Sustainable building practices: Paving the way to net zero

With the UK government’s bold ambition to reach net zero by 2050, sustainable building practices have gained a lot of attention recently.

But while many UK civil engineering companies have made huge cuts in their carbon emissions, some experts say government policy doesn’t go far enough for the nation to stand a chance of hitting the target.

The UN Environment Program’s 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction reveals the picture isn’t much prettier on a worldwide level. In fact, the report claims that not only is the world not on track to achieve construction net zero by 2050, the gap between construction climate performance and decarbonisation is actually widening.

With construction bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels, getting a firm grip on sustainable building practices to move the nation towards this ultimate goal is more important than ever…

Sustainable building practices: Building a greener tomorrow

Construction is a major contributor to the greenhouse gases that are poisoning our ecosystem and short changing future generations.

The industry accounts for 47% of total CO2 emissions of the UK, meaning it’s a prime focus for the government to bring levels down through better building.

But there’s much more in it for construction companies and landlords than a nice green tick in their ledger.

Embracing sustainable building practices reduces operating costs, improves the well-being of occupants and can even enhance the building’s market value.

There are several methodologies construction companies should be embracing to cut down on pollution. One of the most effective is energy efficiency – and there are billions of pounds on the table for those involved…

Energy efficiency: Powering the future

Renewable energy sources, efficient insulation and smart technologies are the cornerstones of a good sustainable building strategy.

Fuel-efficient vehicles and machinery running on sustainable energy sources like hydrogen help take the edge off a project’s environmental impact.

Good insulation and passive house design, which reduce a building’s reliance on energy for heating and cooling, also go a long way to reducing carbon emissions.

But energy efficiency isn’t just about saving the planet – the economic opportunities that energy efficiency presents are through the roof!

According to a report commissioned by the National Trust, Historic England and leading property organisations, retrofitting historic buildings could reduce carbon emissions from UK buildings by 5% a year and boost the construction, tourism and hospitality sectors to the tune of £35bn.

So it seems there’s little downside to getting the nation up to scratch with better insulated, energy-efficient homes, but what exactly should contractors be doing to achieve the levels necessary to reach net zero?

With no formal government standards for measuring sustainable building practices, it has fallen on leading construction industry organisations to put one together.

The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard

The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard was established to lay out metrics to help the construction industry evaluate net zero carbon performance.

It’s the UK’s first standard of its kind, aligning itself with science-based projections to reach a 78% reduction by 2035 and net zero by 2050.

The standard covers:

• Energy use.
• Upfront and lifecycle embodied carbon (the CO2 emissions associated with the building materials).
• Space heating/cooling demand.
• Peak load (the highest amount of energy a building uses).
• Carbon accounting (the method used to calculate emissions).
• Procuring renewable energy.
• Treatment of residual emissions.
• Carbon offsetting.

Building owners in the UK can also work towards a BREEAM certificate. BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) was established by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in 1990 to certify the sustainability of buildings.

Owners that work with BREEAM can expect to add a 21% premium on purchase prices and an 18% increase on rents, according to RICS Research.

Getting these kinds of returns requires careful planning, high energy efficiency, good waste management, water conservation, adherence to sustainable building practices, and the right materials.

Greener materials: Choosing wisely for a better environment

Opting for sustainable materials reduces the environmental impact associated with their extraction, manufacturing and disposal.

Materials such as reclaimed wood, recycled concrete, and low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints contribute to healthier indoor environments and lower carbon footprints.

MORE: Sustainable building materials: Is this the end of concrete?

Quality materials better protect buildings from the elements and cut down on the need for radiators, fireplaces and central heating.

A lot of building materials can actually be recycled, but one report claims that 13% of fresh construction materials end up unused and going to waste.

Recently, SunSkips lodged a planning application for a new site in Thetford (Norfolk), which will recycle aggregate building materials for use in construction.

The proposed site would manage 100,000 tonnes of waste per year, helping solve the problem of wasted construction aggregate and the country’s depleting natural resources.

SunSkips managing director Mat Stewart is excited to be making progress with the company’s plans to prevent construction waste polluting the environment.

He said,  “We’re planning a modern recycling facility, which would be very good for the recycling needs in the county and help prevent construction waste from entering landfill sites.”

MORE: Why you should care about SunSkips’ commitment to sustainable waste management

Waste management: A key component of sustainable building practices

The construction industry generates a significant amount of waste, including demolition debris, packaging materials and excess construction materials.

According to Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the construction industry is responsible for 62% of total UK waste. That’s a whopping 66.2 million tonnes of construction waste that needs to be properly managed.

Ethical construction companies in the UK are adopting waste management strategies that prioritise recycling, reusing materials and reducing overall waste generation in accordance with the waste hierarchy.

Without proper management, construction waste can harm the environment and pose a serious threat to human health.

Choosing a waste management company with a good reputation for sustainability is one of the easiest changes to make to ensure your building project is on the right side of helping the nation reach net zero.

By screening mixed waste and encouraging better recycling processes, SunSkips actively supports sustainable building practices in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Call our friendly team today to discover how SunSkips can make your building project more sustainable.