Sustainability & Construction Newsletter #23
Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems UK
Cooling, Heating, Ventilation and Controls
Welcome to the 23rd edition of our Sustainability & Construction newsletter!In this issue, we look at the latest news affecting the construction industry's path towards Net Zero. We feature a recent collaborative report between the IWFM, Industry Experts and Mitsubishi Electric, emphasising the urgent need for Net Zero in the built environment. We also hear from Danielle Cordner and Mike Egan from Mitsubishi Electric and feature landmark news stories from Natwest & The Supply Chain Sustainability School and the UKGBC. We're delighted to feature Alison Mitchell from Environcom in our guest section, 'Construction Voices'. Alison explains how Environcom helps construction companies and contractors recycle end-of-life air con units. Just one of the services that has seen them grow into the largest independent waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling and reuse business in the UK. Read on to learn more about how the construction industry is making strides to achieve Net Zero and the myriad challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Latest Mitsubishi Electric News:
In partnership with IWFM and contributions from Industry Experts, Mitsubishi Electric released a report on the urgent need for Net Zero in the built environment. Advocating a 'Lean, Mean, Green' strategy that emphasises energy reduction, efficient products, and low-carbon technologies. With a legacy of innovation, Mitsubishi Electric is dedicated to guiding businesses towards sustainability and Net Zero goals.
As the construction industry explores methods to decrease carbon emissions, the emphasis on a building's entire lifecycle has become integral to the Net Zero discussion. Given that buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, leading UK contractors are assessing the impact of construction, urging suppliers to provide Net Zero plans and evidence of carbon emissions. Considering that HVAC systems consume a significant portion of energy within buildings, we, as equipment manufacturers, find ourselves increasingly involved in discussions with prominent construction companies about sustainability.
Mike Egan, Business Development Manager, underscores the potential of new heating and cooling technologies in older university structures. UK universities, with over 21 million m2 of diverse facilities, face significant challenges in reducing their carbon footprint. In 2023, the Royal Anniversary Trust's report revealed that the tertiary education sector emits 18.1 million tonnes CO2e, with universities contributing 86% of this. Notably, 19% of university emissions come from on-site fuel use and electricity. The AUDE report showed a slight increase in carbon emissions per m2 in the UK university estate from 2022 to 2023.
After the Uxbridge by-election, both major UK parties link Labour's loss to the proposed ULEZ expansion by Mayor Sadiq Khan. The Conservative campaign branded Steve Tuckwell as the "anti-ULEZ candidate." While ULEZ has evidence-backed effectiveness and majority public support, it faces criticism, especially from the auto sector. Both parties' ambitious Net Zero targets present challenges, including transitioning to electric vehicles and expanding the electricity grid, which has met local resistance.
Latest Industry News
The recently launched Green Building Council (UKGBC) Offsetting and Pricing Report highlights that the UK's built environment accounts for 25% of national greenhouse gas emissions. Between 1990 and 2019, the sector emitted an equivalent of combined emissions from agriculture, aviation, and shipping. With the urgency to adhere to the 2015 Paris Agreement's 1.5 ?C limit, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard sets energy and carbon benchmarks for buildings. Achieving true net zero may also involve renewable energy sourcing or offsetting residual emissions. The report delves into these carbon offsetting and mitigation strategies.
The Supply Chain Sustainability School have secured a landmark partnership with NatWest Group, their first from the finance sector. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to address climate change by enhancing the construction industry's capabilities, especially in retrofitting UK buildings. Buildings represent 40% of the UK's carbon emissions, so retrofitting is pivotal for achieving Net Zero. Beyond carbon reduction, retrofitting promises improved living conditions and job creation.
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) underscores the urgency for a decarbonised electricity system by 2035 to meet the UK's Net Zero goals. This is crucial for transitioning to an all-electric infrastructure. The built environment plays a key role, needing to adopt renewables like solar PVs and enhance building energy flexibility. Additionally, how the industry sources electricity can influence the demand for renewables and storage, ensuring a resilient, Net Zero electricity system.
Brad Bennet from ISG has penned a compelling piece that underscores the increasing demand for retrofit measures in commercial assets, driven by EPC mandates and ESG objectives. Amid rising costs and energy prices, the focus is shifting from design potential to true operational efficiency and net zero performance. Notably, the growing prominence of NABERS accreditation signals a market leaning towards operational energy benchmarks. A must-read for those shaping our built environment's future
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Academics from the University of Manchester sound the alarm. The construction sector's role in global emissions is staggering, accounting for 40% of global emissions, and the UK building sector is responsible for approximately 25% of domestic emissions, but change is on the horizon.
Professor Richard Fenner of the Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Cambridge, challenges us to rethink infrastructure projects. How can we embed sustainability from the get-go?
A recent survey has revealed a proactive shift among British SMEs towards sustainability. Even though they face obstacles related to costs and a lack of in-house expertise, the majority of UK-based small and medium-sized businesses are not only formulating sustainability strategies but also actively reporting on their advancements. This indicates a move from mere ambition to tangible action in the realm of sustainability.
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) reveals the construction industry is lagging in its government-backed "Net Zero priorities." The CO2nstruct Zero Performance Framework, introduced at COP26, shows the sector's carbon-reduction efforts across nine areas. Only four are on track, including transitioning to zero-emission vehicles and enhancing building energy efficiency. The other five, like optimizing construction methods and promoting low-carbon materials, need more focus. However, over 220 organizations have joined CO2nstruct Zero, demonstrating leadership in carbon reduction and pushing the industry towards Net Zero.
Seven UK schools are participating in an ￡18.6M Decarbonisation Pilot by the Department for Education (DfE). These schools will receive low carbon heating and enhanced thermal efficiency through Fusion21 frameworks. Schools and universities account for 36% of UK public sector building emissions. Efforts to enhance energy efficiency in the pilot schools have recently commenced.
Nobel Laureate Al Gore looks at the two main obstacles to climate solutions and gives his view of how we might actually solve the environmental crisis in time.
Construction Voices
Each week, we invite industry figures to generously share their invaluable insights and expertise in shaping a sustainable built environment. This week, we welcome Alison Mitchell from Envirconcom England , the UK's largest independent waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling and reuse business.
Envirconcom England is a leading environmental services company in the UK that provides a comprehensive solution for recycling air conditioning units, refrigeration, small domestic appliances, and televisions. As a preferred supplier to Mitsubishi Electric, we welcome the opportunity to partner with contractors to look at solutions for the collection of end-of-life air con units, from one-off services to scheduled collection arrangements for large-scale contracts.
Our mission is to reduce the impact on the environment, and as one of the major players in the UK in the fields of re-use and recycling, we recycle 95% or more of the WEEE volumes received, helping to mitigate the environmental impact of discarded electronics, safeguarding the planet for future generations.
Our holistic approach means we collect and recycle air conditioning units from a single pallet to full artic loads and ensure the safe extraction of refrigerants, which can harm the ozone layer and contribute to global warming if released into the atmosphere.
Partnering with Environcom will demonstrate to your customers your company’s commitment to ensuring that old or defunct air conditioning units are dismantled in a compliant manner in line with current legislation and that the valuable components are salvaged for reuse, minimizing the strain on natural resources. Find out more here
We hope you've found the content of this newsletter useful and relevant. In each edition, we'll focus on bringing you the latest news and topics around sustainability and construction. If there are any news articles you would like us to feature, or if you would like to be a guest contributor for Construction Voices, please?get in touch with us .
Find out more about our new Sustainability and Construction team?here .