Methodology to calculate embodied carbon in a building’s construction life cycle

Posted on: 1 November 2013
By: mackene
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This paper builds on RICS’ Methodology to calculate embodied carbon of materials Information Paper, published in July 2012, and widens its scope by 1) turning this Information Paper’s UK recommendations into global recommendations and 2) extend the measurement methodology in order to cover whole carbon accounting across the life cycle of a building. The different stages of the building’s life cycle will be broken down as follows: design; materials and product manufacture; distribution; assembly on site; and carbon sequestration. The main aim is to provide a framework of practical guidance for quantity surveyors on how to calculate embodied carbon emissions associated with their projects. Additionally, some good practice carbon reduction solutions have been listed. This presents an opportunity for the QS to offer this advice as part of the standard cost planning service. This guidance should help the project teams and clients make decisions about embodied carbon. RICS expects BIM (Building Information Modelling) to have a major impact in carbon quantification and mitigation in future, however, there will always be a need for early feasibility studies. This guidance note is not intended to replace any of the guides that already exist (e.g. PAS 2050, Green House Gas Protocol), but to make carbon calculation more accessible to the QS community. Comments are requested by 29 November 2013.

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Construct Review: 3rd quarter 2013

Posted on: 30 October 2013
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The latest news and analysis of the UK construction industry from Barbour ABI.

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The management of asbestos containing materials in the retail sector

Posted on: 29 October 2013
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Along with other major retail groups including Asda and Boots, M&S joined the Retail Asbestos Working Group (RAWG), set up by specialist remediation contractor Silverdell, to publish new guidance, designed to promote best-practice and provide guidance to retailers regarding their duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012.

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Supply chain analysis into the construction industry

Posted on: 28 October 2013
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This research paper, commissioned by the  Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, provides an overview of the UK construction supply chain. Based on detailed analysis and interviews with contractors and suppliers, the study identified areas where cost savings could be made, and barriers to achieving these savings. The study makes recommendations on how the government and industry could jointly improve the UK construction sector’s performance and competitiveness.

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Realising sustainability in the tropics. Singapore, 9-10 September 2013

Posted on: 28 October 2013
By: mackene
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The conference showcased built projects, on-going research and governance models that specifically address life in the tropics, paradigms, processes and tools that can help designers, developers and policymakers understand the exchange between people and buildings, buildings and neighbourhoods, cities and their surroundings, man and nature. These topics presented by industry leaders, top universities and leading research institutes also reflected diverse aspects of sustainable urbanism, regenerative design, socio-cultural vectors, life cycle assessment and materials reuse. Presentations and papers are available online.

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Sustainable construction: Realising the opportunities for built environment professionals

Posted on: 25 October 2013
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Produced by the RICS Europe Sustainability Task Force, this paper discusses key issues and challenges concerning sustainable development in the construction sector and seeks to improve our understanding of the role of RICS members and their practices in an ever changing marketplace.

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The changing face of smart buildings: The Op-Ex advantage

Posted on: 24 October 2013
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Jones Lang LaSalle has published a report which explains how today’s building technology investment decisions are delivering return on investment (ROI) while shaping the way humans, machines and buildings will interact in the decades to come. Building owners, operators and investors are under pressure to manage costs, risks and energy consumption and are looking at smart building technologies to help their company’s triple bottom line (people, planet, profits).

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Offsite construction key to major UK Passivhaus refit

Posted on: 24 October 2013
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The use of prefabricated elements is helping to minimise disruption to residents and control costs on one of the UK’s largest Passivhaus retrofits. The Parkview Hub development, on London’s Thamesmead estate, is being refurbished by Gallions Housing Association to the Passivhaus Institute-certified EnerPHit standard.

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Improving collaborative construction contracts

Posted on: 24 October 2013
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Encouraging and improving collaborative working in the UK construction industry has been a recurring theme for some years. While the benefit of collaboration is now widely acknowledged in the industry, few projects are actually adopting collaborative working methods. This article considers how best to improve collaboration in the UK construction industry.

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Using dispute boards in construction projects

Posted on: 24 October 2013
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This article argues that the major advantage of dispute boards over other methods of dispute avoidance and alternative dispute resolution is that they aim to reduce the incidence of disagreements and claims becoming disputes.

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