At BuilderScrap we always looking at the listings for surplus building materials which our members post on the website.

We have been looking at this in more detail lately, and I have written this blog to help our users to get the most out of their listings.

The main feedback we have had is that people are much more willing to respond to a listing with a photograph of the building materials available.

Unsurprisingly free building materials have a higher response than ones being charged for! However, it is so important to put a cost on your item regardless, as many members have commented on this. If you are flexible on price ,O.N.O next to the price will make people more receptive to your listing.

A description should be fairly short and only include relevant information such as; size, age of item and current quality of the item. Include any words which people may search for when looking for this particular item.

An Example of Perfect Listing:

Name: Jacobean Brick

Description: Quantity 113, Colour – Buff, Depth – 65mm, Surplus – Never used

Cost: £30 O.N.O

Photograph:  

I recently came across this interesting article on the sustainablebuild website. I enjoyed reading it and thought it was worth sharing with the BuilderScrap readers.

The concept of a green building was developed in the 1970s in response to the energy crisis and people’s growing concerns about the environment. The need to save energy and mitigate environmental problems fostered a wave of green building innovation that has continued to this day.

Green buildings and green building products are not easily defined. Often known as sustainable buildings or eco-homes, there is a range of opinion on what can be classed as a green home. It is generally agreed that green buildings are structures that are sited, designed, built, renovated and operated to energy-efficient guidelines, and that they will have a positive environmental, economic and social impact over their life cycle. Green specifications provide a good set of guidelines for the building industry, but these are still in the process of being formalised into UK regulation and many are open to interpretation.

Elements of Eco Building

Four main areas need to be considered in green building: materials, energy, water and health.

Construction Materials

These are obtained from natural, renewable sources that have been managed and harvested in a sustainable way; or they are obtained locally to reduce the embedded energy costs of transportation; or used building supplies or surplus building materials at nearby sites. Materials are assessed using green specifications that look at their Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in terms of their embodied energy, durability, recycled materials content, waste minimisation, and their ability to be reused or recycled.

Energy

Passive solar design will dramatically reduce the heating and cooling costs of a building, as will high levels of insulation and energy-efficient windows. Natural daylight design reduces a building’s electricity needs, and improves people’s health and productivity. Green buildings also incorporate energy-efficient lighting, low energy appliances, and renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels.

Water

Minimising water use is achieved by installing greywater and rainwater catchment systems that recycle water for irrigation or toilet flushing; water-efficient appliances, such as low flow showerheads, self-closing or spray taps; low-flush toilets, or waterless composting toilets. Installing point of use hot water systems and lagging pipes saves on water heating.

Health

Using non-toxic materials and products will improve indoor air quality, and reduce the rate of asthma, allergy and sick building syndrome. These materials are emission-free, have low or no VOC content, and are moisture resistant to deter moulds, spores and other microbes. Indoor air quality is also addressed through ventilation systems and materials that control humidity and allow a building to breathe.

In addition to addressing the above areas, a green building should provide cost savings to the builder and occupants, and meet the broader needs of the community, by using local labour, providing affordable housing, and ensuring the building is sited appropriately for community needs.

A Holistic Approach

Green building requires a holistic approach that considers each component of a building, in relationship to the context of the whole building, whilst considering the impact on the wider environment and community around it. This is a highly complex approach that requires builders, architects and designers to think creatively, using systems integration throughout their work. There are several technology tools and assessment methodologies that can help builders with this process including BREEAM (Building and Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and EcoHomes.

Building Hope for the Future

Although still in its infancy, building green is a rapidly growing trade. UK regulations now demand that green specifications are met in all new building design and development, as part of their wider sustainable development strategy, and this means that green buildings are emerging throughout the country. In an age threatened by climate change, energy shortages and ever-increasing health problems it makes sense to build homes that are durable, save energy, reduce waste and pollution, and promote health and well-being. A green building is more than a model for sustainable living; it can build hope for the future.

The Labour government’s green school programme has now been scrapped by the coalition, but one school which was built under then the scheme was given the highest BREEAM rating ever for a school. Rogiet Primary School in Monmothshire was recognised as a key example of sustainability and achieved a staggering 78.18% score.

The one-storey timber frame school has 210 pupils and staff, has landscaped grounds and an outside area for sports and play time. This sustainable construction was regarded as of high importance to the former government, not only for reducing carbon emissions and using green building materials but also educating young people for a future of sustainable living.

Throughout the construction, pupils were given the chance to learn about the principles of sustainability, including insulation and what were the best regarding the buildings materials that were used during the process.

Neal Stephens, of construction company Willmott Dixon, who built the school in partnership with architect White Design, commented “The early collaboration of pupils, teachers and the community as a whole was an essential element of the building process and one that went on to reap numerous rewards. The sourcing of environmentally friendly products such as Warmcel Insulation was just one of many innovative ways in which we were able to demonstrate how construction can be sustainable, while creating a learning environment with a low carbon footprint – or in the case of Warmcel, a below zero carbon footprint!”

Other key sustainability features used in the school included:
• Single storey plan with high levels of natural daylight in all areas.
• Timber frame using responsibly sourced timber.
• Natural ventilation using both manually and automatically actuated windows, roof lights and vents to ensure good ventilation rates and thermal comfort.
• Landscape design and planting that increased both educational benefits for the school and biodiversity enhancement of the site.
• Rainwater harvesting tanks that recycle rainwater for use in the school.
• Wind turbine that creates renewable energy for the school.

Derek Downer, Head of Property Services, Monmouthshire County Council concludes “BREEAM set the standards to aim for and encouraged the site team to interact with the school in developing sustainability as an embedded culture, thus encouraging future generations to live sustainably.”

We at BuilderScrap are very impressed with this project and think it was made possible by following a few simple rules; intelligent purchasing of building supply, the use of recycled materials and obviously making sure all surplus building materials go on BuilderScrap.com.