Sustainable Construction & Refurbishment Strategy
Introduction
The University has a continuous programme of construction and refurbishment to
ensure the campus is fit for purpose and exceeds the ongoing expectations of our
students. This programme provides a tremendous opportunity to improve the
efficiency of our campus and reduce operating costs, carbon and environmental
impacts.
Our aspiration for high efficiency, low environmental impact construction is
embedded within our 2011 Sustainability Report
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/files/extranet/docs/SCE/University%20of%20Plymouth%2
0Sustainability%20Report%202011%20v.13.2%20Final.pdf and our Sustainability
Design Brief
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/files/extranet/docs/SCE/University%20sustainability%20d
esign%20brief.pdf
Sustainable Construction Process
Strategic Business Need – do we need the building;
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Develop a business case
Integrate sustainability issues into decision making
Assess options rigorously
Identify and work with like minded consultants and companies through effective
procurement strategies and policies.
Feasibility of Project – can we build it;
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Prepare strategic brief and project objectives (including plans for stakeholder
engagement and procurement)
Integrate sustainability criteria into procurement strategy and selection criteria
Develop sustainability objectives and targets for project (sustainability action
plan). Commit to a series of SMART targets that address the key sustainability
issues associated with the project. Targets for energy and water consumption,
overall design (BREEAM) recycled content
Respect biodiversity
Deliver better buildings through better procurement – consider how better
contractual or procurement models may help to deliver the sustainability
objectives. Fiscal incentives to achieve higher sustainability performance –
targets on energy, water, waste minimisation or recycling. Use whole life costing
to demonstrate long term value.
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Choose the right team – ensure members of the construction team have relevant
sustainability experience and a desire to make the building more sustainable
Planning & Design – what will it look like;
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Develop outline design
Specify performance including BREEAM rating
Consider whole life value and social and environmental issues with design –
design buildings that will last
Consult with key stakeholders
Include clear sustainability selection criteria for selecting materials and products
Engage the contractor early – consult with them and involve them in the design
process
Address the health, wellbeing and work satisfaction of students and staff through
quality CDM practices
Design out waste
Reduce carbon emissions – consider renewables in the design. All new
buildings to be highly energy efficient, exceeding current Part L regulations. EPC
ratings, ‘smart’ heating management, water savings
Construction – how should we build it;
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Plan and Manage Construction
Monitor performance
Be a good neighbour – Considerate Contractor Scheme
Include sustainability performance and whole life considerations in contractor
and material selection
Implement site management procedures on key issues such as waste and health
and safety
Monitor and report against sustainability targets
Operation and Maintenance – how should we use it;
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Incorporate in facilities management
Carry out post occupancy evaluation
Monitor and audit performance
Feed back results and transfer knowledge across campus and to design team
Conduct a detailed post occupancy evaluation within the first year of use and at
regular intervals thereafter
Success to Date
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Rain water harvesting in Roland Levinsky and Nancy Astor buildings
95% of buildings connected to BMS, programme for optimisation
Mechanical heat recovery systems used in large buildings
Passive ventilation and night cooling used in Portland Square building
Solar hot water in Nancy Astor, Portland Square and Smeaton buildings
Inverter controls used in large buildings
Part of STOR (Short Term Operational Responsibility) programme – Phantom
power station
Voltage Optimisation installation programme
Low energy LED lighting installation programme, coupled with presence/absence
detection controls
Solar shading to Link, Rolle and Babbage buildings
Combined Heat and Power Plant approved and tender awarded – for completion
September 2012.
Roland Levinsky building achieved BREEAM Very Good – Case study
http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=34940
Marine Building Project on target to achieve BREEAM Excellent
Marine Building Project on target to achieve EPC rating of 26
Truro Student Accommodation procured as BREEAM Excellent
Wellbeing Centre designed to BREEAM Excellent
Performing Arts Centre in design phase, BREEAM Excellent minimum
requirment
Awarded nearly £1m of HEFCE funding to create the worlds first integrated
building management and information technology system capable of remotely
monitoring and controlling equipment. Programmed completion mid 2013, with a
2.82 year ROI http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/pages/view.asp?page=31577
Minimal Requirements for ALL Construction and Refurbishment Projects
Detailed below minimum requirements for ALL construction and refurbishment
projects, they have communicated and accepted by the University Estates
Department and external design teams. They form part of the design and
procurement strategy for the new Performing Arts Centre with is currently in the
feasibility and outline design phase. They will be monitored and adapted in line with
best practice on a annual basis at the very minimum;
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BREEAM Excellent for all new construction
BREEAM Excellent where appropriate, or significant energy performance
enhancement, on all refurbishment projects
Target for energy efficiency on new build to be Part L plus 10%. A-rated EPC
target on new build or 10% improvement on refurbishment where possible
and practical
Maximise value to students and local economy
Ensure early stakeholder involvement
Sustainability experience to be key part of design team and contractor
selection - define and communicate project sustainability aspirations from the
outset to design team and contractor.
Design out waste where possible and practical
Ensure local biodiversity is at worst protected, and at best enhanced, by the
project
Sustainable & ethical procurement policies and strategies to deliver better
quality buildings – write sustainability commitments into tendering and
specification documents, encouraging contractors and suppliers to identify
products/construction methods which meet our sustainability aspirations
Early contractor involvement during design phase. Actual design stage to be
considered within the procurement strategy.
Appoint CDM-C on ALL projects where practical
Appoint access consultant on ALL new build projects to consider access for
all
Use of renewable technologies where possible and practical, including
connections to energy centres rather than individual heating plant.
Natural ventilation where possible and practical
Solar shading where possible and practical
Solar hot water and heating where possible and practical
Photovoltaics where possible and practical
Rainwater harvesting, grey water, low volume water fittings and sustainable
drainage systems where possible and practical
Low loss transformers or voltage optimisers to be installed on ALL new build
where possible and practical
Smart Meters to be installed on all new build
Materials and equipment selected on the basis of whole life cost – deliver
buildings that last. Locally sourced where available and practical
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Ensure Employers Requirements where possible and practical specify use of
timber from FSC certified sources, alternatives to materials containing PVC,
maximise the potential for recycling, seek to use steel/concrete/brick/block
and aggregates with the lowest embodied energy commercially available,
seek to use environmentally benign coatings where practical, utilise
equipment with the highest energy ratings,
Low embodied-energy materials selected where possible and practical
Recycled and reused materials selected where possible and practical,
contractor’s incentives to use materials from a renewable source.
Contractors with ISO14001 accreditation to be used where possible and
practical
‘Target’ zero waste to landfill
Considerate Contractors Scheme to be applied for where possible and
practical – contract duration in excess of 12 weeks
Secure by Design principles where possible and practical
Sustainability targets to be tracked and integrated into Project Manager report
for discussion at monthly Project Board meetings
Lessons learnt workshops post practical completion
Monitor building performance on an ongoing basis. Use energy dashboards,
energy bureau services and BMS system to constantly monitor and audit
Conduct post occupancy workshop after the first 12 months of operation and
then again after 3 years.
Simon Denham - Head of Procurement & Sustainability + Project Director:
Capital Projects >£1m
Reviewed December 2012