Carbon Reduction Plan & Strategy
Objective
To achieve carbon net zero for Greenmount Projects as a business by 2030. This is well ahead of the UK government’s net zero target date of 2050.
‘Net zero’ is defined against the categories for emissions sources stated in the international Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and specifically in Scope 1 (emissions directly produced by our operations e.g. offices), Scope 2 (indirect emissions generated by our purchase of energy supply), and relevant parts of Scope 3 (emissions generated by our purchase of materials, employee travel, business travel).
Measurement and Reporting
For each Scope we will estimate and establish our current baseline level of GHG emissions, set reduction targets, implement strategies and processes to achieve the reductions, and estimate/monitor the reductions achieved on the progress to the net zero level.
This will be done within our environmental management system (EMS). Our aim is to achieve ISO 14001 certification for our EMS by July 2022, making the necessary strengthening and improvements to the EMS to achieve this. – Currently achieved.
Our objectives, strategy implementation and progress towards annual targets and the 2030 outcome will be monitored by our senior management team to ensure that reductions are achieved, measured and reported.
Measurement will be compliant with the provisions for emissions reporting in CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) for the six greenhouse gases as provided in the Kyoto Protocol4. Greenmount Projects has joined The Carbon Trust for this purpose, to ensure that our reporting is comparable, consistent and meaningful in relation to recognised international standards and benchmarking.
Carbon Reduction Plan
The key elements in our Plan are:
Carbon footprint reduction
Energy consumption reduction
Re-use and recycling increases
Transportation management and reduction
Plastics and packaging reduction
Sustainable materials sourcing
Overall sustainability
Targets, recording, monitoring and reporting
Carbon Reduction Strategy
These activities intentionally overlap with our wider environmental sustainability strategies.
(1) Carbon reduction
Low-emission equipment: Upgrading our vehicles, plant and equipment to low greenhouse gas (GHG) and low energy consumption types e.g. rechargeable electric staff vehicles, using biofuels.
Premises and processes: Relocation to new energy efficient office premises, in addition to our existing strategies for minimising energy consumption, paperless office systems, and greater use of digital solutions
LED systems specified for project lighting: LEDs use 50% less energy than T5 systems and achieve significant energy consumption reductions
Minimisation of materials transport deliveries to site e.g. fewer/a single bulk delivery of products via planning of purchasing and transportation journeys
Locally based recruitment of employees, subcontractors and suppliers to reduce travel-related carbon emissions
(2) Utility Management
Transitioning to a higher proportion of energy supply from renewable sources. Our new premises are intended to be in GP ownership so we can negotiate supply arrangements with appropriate green(er) providers. Our aim is to source 50% of our energy from renewable sources by 2025, and 100% by 2030. Car parking areas are to provide electric car charging points for staff and company vehicles.
(3) Water Management
New offices to be water efficient by capturing and using grey water supplies, waterless urinals, water saving cisterns, automatic taps with sensors and aerators to reduce consumption and waste, metering at our premises, awareness campaigns for staff to reduce overall consumption and waste.
On site we are to use low water consumption equipment and our method statements and Operatives’ training is to feature waste prevention.
(4) Waste Management
Reuse and recycling: Project design to reduce site waste, and detailed site waste management plans which provide for segregation of waste streams to optimise the reuse of waste materials and to maximise recycling levels. Refinement of these processes so that we are able to achieve an average reduction of site waste volumes by 41%, and an average of 98% of site waste volumes diverted away from landfill. Partnering with specialist licensed waste management supply chain providers to enable this level of performance as well as accurate, validated waste volume data recording and reporting. Our processes include:
EMS training and awareness campaigns for our employees and subcontractors
Site waste management plans shared with subcontractor partners and implemented at site
Site audits to check compliance with EMS processes and targets
Carbon impact measurement, including fuel usage/emissions
Reporting and monitoring of volumes of site waste, reuse and recycling
Sharing lessons learned and best practice through EMS bulletins
WEEE (waste electrical equipment) taken to transfer station at our licensed suppliers for safe disposal of gases and recycling of the metal parts
Minimal single-use plastic packaging
(5) Project specification optimisation
Buildings’ optimisation: We will work closely with client managers, architects/designers and our product suppliers at the Design and specification stage to identify options which embed low/no carbon solutions e.g. natural ventilation, low carbon heating and lighting systems, smart BMS, low carbon construction materials. We will do this for both newbuild construction and retrofit/refurbishment projects. Retrofit solutions designed to strongly enhance the performance of existing buildings in terms of thermal insulation and LED lighting systems for energy consumption reduction and efficiency.
Materials efficiency and low emission materials: Reduction in the use of carbon-intensive steel and cement/concrete, and selecting alternative products (e.g. low carbon cement) as well as products made using renewable energy. This includes the use of renewable timber products as a substitute for steel or concrete materials wherever possible.
(6) Procurement management
Sustainable procurement: Our purchasing criteria favours products which:
Contain minimal plastic content
Contain recycled content, and which are recyclable
Do not contain single use packaging, especially plastics
Can be purchased and delivered in bulk, to reduce materials’ transportation journeys
Are from sustainable renewable sources e.g. FSC certified timber
Paint with low/no VOCs, eco-products (bio-based paint), and in recyclable containers
(7) Project planning with pre-start Environmental Risk Assessments
These will be conducted in the pre-start phase for all projects and include our supply chain partners:
Hazards associated with COSHH materials/substances
Safe management of refrigerants
Site Waste Management Plans designed to prevent/reduce waste volumes
Identifying sustainable sources for materials
Materials bulk delivery scheduling to reduce the number of road journeys
Transport planning to minimise the number of vehicles driven to site
Communication and supervision of site teams to check materials’ sourcing and minimisation of waste
Segregation of waste streams to maximise re-use and recycling, with recording of volumes by licensed waste carriers to enable monitoring and continuous improvement
Site audits to check compliance with EMS processes and targets