The construction industry is significant and its output has a major impact both on our environment and our ability to maintain a sustainable economy overall.
Hertfordshire is hosting a major awards event to celebrate sustainability success and is launching a unique toolkit to support the industry.
Buildings and their construction are responsible for almost 50% of natural resource use, 20% of water use, 30-40% of energy use and around a third of the world’s CO2 emissions. Whilst its impacts are global, construction happens locally in villages, towns and cities. The opportunity for construction to support sustainable growth by delivering sustainable development locally is huge.
It is with this vision in mind that the Hertfordshire Building Futures initiative came into existence. Led by the local authorities in Hertfordshire, Building Futures understands that we quite simply have to change the way we design, plan and build.
To celebrate projects which actively meet sustainability objectives, Building Futures holds a biennial awards event. The 2013 Building Futures Awards will be held on November 21 at the iconic Spirella Ballroom in Letchworth Garden City and will recognise achievements in sustainable design and construction across Hertfordshire. Entries are being invited from August 19 for projects completed between September 16 2011 and September 16 2013. The closing date for entries is September 27 2013.
The awards will also see the official launch of a new initiative from Building Futures: their online Sustainable Design Toolkit. This unique toolkit will drive forward sustainable design and construction in home extensions through to large mixed used schemes, bringing together a range of best practice guidance on retrofit new build into an easy to understand and use resource. It provides a method for weaving sustainability into the design, planning and construction of new buildings on a variety of issues, such as energy, adaptation, materials and water.
As a sign of success, the University of Hertfordshire Estates team, a 2011 award winner, actively supports the initiative and has contributed to the Sustainable Design Toolkit’s production.
Ian Grimes, Deputy Director of Capital Projects, Hospitality and Contract Services at the University adds: “Winning the 2011 awards gave us a platform from which to launch numerous other sustainability projects. We fully support Building Futures and its initiatives, including the excellent online toolkit, and look forward to becoming more involved in the future.”
The 2013 awards are set to be an especially significant event with the launch of a new Retrofit for the Future Award, and will be a great opportunity to find out more about the Sustainable Design Toolkit and how it will benefit the built environment.
Architects, contractors and clients are urged to come forward and nominate their projects for the 2013 awards. It is a great way to showcase best practice in this industry-acclaimed event.