construction
going green
Wyn Prichard, Wales director for ConstructionSkills, looks at the importance of helping the construction industry prepare for a low carbon future and the opportunities that this presents for businesses in Gwent...
S
ustainability remains at the forefront of the political agenda with the Welsh Government promising in its election manifesto to continue to reduce Wales’ carbon emissions by 40 per
cent by 2020 (against a 1990 baseline.) With the built environment accounting for 47
per cent of all UK carbon emissions, the Welsh Construction and Built Environment Sector has a clear responsibility to develop new ways of working to reduce emissions, helping the Welsh Government to meet its carbon reduction targets. Prior to the Welsh general election the Welsh
Labour party pledged to improve the energy efficiency of both new and existing housing stock by introducing higher construction standards in new housing as we move towards zero carbon building and securing further funding to deliver the Welsh Housing Quality Standard. This not only signals an environmental pledge, but
also provides an economic boost for construction SMEs with workers needing to modernise millions of homes to make them more energy efficient over the coming years.
34 THEbusiness QUARTER At a time when many small businesses in Gwent
are battling with the impact of the recession, the prospect of new work in the Construction and the Built Environment sector couldn’t come at a better time. However, in order to survive and increase
productivity, construction businesses in Gwent need to develop their knowledge and expertise in the low carbon arena to ensure they have the right skills to maximise on the opportunities presented by the changes in legislation. Recent research carried out by ConstructionSkills,
the Sector Skills Council for the construction sector, in collaboration with industry partners shows that there are significant business opportunities for carbon conscious SME contractors in Gwent and throughout the rest of Wales. It shows that a large and growing number of
clients want construction SMEs to be able to deliver carbon reduction solutions now, and that low carbon skills are having a real influence on the clients’ procurement requirements. Low and zero carbon targets together with
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