Environment

Environmental sustainability considers the impact of the new college development on the local and global environment through a clear understanding of environmental effects, sensitivities and alternative solutions, keeping environmental impact below the level required to allow the systems affected to recover and continue to evolve.

Minimising the impact of the college's emissions on the environment

Emissions to the air form a significant aspect of environmental sustainability; this includes achieving major long-term cuts in emissions known to have detrimental impact on the environment, and maintaining and improving the overall quality of our air. In reducing harmful emissions we need to make sure that solving one problem does not create another.

For example although switching from a petrol car to a diesel car will produce less carbon emissions reducing the impact on global warming, diesel cars without adequate filtering generate much higher levels of local air pollution than petrol cars increasing incidents of asthma and lung related problems in the local population.

The emission indicators are split between direct and indirect emissions. Direct emissions are releases to air locally on the college site. Indirect emissions are emissions that may occur elsewhere but nevertheless are directly related to the operation of the college and have a detrimental effect on the global environment.

Direct emissions e.g. vents, stacks, process emissions, odour

The best available practical technique should be employed, which incorporates initiatives and targets to reduce these emissions. This would relate to emissions from fume cupboards or workshops, kitchens, art studios, boilers etc.

Questions to consider

• Are there any direct emissions associated with the project?
• What are they?
• How do any emissions relate to legislation?
• Are efforts being made to phase out or change to a more sustainable process, for example introduction of new and emerging technologies?

At what design stage should this issue be considered?

DESIGN

Indirect emissions e.g. traffic, energy efficiency, energy type, refrigerants

These are emissions that do not add a detectable increase to local background levels on the college site but may have a negative environmental impact elsewhere. For example climate change is associated with emissions of carbon into the atmosphere from, amongst other things, burning fossil fuels to run cars and power buildings. Climate change is potentially a great threat to global sustainable development. There are a number of other green house gasses associated with energy consumption.

In order to limit the impacts of climate change as much as possible, energy consumption must be reduced and significant changes in how energy is produced and used need to be made.

A transport strategy should be considered early in the development of the scheme which encourages low emission transport strategies such as walking, cycling and public transport. Any vehicles associated with the college should be moving towards cleaner fuels.

Alternative energy sources for the college should be considered for heating, cooling and electricity, combined with robust energy saving measures.

There should be no use of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS).Harmful products should be named in purchasing policies and named in contracts as being banned for use.

This should be included as standard in the College specifications for equipment and plant.

Questions to consider

• Has a transport strategy been developed which considers reduction in emissions from fossil fuels? Refer to Low Carbon Design Section for advice on reducing emissions from fuel consumption of the building.
• Are there any refrigerants present?
• What is their global warming potential (GWP)?
• Has a CO₂ emissions calculation been carried out (e.g. SBEM)? What is the percentage improvement of the development over the Building Regulation requirements?

At what design stage should this issue be considered?

VISION

Emissions During Construction

Dust and particulate matter is often generated during construction and operation of a project; these can have both short term and long term implications particularly with regard to people’s health in the immediate vicinity and effects on the immediate environment.

Dust and particulate matter should be managed (in the UK by a code of construction practice) with implementation dates specified as well as monitoring dates. During operational phases the best technical options should be employed to control emissions.

Emissions from construction transport and deliveries should also be considered when specifying and purchasing equipment and materials.

Questions to consider

• Is dust and particulate matter likely to be created for the construction of the project?
• Are there receptors close by for example; houses, other operating schools or college buildings, public buildings?
• Is there a Code of Construction Practice for the project? What does it say about dust and particulate matter?
• Has the project team (or contractor) appointed an individual who will have the responsibility for monitoring and implementing strategies to avoid environmental impacts during the construction phase?
• Is there a commitment from the contractor (or a requirement on the contractor) to use the Considerate Constructors Scheme or an alternative, independently assessed scheme monitoring construction site impacts? If yes, what scores are they committed to achieving in each section?

At what design stage should this issue be considered?

CONSTRUCTION