Changes that you can make

There are lots of things you can do to cut your carbon footprint. Much of it is common sense. All of it will help you to save money, avoid delays and crucially to stay in business. All you need to do to take advantage of the opportunities around cutting carbon is to develop the right skills to put new processes in place.

Here are some examples of how to cut carbon:

• Make use of grants or funding available and contact your Local Authority about projects near you. . Or for Scottish firms, the Climate Challenge Fund for Communities. Plus, employers registered with CITB-ConstructionSkills can claim Training Plan or Short Duration grants to support training in this area.
• Consider using recycled or sustainable materials whenever possible.  It's important to only use timber from sustainably managed woodland. You can make sure of this by only asking for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) timber. 
• Consider your site neighbours. Consult them before, and during, any construction work and aim to muffle noisy equipment and locate as far away as possible from residential areas. Aim to avoid dust by keeping your sites tidy and materials covered. This will help you avoid the costs associated with delays or litigation.
• Only order the materials you need and store them safely. Plan ahead. Work closely with suppliers and manufacturers to minimise and return packaging and pallets. Did you know that in the UK, an average of 13% of all materials delivered to site go straight into the skip without ever being used? Why waste money? Also try to store materials in a secure and protected area and keep liquids or sands away from drains. Apply rigorous site waste management and careful storage of waste to minimise the impact on the surrounding area.
• Planning is key. Minimise road journeys to and from the site. Use local suppliers wherever possible and ensure that your van can carry a variety of small materials to prevent unnecessary and costly trips to suppliers. 
• Keep up to date with new legislation and technologies. Make sure you incorporate new legal requirements into your procedures and practices. Keep up to date on environmental legislation and environmental good practice in construction, then apply sound environmental management to avoid expensive fines.
• Separate and recycle waste, then dispose of the remainder legally. Use registered waste carriers for the transport of waste and keep a copy of your paperwork. Recycle as much as you possibly can and separate different kinds of waste, marking containers clearly. Be aware of the financial implications of not doing this. A company was ordered to pay almost £3,800 for failing to dispose of paints and inks legally.
• Avoid causing pollution to land, water or air. This means stopping uncontrolled water from entering or leaving excavations, especially run-off from earthworks. Avoid spillages on site and clean up if accidents happen. Also, don't burn waste materials. Instead, recycle them or dispose of them responsibly. Not only is it good business practice, but it could save you thousands in fines.
• Protect the natural environment, biodiversity and heritage. Identify and safeguard important or protected areas by working with local nature conservation, heritage or environmental groups. Also, plan and design work to avoid damage to habitats and take immediate action in the event of damage occurring. It's a major business risk to fail to comply in this area.
• Finally, ensure the health and safety of those on site and within the local community during construction. Protect your people by providing good welfare facilities and by ensuring that they are aware of good working practices and understand the hazards on site. A safe team is a productive team, and compliant practices minimise the risk of injury or even legal action. Plus, ensure noise, fumes, dust, effluents and gases are minimised.

The Envirowise programme offers UK construction companies free, independent, confidential advice and support on practical ways to increase profits. Call them on 0800 585 794 or visit their website.