Contacts and Useful Links
There are a range of organisations involved in different areas of sustainable construction, listed below are just a few, specifically focusing on those which are active in materials resource efficiency and procurement.
Envirowise
Envirowise offers free independent, advice and support on practical ways to minimise waste and reduce environmental impact. Envirowise is actively involved in the construction sector and has a number of useful tools and resources available. For more information contact the free helpline 0800 585794.
Pathway to Zero Waste
Pathway To Zero Waste is a major transformation programme combined with market and infrastructure development. It will radically change how the private and public sectors work together to improve resource efficiency and waste management in the South East.
Building Research Establishment
BRE supports sustainable development in the built environment by offering guidance to the private and public sectors on delivering sustainable buildings by use of codes and checklists for developments, conducting whole life costing assessments of buildings, minimising construction waste, recycling and the reuse of materials in construction applications, and encouraging energy efficient practices.
UK Contractors Group
UKCG works on its members' behalf to promote common interests on sector specific contracting issues. It will represent those interests in dialogue with Government and regulatory bodies and facilitate networking and the exchange of information and ideas. It will also endeavour to work closely with the CBI to ensure that the construction industry's voice is fully represented in its work on more general business issues - for example credit and liquidity issues, government procurement etc.
The Institute of Civil Engineers
The ICE together with CIWM have commissioned the ICE Demolition Protocol, to facilitate the planning system in making better use of construction and demolition waste through better resource management.
Constructing Excellence
Constructing Excellence is a consortium of cross industry bodies whose objectives are to drive industry change in order to improve the quality of construction services and products to clients as well as the standard and perception of the UK construction industry and the built environment. It promotes continuous improvement through delivery of major government and industry membership programmes. The key themes covered by Constructing Excellence are innovation and research; measurement and diagnostics; leadership and influence; Business to Business networks; showcasing and exemplars; and, tailored services for business improvement. These include issues (among others) such as sustainable construction; lean construction; procurement routes and whole life costing.
Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust's mission is to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies.
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is the UK body for architecture and the architectural profession. We provide support for our 40,500 members worldwide in the form of training, technical services, publications and events, and set standards for the education of architects, both in the UK and overseas.
Sustainable design is a broad concept which aims to reduce the adverse effect of human activities on our world, particularly climate change.
Architecture is responsible for about 45% of the carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas) emissions in the UK. Architects are a large part of the problem of tackling climate change, and consequently the solution - sustainable architecture.
The RIBA, along with the vast majority of architects, recognises this and has taken appropriate strategic action to stimulate the production of sustainable architecture.
