Ideas for sustainable construction

The aim is to produce a building which will be fully carbon balanced. This will ensure that no more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere than before the building was constructed.

The following are a few ideas which have been used on other projects. They are in no particular order as the benefit of each must be assessed with a particular project in mind.

Please email us with any other ideas you may be aware of and we will update the website.

• Solar wall cladding used on a south facing wall can generate heat throughout the year. It is produced by CA Products and further information can be found on their website.  www.cagroup.ltd.uk
• Externally use porous paving. This allows water to permeate through its surface, minimising run off and the potential impact on local water courses.
• Ensure WC’s have a dual flush facility and that taps are fitted with flow restrictors.
• Use recycled paving slabs for external works paving.
• Ensure the ground floor level is optimised to reduce the amount of excavation and lorry trips.
• Try treating internal woodwork with a natural hard wax oil rather than chemical paints and varnishes. Internal air quality will benefit from the use of decorative finishes which are low in chemicals. 
• Similarly, ensure all ceiling and wall paint is low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are found in many paints and cleaning agents and they contribute to air pollution which is linked to asthma and other breathing problems.
• Ensure orders placed with suppliers are set up to minimise packaging to the minimum necessary for protection the product.
• Consider reducing the storey height. There will be a general saving on materials and cost.
• Use low energy light fittings and light bulbs.
• Consider crushing any existing concrete on site so it can be used in the new building.
• Use recycled oil rig tubes for bored pile sleeves.
• Investigate whether existing demolition materials can be used as a piling mat.
• Aim at a realistic design life to avoid over specification of finishes. This will avoid wasted resources.
• Use recycled ground glass instead of sand to bed drainage pipes and service ducts. It can also be used for block paving. This reduces the aggregates quarried and makes use a recycled product.
• Consider the ‘Thermodeck’ system. This provides natural cooling and heating throughout the building.
• Photovoltaic panels are now more efficient and can generate substantial amounts of energy. Grants of up to 50% are available from the DTI. Check their website for details.
• Use lime mortars for brickwork instead of Portland cement. This makes the bricks easier to reuse.
• Make ground bearing slabs suspended so that excavated foundation material can be used to fill the void. Apart from reducing aggregates quarried this will also reduce transportation to and from site.
• Try using recycled vegetable oils as fuel for carrying out the project. Currently it is cheaper than diesel.
• Plant external areas with low maintenance CO2 sucking vegetation.
• Consider the use of Holorib in lieu of traditional falsework and formwork. It reduces the amount of transportation required.
• Use recycled plastic pipe in lieu of clay for underground drainage systems and ductwork.
• Reuse grey water (sink, shower, wash basins) and collected rainwater to flush toilets.
• Consider using a geothermal heat pump system. It can generate a significant proportion of a buildings heat/cooling requirements and is relatively cheap to introduce if the building is piled.
• Enhance natural lighting by strategically located ‘sun pipes’.
• Use drywall partitions in preference to blockwork and plaster. This will reduce the weight of the structure allowing a reduction in the size of foundations; reduce drying out time; reduce transport to site and water usage. In addition suppliers now offer a collection service for all unused plasterboard so it can be recycled.
• If it is a refurbishment project try to reuse as much of the existing as possible. For example, lights, ceiling grid, skirtings, architraves, ironmongery, doors and sanitaryware. Suppliers will collect existing carpet tiles for recycling.
• Ensure reused and local materials are used within the building wherever possible.
• Make sure that all materials used in the project are recyclable.
• Specify timber sizes that avoid manufacturing waste.
• Consider using energy saving devices such as a combined heat and power (CHP) unit.
• Investigate whether it is possible to create mounding on site to reduce the amount lorry movements off site and the tipping costs.
• Consider using biodegradable sheep wool for insulation.
• Specify self finished concrete to avoid screeds
• Use low grade timber in areas where high grade is not required.
• Use veneered MDF in lieu of hardwood.
• Use MDF as a preference for decorated surfaces to reduce the number of paint coats required.
• Avoid specifying cast iron drainage below buildings. There are alternatives which are suitable.
• Try to ensure hazardous products are not specified, if they are, ensure any resultant waste is separated.
• Make sure spill kits are available on the building site to deal with any diesel spillage’s.
• Prefer contractors who can demonstrate effective waste handling and recycling.
• Consider using environmentally friendly ‘Smartply’. It is manufactured using at least 90% FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) material.
• Encourage contractors to return excess materials to suppliers. There is a trade off on the CO2 generated by the transport but this is likely to be balanced by the reduction in resources used and landfill generated.
• Specify a concrete which uses granulated blast furnace slag or pulverised fuel ash (PFA) in the mix to reduce the amount of cement necessary. This reduces the energy used, aggregates quarried and utilises a waste product.
• Encourage concrete to be specified to achieve a 56 day strength instead of 28 days. This would allow a reduced cement content.
• Question whether the strengths specified for concrete are to sustain the load or required for durability. This could lead to a reduction in cement use.
• Use recycled materials for low grade concrete such as blinding or kerb mix. Although not available nationwide many concrete batching plants can offer this if they are approached. This will reduce the amount of aggregates quarried.
• Allow Delvo to be used. This allows concrete batching plants to recycle excess concrete into the following days loads, thus reducing the amount cement and aggregates used.