Engineers consider green construction with the Eden Project

April 27, 2011

With increasing pressure on the construction industry to find sustainable methods
of delivering critical projects, the Institution of Civil Engineers South West is
bringing together industry representatives and experts to discuss how this can be
achieved.

The ‘Construction in the Green Economy’ conference at the Eden Project will look
at how the concept of sustainable construction is changing the way the industry
works and explore what it means for the promoters, designers and constructors
of engineering infrastructure. It will also consider the Government’s agenda,
accessing funding for major regeneration programmes and the lessons learnt
from 10 years of the Eden Project, co-hosts of the conference.

Construction is a field that has a major impact on our quality of life; however with
climate change a real driver in today’s society, the sector must find new ways of
delivering key projects in a carbon-efficient manner. This means minimising the
consumption of energy and materials, considering the carbon life-cycle of the end
product – such as infrastructure assets - as well as the impact on the natural
world.

Trish Johnson, South West Regional Director of the Institution of Civil Engineers,
said: “Sustainable construction in the UK is an important concern both in design
and practice. If we are to achieve a green economy, the construction industry
needs to find innovative ways to deliver key projects, taking into account
environmental and financial constraints.

“A structure such as the Eden Project is a fine example of how we can innovate to
make construction sustainable, but we need to encourage more of the industry –
as well as clients - to see the advantages of greener construction. Our position in
the south west means that materials used in building generally need to be
transported into the peninsula, adding to the carbon footprint; using local
suppliers and recycling materials is just one of the many ways we could make our
construction low carbon.”

She added, “The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and other
government departments are supporting the UK’s move into the new low carbon
economy, which cannot be achieved by renewable forms of energy alone. This
conference will look at the issues facing engineers in achieving sustainable
construction and how funding for such projects can be achieved.”

The conference is to be chaired by Past President of ICE and Director of Crane
Environmental, Dr Jean Venables CBE at the Eden Project in Cornwall on
Wednesday 11 May.

Speakers include DECC Senior Advisor, Keith Waller, who will look at a
Government perspective, and CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and
Information Association) & CEEQUAL (The Assessment Scheme for Civil
Engineering and the Public Realm) representative Philip Charles who discuss
environmental assessment methodologies.

John Hodkin, of Eco-Bos Development, will talk about post mining regeneration
and Stephen Snooks, of North Devon Homes, will speak on funding for major
regeneration programmes and conversion of non-traditional housing.

Reflecting on the Eden Project’s 10th birthday celebrations this year, Sustainability
Manager Caron Thompson will speak on the lessons that have been learnt on this
world-famous project. She said: “One of Eden’s aims as a leader in the field of
sustainable construction is to share the learning from our projects both on and off
site and to stimulate and encourage discussion from other practitioners in the
industry.

“The ICE conference has an exciting range of speakers that offers the opportunity
for participants to consider how inspiration and innovation backed with an
understanding of the practicalities of delivering a project can work together as a
driver for more sustainable projects.”

Dr Venables will also present a CEEQUAL award of Excellent (76.6%) for the A419
Blunsdon Bypass project to Mouchel & Nicholas Pearson Associates (designers),
Carillion (contractors) and Highways Agency (clients).