Further Sources of Information
Further Sources of Information
The following websites offer additional information for construction companies in Northern Ireland in the area of Sustainable Construction.
NetRegs provides free environmental guidance for small – medium sized business in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Guidance can be found by business sector or by environmental topic. There is a section on the website that provides specific guidance for anyone working in the construction and building trades outlining the environmental impacts of construction business, who is responsible for environmental management on sites and information for individual sectors. Businesses can also sign up for free environmental regulations updates by email.
www.netregs.org.uk/business_sectors/construction.aspx
OFMDFM oversees the implementation of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy across Government.
The Department has responsibility for the development, oversight and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Strategy (Everyone’s Involved 2010) and associated Implementation Plan.
www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/articles/sustainable-development
The Building Data Exchange provides a wealth of information on best practice and pitfalls in construction of modern, energy efficient homes, offices, shops and public buildings. The Building Data Exchange is a platform which will unlock one of the largest unexplored data sets in the Built Environment. It contains data collected through Innovate UK’s Building Performance Evaluation programme, which analysed how well real buildings performed. The Building Data Exchange makes this data open and accessible to the built environment community, digital innovators, designers and entrepreneurs.
https://buildingdataexchange.org.uk/
BREEAM is the world's foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings. BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building's environmental performance. It encourages designers, clients and others to think about low carbon and low impact design, minimising the energy demands created by a building before considering energy efficiency and low carbon technologies.Their website provides information on training and events, cases studies and resources.
www.breeam.org
The CIOB Carbon Action 2050 toolkit is an action plan of single, practical steps that can be taken by the Institute, its members and the wider construction industry to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment. Case studies and other resources are available.
www.carbonaction2050.com/
NI Business Info provides practical advice for Northern Ireland business. The current website contains a section on environment and efficiency providing details for business in Northern Ireland on environmental responsibilities, permits and licenses, waste legislation and responsibility, carbon reduction, adapting to climate change, making business more sustainable and the business case for environmental improvements. There is also a specific section for the construction and building trades. Topics covered include site waste management plans, setting up a construction materials logistics plan, recycling construction materials, using resources efficiently in construction and building trades, preventing soil damage during construction projects and reducing packaging waste on a construction site.
www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/environment-efficiency
The BRE Smart Waste website provides online waste management tools including one specific to construction.
www.smartwaste.co.uk
GreenSpec’s goal is to help to drive the construction industry towards more sustainable forms of construction – identifying, reviewing and promoting green products, materials and construction techniques.
www.greenspec.co.uk
Building4change is an online knowledge hub dedicated to sustainability, innovation and best practice in the built environment.
www.building4change.com/
The Northern Ireland Planning Portal, Planning NI has guidance on sustainable building including a document entitled ‘ Building on Tradition – A Sustainable Design Guide for the Northern Ireland Countryside’.
http://www.planningni.gov.uk/building_on_tradition_-_a_sustainable_design_guide_for_the_northern_ireland_countryside_.htm