Bramall Construction scoops sustainability award

Published by Diana Maccarthy for Bramall Construction in Housing and also in Communities

BRAMALL Construction has demonstrated its commitment to the eco-agenda after scooping a prestigious sustainability award for best eco-practice and the use of renewable technology.

The community regeneration specialist, part of the Keepmoat Group, was presented with the Environmental Award at the Chartered Institute of Building’s Committed to Construction in the East Midlands Awards 2012.

The awards celebrate high quality work by the region’s construction industry supply chain, including developers, designers and builders, and recognise what can be achieved through strong partnerships, a clear vision and high quality delivery.

Bramall demonstrated strong sustainability credentials including:

•  Working with energy consultants to identify potential carbon reductions.

• Commitment to reducing levels of waste to landfill, and continually monitoring business practices to minimise waste. Bramall’s current average recycling rate is 92% (compared to around 20% in 2002), with some sites achieving 96%.

• Recycling excess wood from refurbishment sites to make furniture, reducing carbon emissions from waste.

• Sending chipboard to an incinerator in Doncaster which provides energy to heat greenhouses growing organic vegetables.

• Training staff on how their daily working practices can reduce the negative impact on the environment.

• Having fully accredited Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors on the Design and Build team.

• This approach has been complemented with the use of renewable technologies including: air source, ground source and exhaust air heat pumps, biomass boilers, photovoltaic panels and solar water heating.

Bramall, a Microgeneration Certification Scheme accredited installer of photovoltaic panels, implements at least one system of renewable fuel/energy source on each of its new build schemes and has visited several European countries to review technologies, working practices and design.

The company has championed new build to the highest level of the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes, at ‘zero carbon’ Level 6. It has built more zero-carbon homes than any other contractor in the country - over 100.

Bramall has also pioneered the Passivhaus build method, having completed the first rural social housing Passivhaus scheme – 14 homes with an air tightness of 0.5@50 Pascals.

The company has also carried out energy efficient ‘retrofits’ to a number of existing social housing schemes, helping to bring them up to modern eco standards.

Neil Baxter, Managing Director of Bramall Construction, said: “Receiving the Environmental Award demonstrates that sustainability sits at the core of our business. We recognise our responsibility to the eco-agenda and champion cutting edge build methods and technology to drive forward innovation.”