Natural resources
Minimising the impact of the college on Material resources
Refurbishment
Most sustainable would be a 100% reuse of existing building!
Questions to consider
- Has an assessment of the viability of refurbishing the existing buildings been undertaken?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
VISION
Reduction of Materials Use
The aim is to maximise efficient use of materials, this includes a reduction in overall quantity of material used and in particular material wasted.
Questions to consider
- Are targets for reduction being set?
- Are these sustainable?
- How is this being monitored?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION
Flexibility
To ensure that materials and buildings are used to their full design potential, there should be in built flexibility to extend the life of the project and reduce the need for new build.
Colleges rely on the building’s ability to be flexible in terms of learning environments. Thoughts should be given to how learning and teaching methods might evolve in the future and how the building might suit them.
Questions to consider
- Has flexibility been considered as part of the design criteria?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN
Re-used Materials
There are good reasons for encouraging re-use, such as; raw material savings – replacing many single trip products (carrier bags) with one re-usable one, thus reducing the need for the manufacture of new products and reduced disposal needs and costs for the college.
Questions to consider
- Are re-useable products used?
- Could a re-useable product be used as a replacement to a single trip product currently in use?
- What is the percentage of re-used material as a proportion of the capital costs?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION
Recycled Materials
The benefits of recycling include: reducing demand for raw materials (using secondary aggregates rather than virgin aggregates), by extending their life and maximising the value extracted from them, making energy savings in the production process, reducing emissions to air and water in the production process, reducing disposal impacts, through less waste going to landfill, and promoting public awareness of environmental issues and personal responsibility for the waste we create.
Questions to consider
- Are recycled products being used?
- Are there areas a recycled product could be used?
- Are employees aware of need for waste reduction?
- What is the percentage of recycled material as a proportion of the capital costs?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION
Renewable Resources: Timber
In recent years there has been a rise in awareness of the need to protect forests and woodlands. Removal of trees removes habitats and ecosystems, decreases production of oxygen and increases carbon dioxide and decreases soil stability. Timber can be sourced from suppliers which are certified to be from a sustainable source by an independent body (like the forestry commission).
Questions to consider
- Is timber to be sourced from a certified supplier?
- Could timber from a sustainable forest be used?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION
Aggregates
Extraction of materials involves balancing the need against impact. Efficient use of aggregate materials can save money, reduce waste for disposal, and reduce energy consumption and pollution from the supply processes. It is estimated that up to 10% of the UK national energy consumption is used in the production and transport of construction products and materials.
Questions to consider
- Is aggregate used efficiently?
- Is it transported efficiently?
- Is there an alternative to using primary aggregates?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION
Local materials
It is important to use local materials where possible in order to reduce the distance materials are transported and so reduce the associated impacts (including energy consumption) of transport be it by rail, road or sea.
Questions to consider
- Are local materials used?
- Is there a commitment to use local materials in the future?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION
Impact Reduction
Use of information like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Embodied Energy (EE) techniques to inform decisions on material specification. EE is the energy required to extract the raw materials required, produce materials and products and transport them to their point of use. LCA is the systematic identification and evaluation of all the environmental benefits and disbenefits that result from a product or function throughout its entire life.
Questions to consider
- Have LCA and Embodied Energy techniques been used to inform decisions on material specification?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION
Material Specification and Supply
In material specifications and supply we should be looking for specification of materials with low embodied energy, and for suppliers who demonstrate they have an Environmental Management system and a Sustainability strategy and system; this should cover purchasing policy, procurement policy and specifying the use of local goods etc.
Existing organisations such as the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) can help with recycling and recycled materials sourcing.
Questions to consider
- Has Embodied Energy been considered in material specification?
- Are suppliers required to demonstrate an EMS/Sustainability Strategy?
- Do specifications ensure minimum waste and energy use?
At what design stage should this issue be considered?
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION
