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Contractors faceefficiency probe
00:00 03 Sep 1998
|
Contractors' business performance is to be graded and publicised by
the Government using a new range of company and project
indices.
The first of the indices are to be launched within weeks. Separate hierarchies of indices are being developed by industry researchers for the civil engineering, building and building services sectors. Civil engineering indices are being produced by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA).
Detailed analyses of environmental management have been demanded by Government, which this week pushed its 'Sustainable Construction' debate a stage further. The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) launched the consultation earlier this year (CJ 20 May).
The indices are being developed through political and City pressure to improve 'environmental accounting', which analysts say will become more important in judging financial status in future. Industry and some company performances will be publicised by the Government to highlight good and bad management and exert pressure for change.
Fifteen "top level" indices for the Government will include the number of convictions for environmental damage and carbon dioxide production versus 1990 levels - the benchmark year for all international analyses on global warming problems.
The Government indices will be drawn from 40 strategic/company level indices, which in turn will be consolidated from 100 project performance indices. CIRIA project manager Richard Lillywhite said that some of the data needed to calculate the indices is already collected but systems are needed to gather information on biodiversity, embodied energy, contributions to 'quality of life', and energy efficiency.
"Our work and the move towards green accounting will encourage companies to be more open with information," he said.
CIRIA has worked on the civil engineering indices with funding from DETR, Scottish Enterprise and four members of the Construction Industry Environment Forum: Natwest Bank, John Laing, Kvaerner and WS Atkins.
The first of the indices are to be launched within weeks. Separate hierarchies of indices are being developed by industry researchers for the civil engineering, building and building services sectors. Civil engineering indices are being produced by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA).
Detailed analyses of environmental management have been demanded by Government, which this week pushed its 'Sustainable Construction' debate a stage further. The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) launched the consultation earlier this year (CJ 20 May).
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The indices are being developed through political and City pressure to improve 'environmental accounting', which analysts say will become more important in judging financial status in future. Industry and some company performances will be publicised by the Government to highlight good and bad management and exert pressure for change.
Fifteen "top level" indices for the Government will include the number of convictions for environmental damage and carbon dioxide production versus 1990 levels - the benchmark year for all international analyses on global warming problems.
The Government indices will be drawn from 40 strategic/company level indices, which in turn will be consolidated from 100 project performance indices. CIRIA project manager Richard Lillywhite said that some of the data needed to calculate the indices is already collected but systems are needed to gather information on biodiversity, embodied energy, contributions to 'quality of life', and energy efficiency.
"Our work and the move towards green accounting will encourage companies to be more open with information," he said.
CIRIA has worked on the civil engineering indices with funding from DETR, Scottish Enterprise and four members of the Construction Industry Environment Forum: Natwest Bank, John Laing, Kvaerner and WS Atkins.
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