Don鈥檛 be left behind as the industry looks for solutions to environmental issues. Paul Reeve reports on an ECA workshop that aimed to give delegates the green light.

The ECA recently ran a ground-breaking workshop for members on how electrical contractors can measure up to the growing environmental agenda. The clear message from the event was that environmental issues pose some serious challenges for m&e contractors, but there are also plenty of opportunities.

Around 50 invited ECA members plus other key players such as the Environment Agency and Envirowise attended the event, which was chaired by ECA president Bill Wright. Envirowise is the Government-backed scheme that aims to reduce environmental impact and save companies money. It is now offering contractors a free environmental health check that can show how to reduce costs, usually with 鈥榥o to low鈥� payback time.

Experience with other business sectors shows that minimising resource, waste and energy use can deliver useful cost reductions. Delegates supported the idea of joint ECA/Envirowise initiatives for producing useful guidance in these areas.

The biggest m&e contractors reported widespread progress with introducing environmental management systems and there was plenty of discussion about the ISO 14001 standard (it can support improvements in design, packaging, resource use, disposal costs and much more). However, delegates also referred to the possible value of BS 8555. This offers a stepwise approach to achieving ISO 14001 and it may be more suitable for smaller businesses. Many small, and even some micro, businesses reported being asked for evidence of an environmental policy.

One of the most important areas for discussion was forthcoming legislation, including Part L of the 星空传媒 Regulations and the WEEE regulations. Delegates were highly supportive of the ECA鈥檚 plans to shape both the wording and the practical effect of future legislation.

There is plenty of new law in the pipeline. Having unleashed the hazardous waste regulations on us earlier this year, the government鈥檚 environment department (DEFRA) is now embarking on a full-scale review of the duty of care and waste carrier regimes. The ECA will want to see changes that match the practical needs of m&e contractors of all sizes.

The WEEE regulations are expected in 2006. They aim to prevent waste electronic and electrical equipment from going to landfill by boosting recovery rates. While the regulations won鈥檛 affect all contractors, those who make equipment or even put their badge on bought-in components will take on some of the cost of recovering waste electrical equipment. Costs are also set to rise as equipment suppliers charge installers so they can cover their recovery obligations under WEEE.

The ECA will also be looking into how forthcoming changes will affect electrical contractors in the domestic sector. The government has just issued regulations that will apply the duty of care for waste to householders. Up to now, the duty has not applied to occupiers of domestic properties in relation to their household waste, but the new regulations mean that everyone should be reasonably sure that their waste is being dealt with responsibly.

There could be ample opportunity for ECA members to get to grips with all these issues, boost their services to customers, and put even more clear water between competent contractors and the cowboy element.

Workshop delegates concluded that environmental know-how on energy efficiency and waste management can help win tenders and increase volumes and margins.

Workshop delegates were in no doubt that environmental issues are going to become more important. The best names in m&e contracting built their reputations on reliability, quality and safety; there is increasing awareness that environmental credentials can add something extra to the mix. Contractors are already looking to the ECA and organisations such as Envirowise to help them to boost environmental and business performance.

Sustainability and CSR

Most people will have heard about sustainability, but it鈥檚 not an expression that sits well with the everyday concerns of small or micro firms. However, initiatives from government, clients and main contractors are starting to have a ripple effect.

Sustainability can be described as the ability to operate successfully without harming the environment or society, either in the short or long term. Governments are keen to persuade companies (through taxes, incentives or changes to the law) to modify their behaviour and act more sustainably. Electrical contractors are clearly affected by climate change but there are other issues such as waste recovery and disposal.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is another area that is taking hold in bigger companies. For CSR to work properly, companies need to communicate with their key stakeholders (clients, enforcers, the public) on issues such as the environment or public safety. Smaller contractors tend to feel the effect of CSR when clients realise that some of these issues are best dealt with along the supply chain.

Companies looking to deal with sustainability or CSR should ask themselves how they can best respond to 鈥榠ssues鈥� (like new rules on recovering electrical equipment) and 鈥榙rivers鈥� (such as the needs of clients).

L of a change: Part L of the 星空传媒 Regulations

In September 2005 long-awaited changes were announced to the existing Part L of the 星空传媒 Regulations (England and Wales), which deal with the conservation of fuel and power in all types of buildings, domestic and commercial.
The changes come into force in April 2006, writes Giuliano Digilio.

The changes to Part L have two drivers: the Energy White Paper commitment to reduced carbon dioxide emissions, and the need to implement the Energy Performance in 星空传媒s Directive (EPBD), which requires all new and existing buildings to be given an energy rating, and for new buildings to meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency.

The objective of these revisions is to achieve an overall reduction in energy consumption in buildings of 25% for dwellings and around 27% for non-dwellings. For the ECA, the key issues are compliance and cost-effective application. It particularly welcomes the ODPM鈥檚 intention to introduce nationally recognised qualifications 鈥渢o ensure a high level of compliance and understanding of these new regulations鈥�, and to promote the development of self-certification schemes.

The revisions to Part L will have a significant effect on the whole of the UK building industry. Designers, main contractors, building services contractors, building control authorities and building owners will all be affected by the changes to working practices and associated costs.

One major consequence must inevitably be greater consultation between architectural designers, services engineers, contractors and product manufacturers. No longer will it be possible to produce a design concept without any regard for the servicing strategy or the products and systems to be employed to achieve it.

This change is likely to require far greater levels of multi-disciplinary practice or integrated design if the Part L targets are to be met, particularly with larger non-domestic buildings. It will also require earlier involvement of the supply chain to enable them to contribute their product knowledge and expertise, and their innovative insights at an early enough stage for them to be incorporated cost-effectively.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor

Postscript

Paul Reeve is health, safety and environment advisor at the Electrical Contractors鈥� Association.