Embedding Carbon Reduction into the Build

Environmental awareness and carbon reduction is increasingly important when tendering for projects. Contractors must demonstrate a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint.

See the examples below for how Laing O’Rourke won National Grid’s first contract with carbon weighting:

• The contractor implemented a number of modifications to the build design to reduce material use and ensure carbon reduction.
• At the tender stage, they used modelling software to demonstrate how they would reduce the building mass and introduce pre-assembled switchgear. The plans would lead to significant carbon reductions of 23% – this equates to taking over 7,600 cars off the road for a year.
• The contractor worked with GE and used a newly developed type 400kV gas insulated switchgear (GIS), which is about half the size of previously and established switchgear used within substations.
• This resulted in a significant saving in the insulating gas Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6).
• Using this type of gas insulated switchgear offers significant savings in space requirements compared to older versions of air insulated substations.
• It also leads to significant carbon savings by reducing the volumes of SF6, steel and concrete required to complete the build.

These measures ensured that sustainable practices were ingrained into the project from the start, reducing the carbon footprint and resulting in cost savings.

To find out more, click the link below.