Why Carbon Management Matters in the Construction Industry

In the construction industry, it can feel like we’re constantly at odds with sustainability and protecting the planet. But here’s the hard truth: if we don’t strike a balance between the needs of the planet and human demands, we won’t have a planet left to build on.

Carbon management is not just an environmental necessity but a strategic business move for us. Why? By adopting cutting-edge, energy-efficient building methods, not only are we reducing emissions but we’re future-proofing our clients’ investments and happy clients are the very core of our business growth.

Read more in our latest case study.

What exactly is Carbon Management?

According to the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), the built environment is responsible for around 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint. This includes 28% from operational emissions and the remainder from embodied carbon in materials and construction processes.

By implementing carbon management practices, we can substantially reduce our environmental footprint. From passive design principles and high performing insulation, to the use of low carbon or green materials and robust recycling programs for construction waste, there are a whole host of opportunities to improve construction carbon management practices.

JATA Connections provides Renewable Energy Solutions suitable to all builds and budgets, but one material that our Construction teams are shouting about right now is carbon-neutral concrete which we’ve recently used at a job in Stowmarket. This mix uses GGBS (Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag) a by-product from the blast-furnaces used to make iron, in place of cement. It offers great durability, reducing the likelihood of concrete thermal cracking and improves the concrete’s resistance to damage from alkali-silica reaction, sulphates and chlorides. But the real icing on the cake is that this mix significantly reduces the environmental impact of a project. The lack of cement cuts the CO2 emissions associated with concrete while helping to conserve natural resources for future generations. Boom.

If you’d like to know more about how carbon management in your construction project, simply drop us a line.