The Executive offered the Public Sector Sustainable Construction Forum a Sustainable Action Grant of £4,000 over 2003-06 (with a further £2,000 in November 2003 to allow additional work in 2003-04) to take forward sustainability initiatives in public sector construction and the exchange of information on this. Total grant paid was £7,218.
The work promoted best practice in the use of sustainable materials, reduction in waste and increase in recycling, contributing to energy efficiency and improvement of the environment. The Forum was formed in 1999 to hold regular meetings where members can exchange views.
Membership of the Forum has included, as a few examples: Campbell Construction Group, Carl Bro, CIRIA Scottish Office, Forestry Commission Scotland, Gaia Research, Glasgow Caledonian University, John Gilbert Architects, Halcrow Group Ltd, Hillcrest Housing Association, Laing O'Rourke Scotland, Napier University, Scottish Building Standards Agency and the Scottish Waste Awareness Group.
Meetings were held in 2003 in May (Troon) and October (East Dunbartonshire), in 2004 in June (Aberdeen) and October (Fife), in 2005 in June (Dundee) and September (Aviemore) and in February 2006 in Glasgow.
Subjects of presentations at meetings have included
- Sustainable Timber,
- Natural Paints,
- The Engineer, The Architect and the Scottish Parliament,
- Use of Recycled Products and
- Partnering, Sustainability and Regeneration, Morgan Academy Reinstatement and Baxter Park Restoration.
Among initiatives discussed in 2003-04 were ISO: 14001, managing construction waste, landfill reduction, wood burning heating systems, solar water heating, an underground recycling centre, contractor evaluation and a good practice planning guide. The Forum has encouraged and supported a Timber Certification Policy.
Initiatives discussed in 2004-05 included: sustainable construction policy, sustainable development guides, sustainable housing, sustainable timber, waste management, wood pellet boilers, energy mirrors, wind farms, bio-diesel, micro renewables, a demolition protocol and eco-industrial business parks.
The Forum circulated questionnaires to members to gauge interest in specific topics and to measure progress in implementing initiatives, and sought feedback on some consultation documents.
There was an increasing uptake of initiatives by member organisations including:
- Solar water heating - 44 per cent (previous 35 per cent)
- Solar heating - 38 per cent (previous 20 per cent)
- Photovoltaics - 38 per cent (previous 20 per cent)
- Site waste management - 44 per cent (previous 30 per cent)
- Recycling waste - 69 per cent (previous 55 per cent)
- Sustainable audits - 56 per cent (previous 25 per cent)
- Wood fuel/Biomass heating - 12 per cent (previous 10 per cent)
A website was set up in October 2003 and gives reports of meetings. At the final meeting during the project period, in Glasgow in February 2006, there was an attendance list of over 50.
By the end of the project there were 211 members representing 93 organisations. The Forum activity continued, welcoming new members from the public and private sectors.
Further information
City Architectural Services Officer
Public Sector Sustainable Construction Forum
Dundee City Council
Floor 11, Tayside House
28 Crichton Street
Dundee
DD1 3RQ
Telephone: 01382 433640
Fax: 01382 433034
www.sscforum.org.uk