1. How to Successfully Measure Carbon in your Construction Business
ARCHIE PRENTICE

2. Who is this guy?
Set up Practically Green Ltd, highland based environmental, sustainability and low carbon consultancy
Involved with carbon and climate change for nearly 15 years
Public and private sector projects across Scotland as well as Denmark and Afghanistan
Business is ISO 9001, BS OHSAS accredited

3. Overview What is carbon footprinting?
Why is this becoming more of an issue for your business and in the construction sector?
What can I do about this?

4. What is Carbon Footprinting
Measurement and management of 6 gases linked to man made climate change
Main one by volume is carbon – hence the snappy phrase of carbon footprinting rather than greenhouse gas footprinting

5. Why is this becoming more of an issue for your business and the construction sector?
Carbon costs
Climate change
Carbon rich fossil fuels running out
Moral issues

6. Carbon In Construction
•Energy from fossil fuels consumed in the construction and operation of buildings accounts for approximately half of the UK’s emissions of carbon dioxide.
•Housing alone generates 27% of UK emissions, of which 73% is used for space and water heating.
•Around 10% of UK emissions are associated with the manufacture and transport of construction materials, and the construction process
•Since the start of the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by around 30% , and is likely to have doubled by 2100 at the latest

7. Your Company Operational Carbon Footprint - Resource Use
2015
2016
Petrol
Vehicles, chain & concrete saws
1,700
1,900
Diesel
Vehicles
23,400
29,000
Red Diesel
Plant, crushers, forklifts
18,600
24,000
Heating Oil
Boilers
1,500
3,500
Electricity
Office and site cabins
22,000
45,000
Can also include the volumes of water used and waste produced as there are associated
greenhouse gas impacts with this resource use.

8. Your Company Operational Carbon Footprint - Resource Use
Emission Factors
Unit
Petrol
Vehicles, chain & concrete saws
2.2
kgCO2/Litre
Diesel
Vehicles
2.6
Red Diesel
Plant, crushers, forklifts
2.9
Heating Oil
Boilers
2.5
Electricity
Office and site cabins
0.500
kgCO2/kWh
Emission factors produced each year by the Government, use the latest versions to
calculate your footprint for that year.

9. Your Company Operational Carbon Footprint - Kg CO2
2015
2016
Petrol
Vehicles, chain & concrete saws
3,740
4,180
Diesel
Vehicles
60,840
75,400
Red Diesel
Plant, crushers, forklifts
53,940
69,600
Heating Oil
Boilers
3,750
8,750
Electricity
Office and site cabins
11,000
22,500

10. Your Company Operational Carbon Footprint

11. Results Ballfour Beatty

12. Summary Its all about the data - can only track what’s being recorded
Operational carbon will fluctuate - how to normalise tCO2/£m turnover or tCO2/employee
Project footprints – good practice, innovative
Set reasonable targets - 50% cut sounds great but achievable?
Embodied carbon is next – already here in some sectors and products