The final of this weeks BuilderScrap.com post on the Sustainable Construction Draft.

Q: Do you agree that the targets and milestones proposed for Materials will deliver improved resource efficiency with reduced environmental and societal impacts, and are sufficiently ambitious? If not, then please propose alternative targets.

1. Most of the respondents who answered the question thought the targets were reasonable, though some thought they might be very difficult to achieve by 2010. Some questioned whether the targets would drive improvement in performance.

2. Some respondents said that if the targets were adopted, a mechanism should be introduced to monitor performance, taking account of ongoing research on sustainability of materials. Phased implementation and shorter-term milestones were also suggested as a way of making the targets more achievable and effective.

3. A number of respondents suggested that the targets should be consistent with a forthcoming European standard on Environmental Product Declarations developed within CEN/TC 350.

4. Some advocated incentives for manufacturers and developers to create a stronger market demand for more sustainable products.

5. Some respondents expressed the need for an independent tool or certification scheme to rate the sustainability of all products and enable direct comparisons across the sector. Some suggested there was a need for specification guides and sustainable toolkit templates.

6. Other suggestions included: a target for recycled content; more widespread use of Life Cycle Assessments; and the need to support SMEs.

Here at BuilderScrap we are all about lowering the environmental impact of the construction industry, but in a way that doesn’t cost money and can in fact help you lower costs and increase profit. The following is a list of ten green practices that can also help to boost your profit. Click here to view the original article.

1. Design – utilise standard material sizes where possible and try to forecast your waste output so as to plan better for its disposal
2. Site waste – talk to suppliers, they may buy back left-over materials or replace any damaged items. Alternatively, use BuilderScrap to get rid of surplus. Consider if any of your stock is wasted due to weather – do you need to look into changing your storage system?
3. Purchase smart – where possible choose recycled products and look for materials with as little packaging as possible (or recyclable packaging)
4. Reuse/ recycle waste on site – from drinks cans to materials, encourage a recycling culture on site from day one
5. Security can be a major issue – Why not look into solar powered security cameras to protect your site?
6. Salvage yards – find out about local salvage yards and their rules and requirements to help you sort and prepare waste. Ask about monetary rewards for certain items
7. Filter/ divert your jobsite water run off – the government has regulations regarding this helping to protect public waterways. Find out about this to save you from fines later on
8. Research greener alternatives to your materials - They may not be as expensive as you think
9. Design for deconstruction – bear in mind the end of the building’s life and what could be reused or recycled.
10. Keep a record of everything for future reference - For information on Site Waste Management Plans, see our resource section

I hope you find these tips useful. As the environment is an issue ever growing in its importance, we need to bear this in mind as we look to cut our costs.