According to the UK Green Building Council, around 10% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions are associated with the construction industry. This includes the manufacture and transportation of construction materials as well as the CO2 generated during the building process. Reducing the carbon footprint of construction requires a number of different approaches covering several core issues.

Sustainable materials

One of the biggest impacts we can have on CO2 emissions is choosing less polluting materials. Cement production is responsible for around half of the industry’s CO2 output, both through the energy required to make it and the CO2 given off as a by-product of the chemical reactions involved.

Alternative cements are available which contain different chemicals which make them less energy-intensive to produce. Low-carbon cements generally incorporate magnesia, which means they actually absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they set.

Another approach is to increase the use of sustainable materials such as wood, straw bales and compressed soil which have a much lower carbon footprint than any sort of cement. Wood, straw and other grown materials also have the advantage of absorbing CO2 as they grow, reducing their environmental impact further.

Waste management

Cutting waste is a really important strategy for cutting carbon emissions and can also save builders money. The main strategies for this are known as the three Rs of waste management – reduce, reuse, recycle.

Over-ordering is one of the biggest generators of construction waste, so reducing the amount of excess materials you buy in can cut your waste and your costs. The key here is to have really accurate estimates of the materials you need and avoid over-ordering ‘just to be on the safe side’.

When stripping out or demolishing an old building, it makes sense to recycle whatever you can. That way you cut the amount of materials you send to landfill and can usually generate some revenue by selling off anything of value. It is well worth taking a careful look around the site before you begin work, allowing you to identify anything worth reusing so this can be taken out first to avoid damage.

Anything which can’t be reused should be recycled if at all possible. Old stone and concrete can be crushed up for aggregate, while metal fixtures and wiring can often be melted down and reused. For information and advice on recycling construction materials contact the Waste and Resource Action Program (WRAP).

Transportation

At the moment, around 20% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions come from transportation. The construction industry could decrease its contribution to this figure in several ways. Firstly, you can switch to more efficient vehicles which produce fewer emissions per mile. Secondly, you can try to source materials locally as much as possible to reduce the distance over which they must be transported. Thirdly, you can select materials that weigh less or that can be packed more efficiently, reducing the number of journeys needed and cutting the amount of fuel used in their transport.

It is also worth checking with suppliers to see if they offer environmentally-friendly packaging and making sure you send pack pallets and other transport materials wherever possible. Wherever possible, it also makes sense to order as many of your materials as you can in one go from the same supplier, allowing you to reduce the number of partially full delivery vehicles going back and forth from your site.

Here at Metrotile we are committed to making construction more sustainable. Our lightweight roof tiles are up to seven times lighter than traditional alternatives, significantly reducing the energy needed for their transportation. They are also 100% recyclable giving our tiles a much lower lifetime carbon footprint than most roofing materials.

To find out more about our products call today on 01249 658514, email us or use our contact form for a quick response.