Constructing Excellence in Wales

Green Deal Bulletin February 2012 – Special Edition

DCLG yesterday launched their consultation on changes to the Building Regulations regime.  This includes a package of potential changes to support the Green Deal.  In summary, this includes new requirements for additional ‘consequential’ energy efficiency improvements where work (such as an extension or replacement windows or boilers) is already planned to an existing building and Green Deal funding is available as an option to meet the up-front costs.   Given DCLG estimate there are 200,000 extensions per year, 1.4 million boilers replacements and 1 million window replacements, this could be a significant demand driver for the Green Deal. 

In detail the proposals are:

• From October 2012 (to coincide with the introduction of the Green Deal framework) DCLG are proposing that extensions and increases in habitable space (i.e. loft or integral garage conversions) in existing homes would trigger a requirement to carry out consequential energy efficiency improvements where these were technically, economically and functionally feasible.
• From April 2014, the same requirement in existing non-domestic buildings would come into effect.
• From April 2014 there is also the possibility of further regulation so that the replacement of a domestic boiler or the replacement of multiple domestic windows would also trigger a requirement for consequential improvements.  This would be restricted to a set list of lower cost measures (e.g. draught proofing or loft insulation).

If you wish to consider responding to the consultation, the deadline for comments related to the Green Deal is 27 March 2012. Further information can be found on the DCLG website.

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers South Wales Region

Fifth Meeting of 2011/12 Programme 

Venue: Village Hotel, Coryton, Cardiff
Date: Monday 6th February 2012
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm
Topic: Carbon Trust Issues

This technical session will be presented by Lee Evans from the Carbon Trust who will give an update on the work of the Carbon Trust Wales, including Local Authority Carbon Management Review in Wales.

In addition Lee will cover the forthcoming Green Deal and the recent changes in feed in tariffs.

Please note that the views expressed during technical meetings may not form part of official policy held by the Institution or the regional officers

Buffet provided
Please make every effort to attend and support the region

Developing Carbon Leadership – Training Programme
Influencing Change Module

Wales is leading the way in the development and implementation of policies and programmes to deliver lower carbon consumption in the housing, built environment and construction sectors.

As the low carbon agenda becomes more developed and the reasons for seeking better carbon performance become more pressing, professionals practicing in a wide range of fields will be at the leading edge of innovation in the development and implementation of low carbon technologies. In research conducted by CREW and Construction Skills we have identified the full range of skills sets that professionals will require in this changing context and have developed a training programme: Developing Carbon Leadership.

The first module: Influencing Change is being delivered in four locations in Wales during February and March and we are making places available for practicing professionals in the relevant sectors in Wales to attend this first presentation of the short course. This is the first roll out of the initial stage of the extended programme and we will welcome your participation and contribution to the development of the module. Our offer of free places reflects this and later instances of the training will be charged at nearer commercial training rates.

Why should you attend?
It is inevitable in all professions that you will need to engage with the low carbon agenda both to secure future employment and to comply with conditions expected by leading contractors and commissioners of services. (more…)

The Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development will speak at the event and the Met office will attend to provide a presentation on the latest climate science. Spaces at the event are very limited and members will need to confirm their attendance as soon as possible.

Please find below an invitation to the launch of the Commission’s first annual report which will take place at the Media Briefing room in the Senedd, Cardiff Bay on 31^st January between 12:15pm  - 1:30pm

Spaces at the event are very limited and members will need to confirm their attendance as soon as possible.

Download: Report Launch – Digwyddiad i Lansio Adroddiad Blynyddol Cyntaf Comisiwn Cymru ar y Newid yn yr Hinsawdd i Lywodraeth Cymru

The Wales Low Zero Carbon Hub has produced a short user friendly summary of the consultation documents. This is to help you navigate your way around the long list of documents so you can get to the points in which you are interested more easily and quickly.

We hope you find it useful. Don’t forget the deadline is the 18^th January. 

Disclaimer:  The document is not part of the formal consultation nor does it seek to influence your views in any way.

Download:  LZCH Green Deal Consultation Navigation Guide

Tackling Construction and Demolition Fly-tipping

Are you ready for the changes?

There are changes to the Waste Regulations making it a requirement for any business which generates, imports, produces, carries, keeps, treats or disposes of waste will have to follow the “Waste Hierarchy” when choosing a waste option, and show you have done so when you transfer your waste to another business.  The waste hierarchy duty applies to both hazardous and non hazardous waste and came into force on 28^th September 2011.

The link below will direct you to a leaflet outlining your responsibilities when disposing of waste.

Download: Fly Tipping Flyer.pdf

It will also help you decide whether you should be registered as a Waste Carrier with the Environment Agency.  Were you aware that from 29 March 2011, new regulations introduced a two-tier registration system for waste carriers, brokers and dealers.

For further information, you can call Environment Agency Wales on 08708 506 506 or visit www.business.wales.gov.uk

Fly-tipping is a big problem in Wales, costing over £2.7 million last year to clear up.  The majority of fly-tips contain material from construction and demolition activities.

You can help tackle this problem. Help us to help you improve your local environment.

Summer newsletter from The Works Ebbw Vale covering projects underway on site, recent achievements and upcoming events

Download: The Works – English
Download: The Works – Welsh

Cutting carbon and improving energy efficiency was the golden thread running through the 2011 Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards on Thursday night (14 July) at the Holland House Hotel, Cardiff.  The event was sold out, with around 400 guests attending what was a particularly good evening for west Wales with awards for the A40, Carmarthenshire and Swansea councils

Landmark schemes such as United Welsh Housing Association’s Passivhaus project and the improvement to the A40 (built by Costain and winner of Project of the Year) stole the headlines, but all nine awards on the night demonstrated that by pursuing an integrated team approach Wales is fast moving towards a low carbon construction industry.  Time and again throughout the evening award winners showed that collaborative working delivers tangible, social and environmental benefits as well as help achieve economic targets in some very diverse projects. 

Greenhill School, winner of the low carbon category is not only carbon negative, but claims to be the most energy self sufficient school in the UK.  This commitment to innovation and energy efficiency in Wales is epitomised by Holbrook Timber Frame, winners of the SME award and instrumental in the BREEAM excellent Passivhaus project led by United Welsh HA.  It was clear to all of the guests that Wales is at the forefront of the low carbon movement and this was further reflected in the BREEAM and Demonstration Project awards that were made during the evening at Holland House.

Milica Kitson, chief executive of Constructing Excellence in Wales said:  “The CEW Awards showed Wales is setting a benchmark for what can be achieved by team working.  In a great night for west Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council, represent what the Awards are about – their framework strategy not only promotes local firms, but has helped drive £160m of investment, all via collaborative working.  The standards this year are fantastic – we could not even break down the project of the year to a shortlist – and what’s more the Awards event was sold out.  The event clearly shows that Wales is well on the way to creating a low carbon construction industry in line with UK and Welsh Government targets.  Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to our sponsors and to everyone that attended such a great evening.”

For further press information about CEW please contact Andrew Brown on 07795 547069 or email andrew@frankandbrown.com

About CEW Awards 2010

It is the fifth year of Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards.  All details can be found at www.cewales.org.uk/awards/.

Constructing Excellence in Wales welcomes the launch of the final report by the Innovation and Growth Team (“IGT”) drawn from across the UK construction industry to consider how the UK construction industry can rise to the challenge of the low carbon agenda and the need to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.

The report draws heavily on the Constructing Excellence report “Never waste a good crisis”, and sets out roles and actions for industry, clients and government over the next decades to 2050. Particularly welcome is the identified need for collaborative integration of the supply chain.  The IGT document echoes many of the arguments put forward by Constructing Excellence in Wales in the “No Turning Back” report of October that was backed by the Welsh Assembly Government. (more…)

Wales Wins Honours Again at National Constructing Excellence Awards

Wales once again confirmed its status as a construction centre of excellence when Welsh Health Estates and GKR Maintenance & Building secured two out of the ten honours available at the National Constructing Excellence Awards on 19 November and gained a highly commended in a third. 

Welsh Health Estates (WHE) were named client of the year.  Its management of the Designed for Life; Building for Wales Framework moves the construction industry forward and WHE clearly demonstrated how a framework should operate with all the right ingredients. Despite being small, GKR won the leadership award because of the manner in which its entire team had grasped the importance of people development in delivering great service and value.

Both award winners shone out on an evening when UK construction made a strong case that lowest price tendering and adversarial ways of working are not the way to build Britain out of the recession.  People, culture and behaviours underpin this argument and so it was great to see that Simon Lander, of Chandler KBS, was made highly commended in the Achiever Award category for his total commitment to best practice principles as demonstrated by his leadership and project management skills in Wales. (more…)

No Turning Back, says Jane Hutt

Jane Hutt AM, Business and Budget Minister for Wales, announced that due to the risks of a wholesale return to lowest price tendering in public sector construction procurement, the Welsh Assembly Government will be setting up a policy team focussing on construction procurement.

The Minister was speaking on Tuesday, 26 October, at the Construct 2010 conference in Cardiff where a ground breaking report into construction procurement in the public sector in Wales that calls for a policy commitment from the Welsh Assembly Government and a consistent approach from all public sector bodies.  The report, No Turning Back – The Case for a Renewed Emphasis on best Value and Collaborative Working in Public Sector Construction Procurement was commissioned by Constructing Excellence in Wales and includes research, comment and recommendations from stakeholders within the construction supply chain. (more…)

WALES WINS THREE OUT OF TEN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTING EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Wales confirmed its status as a construction centre of excellence when it won three out of the ten awards at the National Constructing Excellence Awards on 19 November. (more…)

A new report from Constructing Excellence has been published entitled Never Waste a Good Crisis . Authored by Andrew Wolstenholme of Balfour Beatty Management, the report looks to determine the level of industry progress since Rethinking Construction and define the improvement agenda for the next decade. Repeated below is the Executive Summary of the report which was published on the 14th October 2009. (more…)

CEW AWARDS CELEBRATE COLLABORATIVE WORKING

Cardiff Central Library, Newport High School and Mark Adams were the stars of the show at the 2009 CEW Awards last night, winning project of the year, waste minimisation award and achiever of the year.

Over 400 guests celebrated the achievements of the Welsh built environment at Cardiff City Stadium where Roy Noble hosted the evening and ten awards were handed out to the great and the good of Welsh construction.  (more…)

Wales is well on the way to reaching the Welsh Assembly Government waste targets, thanks to the Green Compass scheme organised by Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) and launched by Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing yesterday (13 July, 2009). (more…)

Resources from nearly three and half planets will be required to meet the demands of the human race if the global pattern of consumption continues, claimed Wales engineers last week. (more…)

WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and the Welsh Assembly Government are launching another round of their capital grant programme, which aims to help tackle the challenges of waste generated by companies in Wales. We can support development of new or enhanced reprocessing infrastructure, with up to 30% funding for projects in any part of Wales. Subject to the outcome of a bid for ‘Convergence Funds’ higher levels of support may become available in the Convergence Region. Grants are available for three separate materials streams: (more…)

Wales has become the first part of the UK to set a national standard for sustainable buildings to be met through the planning system following an announcement by Environment, Sustainability & Housing Minister Jane Davidson. The Welsh Assembly Government has introduced green standards for new buildings in Wales intended to cut carbon emissions and improve their sustainability via the planning system. (more…)

British Council Wales is seeking young volunteers from the construction industry to support its Low Carbon Futures – Challenge Europe Project, 2009/10 and we are recommending you! (more…)

The current market conditions are forcing clients and their supply chains to review costs and tender processes. However, as an industry we must resist any return to adversarial, lowest price procurement processes. (more…)

Constructing Excellence in Wales launches new business club for new professionals

Constructing Excellence in Wales has announced the launch of -40C (Forty Below Club), a new business club for new and aspiring professionals in the construction industry. (more…)

CEW joins the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ to establish UK’s first Green Building Charter

Constructing Excellence in Wales has joined more than 40 leading organisations representing the construction sector in Wales in a commitment to the first green building charter of its kind in the UK. (more…)