Smart changes your construction company can make to combat climate change

June 29, 2024

The UK has already taken action to meet its goal of net-zero by 2050 but reducing carbon emissions won’t be an easy task for every industry, including construction. The construction industry is the sixth-highest carbon-emitting industry in the UK. Around 10% of the country’s carbon emissions come from construction activities, and the built environment sector is to https://syanetsugaiheki.com/ responsible for 45% of the UK’s carbon emissions. The industry faces multiple challenges in combating climate change. Still, construction companies need to change how they operate to support the government’s net-zero strategy.

 

 

What is the UK government’s net-zero strategy?

There are several ways the government hopes to reduce its carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 and achieve its goal of net-zero by 2050. It plans to introduce grants for low-carbon solutions like heat pumps and electric vehicles; phase out the installation of gas boilers by 2035; ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030; replace all energy sources with renewable energy by 2035; build or retrofit homes with high-quality insulation and green heating.

 

 

These are some of the ways the government plans to combat climate change, and your construction company can keep these in mind when implementing strategies to reduce carbon emissions.

 

Use recycled and locally sourced materials

Using recycled and locally sourced materials is one of the most impactful ways the construction industry can reduce its carbon emissions. Recycled materials are often cheaper and can reduce your costs. By using locally sourced materials, you’ll have more control over your supply chain, and you can support local vendors who produce sustainable materials. Materials from local suppliers also don’t need to be delivered from far away, reducing the carbon footprint of your supplier and your projects.