club events page updated – plenty happening over the next few weeks !
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May Day commitment to action
A number of people have suggested I put the Think top ten actions in here as well as the link to the Think 07. Here they are again – what do we make of them ( more to the point what will John Prescott make of them!) Maybe we use these as the agenda for our question time event in September.
1.To draw up SMART targets for the reduction of carbon emissions, waste & water and to protect biodiversity.
2. To develop industry-wide, consistent carbon modelling and measurement tools for existing and new buildings to achieve these targets.
3. To halve the amount of construction waste taken to landfill every two years.
4. To devise a more effective renewable energy strategy, including district-wide strategies.
5. To encourage landlords and occupiers to share and publish data on buildings’ energy consumption, with the aim of collectively reducing emissions.
6. To adopt operational energy labelling certificates across all buildings.
7. For landlords to adopt a new code on leases which discourages the reinstatement of properties to their original state.
8. To promote the use of life cycle analysis, including embedded and operational carbon emissions.
9. Every building to have a master ‘off’ switch.
10. To encourage the adoption across the construction and property industries of the May Day commitment to action.
Think 07 – Courage to Answer the Call?
Just back from the first day of the Think 07 conference. I will post more later this week – but the key thoughts and messages from today :
The Prince of Wales referred to climate change as an emergency and called for immediate action. “Doing nothing is not an option”
The key note was from Al Gore, by live link from New Orleans, who concluded his speech and question time with the statement “so much depends on the choices we make today” – addressing the Think 07 delegates he asked – “do you you have the courage to answer the call?” and finished with a quote from American poet Wallace Stevens ” After the final no, there comes a yes”
He talked about carbon zero mortgages of which Gore is a keen supporter, ie where costs of greening buildings are not included in the construction cost but are met by additional mortgage, government backed, and paid off by the savings derived through the life of the building . Interesting.
At the lunch time Question Time chaired by Sue MacGregor, Tony Bloxham, Urban Splash, put carbon offsetting in its place – “Carbon offsetting is absolute nonsense.” he said “It has nothing to do with sustainability.” Others on the panel including shadow construction minister Mark Prisk backed Bloxham’s criticisms.
So if you are looking to offset – be careful, be very very careful – my motto in my top ten actions was – Dont Offset – Just dont do it that way.
And as to the exhibition area – it was interesting to see three of the leading supermarkets there – Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tescos – all trying to out green each other in a race to have the most carbon friendly and sustainable stores. Their approach to construction will undoubtedly impact on the rest of the industry. Watch this space ….
Follow breaking news and comment from this important conference here – over at Zero Champions blog or on the i-think website
Local BSF News
Contracts worth nearly ten million pounds have already been placed with Lancashire firms as work begins on the Building Schools for the Future programme in Burnley and Pendle. Nearly six million pounds of business has been won by firms in East Lancashire. The contracts include work on things like fixtures and fittings, steel frames, and earthworks.
The Building Schools for the Future programme will involve 250 million pounds of development on nine sites in Burnley and Pendle. Work has started on three sites where students are due to start using the facilities in September 2008. The Shuttleworth College site on Burnley Road, Padiham, will house a 1,050 place school for pupils aged 11 to 16 and a learning support centre.
Keith Walton Brickworth Ltd, of Nelson, has a contract to provide bat roosts.
James Killelea Ltd, of Rossendale, has a contract to provide steel work.
H. Breakell, of Blackburn, has a contract to provide lifts.
Vari-tech, of Blackburn, has a contract to provide fixtures, fittings and equipment.
The Burnley Campus, on Barden Lane, will house a 600 pupil sixth form, a primary school, a primary special school, a children’s centre, a faith centre and a public library. Orders placed so far for the site are worth 1.3 million pounds to Lancashire businesses:
James Killelea Ltd, of Rossendale, has a contract to provide steel works.
The Pendle Vale College and Pendle Community High School site, on Oxford Road in Nelson, will house a 1,050 place school for pupils aged 11 to 16, a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19, and a learning support centre. Orders placed so far for the site are worth 5.9 million pounds to Lancashire businesses:
- Kiernan Construction,of Ribbleton, has a contract to provide earthworks and substructures.Varitech, of Blackburn, has a contract to provide fixtures, fittings, and equipment.
Wm Taylor Pools, of Preston, has a contract to provide a hydrotherapy pool.
H. Breakell, of Blackburn, has a contract to provide lifts.
The Building Schools for the Future programme is a being spearheaded by Lancashire County Council in partnership with developers Catalyst Lend Lease and builders Bovis Lend Lease.
Michael Damms, the chief executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Building Schools for the Future programme is a great boost to the economy of East Lancashire and makes a real statement about confidence in the area. We look forward to working with the county council and the developers to help local companies identify business opportunities.”
Marcus Johnstone, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “I am delighted that so much of the money we are spending on new schools in east Lancashire is finding its way into the local economy. This project is bringing massive regeneration to Burnley and Pendle We will be working with the developers, the chamber of commerce and local business people to build a more prosperous, happier, and better educated community.”
Catalyst Lend Lease’s general manager for the Lancashire BSF programme said: “Our goal is to use as many local contractors and suppliers as we can to help us build and equip these new colleges. “We want to support the local community and encourage contractors to recruit local people to work on these projects.”
Thanks to Cath Pickup for this news item .
Related events from the club include – Life After Frameworks on the 24th May and Bidding To Win on June 7/8
Details on the events page.
Think Debate – whats your top 10?
As part of the Think 07 event this week, the Think web site is running a number of debates that should hear your voice and opinion – see below – and if you do have a top 10 actions we should be taking to address climate change and carbon issues in our industries – then please post it here too!
Sign up to the built environment ten actions on climate change in association with HRH Prince Wales and Business in the Community. You can submit your ideas on what these should at www.think07.co.uk/ten
Log on to a new, free web resource – i-Think.com – where you can create your own networks, debate hot issues and video showcase your company – go to www.i-think.com now to sign on for free
Got a burning question for VP Al Gore? There’s still time to submit your question. Just go to www.think07.co.uk/algore
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They bid to win
Some 25 construction professionals attended the Best Practice Clubs Bidding to Win event last Thursday that provided a free taster session of the Evolution-IP Biding to Win course. As Roger
Jones, the club secretary said:
“delegates took away expert advice that can be applied immediately to improve bids”
Two related events are planned through the club:
May 24th Life After Frameworks. Free Evening session to be held at the Globe Accrington
June 7/8 Bidding to Win – Part funded Evolution-IP event to be held at Guys Thatched Hamlet. Bilsborough
More details will be on the Club Events page
Book early to be sure of a place.
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Free event that could radically improve your business.
Bidding To Win
Our next event is on the 26th April 2007 and well subscribed so far – there may be a few places left for the afternoon session though .
Updated post event:
We are running these events regularly, mostly in house. If you are interested in our bidding to win events and courses, please contact me directly
Are we web ready ?
Contract Journal reports 79% of building sites have web access according to recent survey.
Is this number as high in the North West?
Perhaps a best practice club event should be focused on using the internet to access best practice from sites such as Constructing Excellence and the plethora of web sites and blogs that report on sustainability and improvement issues as well as industry news?
Your views?
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Event Postponed
The Sustainability event scheduled for 22 March 2007 has unfortunatley been postponed.
Watch this space for updates.
Our next events are:
March 27th CDM – UCLAN Harris Park Preston
April 26th Bidding to Win – UCLAN Harris Park Preston
You can download more details and faxback forms from the Events Page
These events are likely to be very popular – book your places now
Upcoming Events
Just a reminder of our next events:
March 22nd Sustainability – Blackpool
March 27th CDM – UCLAN Harris Park Preston
April 26th Bidding to Win – UCLAN Harris Park Preston
You can download more details and faxback forms from the Events Page
These events are likely to be very popular – book your places now
Fairsnape 