Letters to the editor: 5 September 2007

Materials and waste have big part to play in a green future

We are delighted that the construction industry believes that 'green' building is the future (CIOB Survey, CJ 15 August). The challenge now is to translate this awareness into action, and one obvious area for action is on materials and waste.

Contractors can look to organisations such as WRAP, Envirowise, Constructing Excellence and BRE for case studies, best practice advice and 'how to' guidance to find out more about the sustainability gains and financial returns that many of the UK's leading contractors are already achieving.

There is no doubt that the tide is turning. The introduction of site waste management plans, increased recycling and greater use of recycled content are all relatively new concepts.

But they are now becoming common-place across the industry and some of the UK's major players, both clients and contractors, are helping to drive change forward: the National Offenders Management Service, John Lewis Partnerships, Skanska and Wates are just some examples.

Delivering sustainable construction may be seen by some as an insurmountable challenge. The key is to consider what is practical and achievable today.

Guidance and resources are available to make it as easy as possible, most of it freely available via the web or a by making a simple phone call.

The time to act is now and I'd urge industry to make the most of the opportunity.

Mike Watson

Head of construction

WRAP

Sustainable options still need to be workable

We would like to reiterate the property industry's commitment to achieving green targets, but we believe that investing in inefficient onsite renewables is simply not always the best way to do this.

This is not a case of 'either, or'. Opposing the Merton rule does not mean we are opposing green measures, it simply means there are other, often better, ways to achieve our common goal. It is vital that we give some context to this debate.

Before looking at where buildings get energy from, it is essential to reduce, in the first instance, how much they use. If the only method we use to measure green credentials is how much renewable energy we use, then it means we could leave the heating on full with windows wide open, keep computers on all night and lights on at weekends, but power it with 10% renewables and still call ourselves green. This would of course be nonsense, but it demonstrates that there is a step-by-step approach we need to take that encompasses more than just the type of energy we use.

The property industry is fully behind wide-ranging measures to 'green-up' our buildings, but people need to think beyond the headlines and look at the complete picture if we are to find a solution to this problem that is both workable and cost-effective. In some cases, onsite renewables can be a workable solution, but not always, and this is the point. The industry must not be straight-jacketed into a single method that may not always work.

Liz Peace

Chief executive

British Property Federation