnt at each stage.

Our team presented on the sustainability strategy for the project and how this was implemented to support Manchester Metropolitan University’s ambitious target of Zero Waste, Zero Carbon, Zero Water and maximum biodiversity.

Delegates also learnt about design decisions relating to features such as the brise soliel veil, and how the construction of the building was managed to maximise sustainability.

Emma Radcliffe, Learning and Development Officer, UK‑GBC said: “It was clear from the presentations from the project team that the key to the success of the project lay in the collaboration of the project team at each stage of the process and the clear brief from the University from the very beginning.”

Upskilling our supply chain

We work with our supply chain to drive cultural change and deliver improvements in knowledge and competence across the industry on sustainability.

We are a founding partner and active member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS), a free online sustainability tool for the supply chain.

The school helps ensure our supply chain have a complete understanding of our priorities. This enables them to provide more sustainable products and services which improve efficiency, save money and allow us to better meet clients' needs.

More than 790 members of our supply chain are now registered with the school, our Head of Sustainability sits on the SCSS Board, and we have representatives on various industry groups within the school.

We continue to host 'supplier days' which allow suppliers and subcontractors to familiarise themselves with what the school has to offer. We also actively contribute to the School's Special Interest Groups which are set up to explore new ideas to help drive improvements in supply chain performance through the school.

11 Projects recognised at CCS Awards in 2016

Eleven of our project teams across the country were honoured with Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) National Site Awards in 2016 – two receiving Gold Awards and with our Walbrook Square project in London being named Most Considerate Site Runner Up.

Considerate Constructors Scheme National Site Awards 2016:

• 2 Gold
• 3 Silver
• 6 Bronze

The CCS praised our Walbrook Square site for an initiative under which the on-site tool-hire company directs proceeds towards funding an on-site training centre. The CCS said: "Training is specifically targeted at small contractors and self-employed individuals, who may otherwise be unable to afford the training themselves. Apprentices are strongly encouraged, all are mentored, and an Apprentice Club on site provides a social forum and a chance to meet senior staff.

"For the wider community, the level of interaction with schools and colleges was described by the Monitor as 'outstanding', adding 'The site took full advantage of its prominent City position, displaying immaculate and eye-catching hoardings, but most importantly in delivering an outstanding performance that contributes hugely to improving the image of the industry."

Reaching out to clients and consultants

We held a number of sustainability events around the UK throughout 2016 to showcase our sustainability expertise to our clients and consultants and introduce our Sustainability Strategy.

The events involved presentations from senior management and sustainability professionals, presentations from clients and other external parties, followed by questions and networking.

The events were well attended and stimulated discussion on the value of sustainability and how it can be better embedded within the industry. The feedback from attendees has been positive, with one attendee commenting that: "It was an interesting seminar and quite refreshing to see sustainability goals being taken more seriously and not just treated as an add-on."

Further similar events are planned in the coming months.

Eden House office fit-out focuses on wellbeing

With the creation of the Broadgate Framework, a different approach was sought when selecting appropriate office space for the framework team. Due to the client and our company commitment to sustainability and wellness, the selection and fit-out of Eden House was heavily influenced by the WELL Building Standard (WELL).

WELL focuses on the occupants of a building or office. Its aims are to elevate human health and comfort to the forefront of building practices and reinvent buildings that are not only better for the planet, but also for people.

We have applied selected and appropriate criteria from the standard to our newly refurbished project offices at Eden House, to improve the health and wellbeing of our staff in the following ways:

• Increasing occupant fitness and physical wellbeing: staircases and circulation spaces are promoted, accessible and have aesthetic appeal.
• Improving mental wellbeing: incorporating various plants in inhabited spaces.
• Improving air quality and respiratory health: using plants and minimising the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paints, carpets and furniture.
• Improving healthy eating: ‘refectory’ set up with kitchen and eating facilities, encouraging breaks away from desks.

Exploring deconstruction and re-use

We contributed to a groundbreaking research project into how to construct buildings so that they can be more easily reused and recycled.

The RE:Fab project looked at how demountable and re-usable building systems could be used to increase:

• Resource efficiency in construction
• Adaptability in use
• The deconstruction and re-use of components at end of life

We worked with the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, Ecobond (Cymru) Ltd and ES Global on the Technology Strategy Board Funded scheme, reviewing and providing feedback on a Flexible Life Building design.