Realising opportunities for
resource efficiency through
surveying
Introducing the Refurbishment
Survey Toolkit (Pilot)
What is resource efficiency?
“Resource efficient construction makes best use of materials, water and
energy over the lifecycle of built assets to minimise embodied and
operational carbon”
Energy
Components of
resource efficiency
that can be
influenced by a
building surveyor
Water
Material Quantity
Recycled Content
Operational
Impacts
Embodied
Impacts
Life-span
End of Life
Wastage
Scarcity
Why be more resource efficient?
Business benefits of resource efficient construction include:






Cost savings;
Risk reduction;
Opportunities for innovation;
Compliance with regulations, standards and planning requirements;
Supporting industry objectives; and
Improved reputation.
The need for resource efficient
refurbishment

Approximately 70% of buildings that will
be present in 2050 are in existence

Significant refurbishment of buildings
required in order to meet the
Government’s carbon budgets

Effective refurbishment can offer
considerable benefit
Opportunity

Given the scale of refurbishment required there exists
huge opportunity to improve resource efficiency in terms
of:
– Selection of appropriate materials
– Reducing waste
– Improving operational efficiency
Background to the project


WRAP has undertaken a range of
projects related to refurbishment
(research / engagement / case
studies)
Opportunities to improve resource
efficiency of refurbishment are
currently being missed
Surveyors have a key role to play
Surveyors and the construction supply chain
Client

Surveyor
Designer
Contractor
Product
supplier
The influence of the building surveyor:

At concept stage the surveyor can provide strategic advice on schematic
development plans

At detailed design stage they can advise on alternative design plans

Alternatively they can advise clients before a commitment is made to
purchase a real estate asset
Introducing the Refurbishment Survey Toolkit
project
Brief
Assemble working group of experts to test and understand:
−
−
−
Barriers / opportunities
Advantages
Disadvantages....
....of a resource efficient approach
Identify what is required to increase awareness and help
surveyors to deliver more resource efficient refurbishment
projects
Introducing the working group
Patricia
Newman
Practice
Feedback from Working Group
What are the potential advantages / disadvantages of a more
resource efficient approach?
Advantages
 Identify and capture
benefits
 Closer engagement with
the client / supply chain
 Reputation
Disadvantages
 Finance / time
implications
 Information overload
 Up-skilling / re-skilling
How to overcome the disadvantages




Demonstrate the business case
through evidence and real life case
studies
Provide quick to use, free guidance
Ensure the supply chain is committed
to resource efficiency and collaborate
from top downwards (and vice versa)
Obtain endorsement from clients,
trade bodies, etc
What does the surveyor need to improve
Resource Efficiency?
Clear remit from client
 Information about the scope of works
 Understand key stakeholders
 Awareness of quick wins and success factors
 Knowledge of where to go for more information

Other findings from working group

Extent of influence dependent on the scale of project

There are many areas relating to low carbon
refurbishment that the surveyor may not currently
addressing but can do so with correct guidance

The remit and ability of the surveyor to influence
Resource Efficiency strongly linked to the Project Brief
that they were allocated
Specification for toolkit (derived from
working group)
Simple and quick to use
 Explains Resource Efficiency and associated benefits
 Describes process for embedding Resource Efficiency
through procurement process
 Provides example quick win opportunities
 Signposts to further information

Next
HomePage
Page
Introduction
Background
Process
Resou
Procurem
Introducing the Refurbishment Survey
Toolkit (Pilot)



Free to use
Supported by RICS
Informed through working group of industry specialists
How to use the toolkit
1) Background
2) Process of addressing
Resource Efficiency
2a) Procurement
2b) Survey
3) Further Information
Click here to understand what Resource Efficiency (RE) means and why it is of
relevance to clients and surveyors
Click here to understand the Resource Efficiency actions that can be applied
at each construction stage.
Click here to view WRAP's recommended approach to resource efficient
procurement and understand how to embed this within your projects
Click here to view the key Resource Efficiency considerations that may be
applicable to your project (and understand the associated benefits). Links to case
studies and business cases are provided.
Click here to view relevant information such as legislation, environmental
assessment and useful websites for different UK regions.
Process

Explains actions for clients and surveyors (based on project
stages)

Provides links to subsequent sections
Explaining the procurement process
Commit
Policy Statement
Cascade
Contract Clause
Capture
Project
Implementation
Project Specific
Resource
Efficiency Brief
000
(RMP scoping
output)
Resource
Management
Plan
(Management
framework)
 The Policy Statement declares the high level commitment (and typically contains actions and goals for being more resource efficient).
 The Project Specific Resource Efficiency Brief details the actions to be taken based on project specific circumstances.
 The Contract Clause formalises the approach and requires adherence to the agreed actions (e.g. through the Resource Management
Planning process).
 The Project Implementation stage defines the information that should be gathered to evidence actions.
Click on each link to view more information about each step of the process and model wording to be used in your own
documents
The Resource Efficiency survey

Section split into four Resource Efficiency categories:
Materials
Water
Waste
Energy
For each category the following information is provided:
−Links to business cases
−Links to case studies
−List of quick win opportunities
Business case and case studies - Materials
Optimising Materials Use On Site
Materials
Numerous opportunities exist throughout the
survey, design and construction stages to
embed Resource Efficiency in a refurbishment
project through simple consideration of the
materials used.
Equally, organisations can take advantage of
opportunities to reduce costs through
considered material specification, with lifetime
maintenance and management costs typically
around five times greater than the cost of
initial construction.
Case study: 62-64 Seymour Street
Refurbishment of 5 storey Victorian residential
block; mixed use.
- Set 'Cradle to Gate' targets for embodied carbon
- Concrete frame - 439tCO2e (50% GGBS)
- Cladding 740tCO2e
- Transport study demonstrated a 30-40% contribution of total
embodied carbon of precast concrete due to transportation
- Analysis of three suppliers (Lincolnshire, Dublin and Brussels) local
supplier used despite higher cost.
View full case
study
Understanding the business case
Throughout the construction sector clients are expecting more from designers and consultants. A particular challenge
is keeping costs down whilst meeting the high sustainability standards sought by planners, investors and occupiers.
Resource use (materials, energy and water) is an increasingly important component of both cost and environmental
impact:
 since 2000, resource costs have increased by ~150%. Real energy and water costs are up ~120% and 60%
respectively in the last decade; and
View full
.
business
case
 construction materials are responsible for ~10% of UK carbon emissions
Materials
Identifying opportunities - Materials
Resource Efficiency Consideration
Benefits of resource efficient approach
 For clients, requiring projects to exceed a
Specify materials with a higher
recycled content
minimum level of recycled content is
commercially sensible, good for the environment
and achievable at no additional cost
 Use of materials with low embodied carbon
Specify materials with lower
embodied carbon
minimises the environmental impacts of
construction.
 Specification of materials with low embodied
carbon will assist organisations in meeting
environmental commitments.
Are there opportunities to consider  By specifying materials with sufficient durability
durability / intended lifespan?
to match the intend life of the building
operational maintenance costs and replacement
costs will be minimised.
 By selecting durable materials the likely
material requirements of the building will be
reduced over its life span.
Further information
What next? Links with ‘Tablet’ based
reporting systems

Tablet based, ‘Cloud’ reporting tools are gradually
becoming normal practice for conducting on-site surveys
for many practices of all sizes.

WRAP is in discussions with leading ‘Cloud’ reporting
software companies to develop a ‘resource efficient’ cloud
based reporting tool – watch this space.