SUSTAIN was the first time Exchange Club had hosted an event that was based on a formal sharing of knowledge, expertise and ideas.
There is a high level of understanding amongst built environment professionals around the challenges of addressing climate change, what the Exchange Club’s SUSTAIN event aimed to do was present a series of practical sector-specific examples which are achieving meaningful change.
The event’s chair was sustainability consultant Mark Shayler, author of You Can’t Make Money From A Dead Planet who encouraged everyone in attendance to take responsibility for reducing their environmental impact and increasing social equity. Ahead of the individual sessions, he sent out a rallying cry for creative solutions to address climate change.
The event was divided into four sessions which played to the strengths of the member organisations of Exchange Club as listed below. Please click for a fuller summary of each discussion.
- Power: Existing and future emissions from standby diesel generation
- Circularity – Making a Difference With Reuse
- Fire and fire safety engineering initiatives for a greener planet
- Minimum Demolition – adaptive reuse
Power: Existing and future emissions from standby diesel generation
Together ,Darren Stapleton and Wayne Bint from AVK have decades’ worth of experience and both have witnessed significant changes in their sector of the market (critical power solutions and maintenance), especially regarding emissions and the shift towards more reliable and long-lasting generator sets. There has been a notable move from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and also growth in the adoption of after-treatment emissions solutions. This reflects the broader market’s response to environmental concerns and the need for sustainable energy solutions. Companies are now more proactive in maintaining their equipment and reducing waste and efforts to lower emissions have intensified. Firms are acutely aware of the need to reduce their carbon footprint and are taking significant steps to achieve this. The introduction of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) as a renewable fuel has been a game-changer. HVO is made from waste vegetable oil and offers a 92-95% reduction in CO2 emissions, compared to traditional diesel. It also reduces particulate matter and other pollutants. This synthetic diesel alternative is clear, odourless, and compatible with existing diesel engines, making it an effective replacement. Despite the higher upfront costs associated with transitioning to HVO, the long-term benefits are substantial. The power industry’s shift towards sustainable energy solutions, such as HVO, demonstrates a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact in the long term. As the industry continues to innovate and adopt cleaner technologies, the future looks promising, with significant improvements in air quality possible, as well as reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Darren Stapleton, UK Sales and Service Manager, AVK – “Year on year, people want to do more with their equipment, they want to maintain it better and are considering life cycle monitoring and reducing waste.”
Wayne Bint, Emission and Sustainable Solutions Manager, AVK – “Because hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) doesn’t support bacterial growth, there is less maintenance required, plus it has a fuel life of 15 years, rather than six months.”
Circularity – Making a Difference With Reuse
This session was chaired by Recolight’s Nigel Harvey with panellists David Clements, FUTURE Designs, Susan Randall, Rype Office and Martin Thompson, Tridonic. The discussion began by setting out the principles of remanufacturing and how this is a crucial practice that’s higher up on the waste hierarchy than recycling. It was pointed out that many functional products end up recycled when they could be reused, significantly reducing embodied carbon and creating more local jobs. For instance, remanufacturing lighting products cuts embodied carbon by 50%. FUTURE Designs’ Carbon Careful scheme, launched officially three years ago but operational for the last fourteen, reuses existing lighting carcasses not only transitioning from fluorescent to LED lighting, but updating Gen 1 LEDs to Gen 5.
Office furniture is a major carbon emitter due to frequent tenancy churns in commercial buildings. Remanufacturing can cut emissions by 80% and significantly reduce waste. Rype Office refurbishes furniture to like-new standards, offering high quality at 20-30% lower cost without compromising on design or functionality. Tridonic’s efforts in remanufacturing, meanwhile, include using data to manage lighting assets efficiently, ensuring these products are used to their full potential, reducing waste and promoting long-term sustainability. Recolight, too, has been advancing remanufacturing through several initiatives. Its RecoLight Reuse Hub connects donors and recipients of reusable lighting products with speed of delivery and effective storage eliminating any potential logjams. Recolight is also campaigning to end wasteful Cat A refurbishments and encourage more sustainable Additionally, the firm is helping develop a British Standard for remanufactured lighting to ensure quality and compliance.
In summary, remanufacturing is a crucial practice in tackling climate change which promotes efficient asset management and sustainable practices.
Nigel Harvey, Chief Executive, Recolight, “Despite common perceptions, recycling isn’t the ultimate goal—reducing and reusing are more impactful.”
David Clements, CEO FUTURE Designs, “Through the efforts of our Carbon Careful initiative, 3 million square feet of office space has been refurbished, saving thousands of tons of mild steel and significantly reducing the environmental impact.
Fire and fire safety engineering” initiatives for a greener planet
The panel including Tony Hanley, FirePro; Victoria Wells, Apollo Fire Detectors; Ian Moore, CEO, Fire Industry Association; Stewart Adamson, Asst Fire Officer, Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service talked about the intersection between fire safety and sustainability.
Fire suppression products are essential in key asset protection for places such as power stations and substations. Their sustainability credentials are increasingly the subject of scrutiny, particularly the complications of using PFAs (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances used in firefighting foam) which are hard to replace but somewhat necessary for fire resistance.
Many in the fire safety sector have gone on a journey of carbon footprint measurement and reduction. To help various stakeholders such as installers within the fire safety sector, educational resources are being developed to guide on best practice in terms of reducing environmental impact. This includes addressing issues such as the integrity of compartmentation in buildings which, if compromised, presents a much greater fire risk.
It was noted that insurers are increasingly open to learning and engaging with new fire safety technologies, recognising the need for proactive risk management rather than simply raising premiums.
In terms of fire and rescue service operations, early fire detection and effective firefighting are essential in minimising ecological damage from smoke and carbon pollution. There is also the challenge of managing runoff water from firefighting.
Continued collaboration is crucial in the ongoing efforts and progress in integrating sustainability within the fire safety industry.
Tony Hanley, Managing Director, FirePro, “Education in the context of the evolution of the market itself is key.”
Minimum Demolition – adaptive reuse
The panel comprising Sean Nutley, Hace Enabling Ltd; Rosie Haslem, Streetsense; Colin Macgadie, For Everyday Life and Richard Estrop, Colliers talked about the role of demolition in material recycling and how the construction industry can balance cost and carbon efficiency
The panel emphasised the value of reimagining and reusing existing buildings, also known as adaptive reuse. This not only preserves architectural heritage but also reduces environmental impact and enhances social value.
There are significant environmental benefits of repurposing building materials rather than demolishing structures outright. This approach not only minimises waste but also supports sustainable development practices. Sustainable principles must be integrated from the outset of projects, which may mean a shift in mindset within planning and development authorities to prioritise adaptive reuse over new construction.
Historic buildings have cultural and experiential value within urban landscapes and by retaining and revitalising existing structures, the unique character of cities can be maintained, fostering community and civic identity.
Modular construction and advanced building materials also offer some opportunities for sustainable development. That said, however promising new technologies, true sustainability lies in the thoughtful reuse of existing buildings.
Creativity in urban planning and development processes is key in tandem with education and awareness to drive these changes across the industry, ensuring that future developments align with both environmental stewardship and social value goals.
Despite the complexities in preserving historical and cultural heritage while meeting modern environmental standards, the panel largely advocated for adaptive reuse as a sustainable alternative to outright demolition and new construction.
Sean Nutley, CEO Hace Enabling Ltd, “Bring in discussions around minimum demolition at an early stage and understand what the journey looks like.”
In conclusion, what these sessions have in common is an emphasis on the importance of proactive efforts in reducing environmental impact, increasing social equity, and promoting sector-wide innovative practices.
