Construction site cabins are top source of emissions

It is estimated that £45 million and 200,000 tonnes of CO2 could be being wasted every year by the construction industry through site cabins that are poorly insulated and inefficiently lit and heated.

The humble site cabin is being targeted in a new campaign, launched this week by the construction industry, to reduce the carbon emissions of building sites by 15 per cent over the next two years.

The construction sector is one of the most carbon intensive and waste-heavy industries and the newly launched pan-industry action plan will seek to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of cabins as well as a number of others areas on sites, including plant and equipment and transport and business travel. The package of measures aims to cut the carbon emissions of construction sites in England by some 750,000 tonnes a year, saving firms £180 million a year in energy costs.

According to the Carbon Trust, which is working with the construction sector on the new plan, retrofitting existing site offices or introducing modern 'greener’ ones could cut carbon emissions and energy use by 50 per cent . It said that over their lifetime, energy efficient cabins alone could reduce emissions by five million tonnes – the equivalent of the annual carbon footprint from construction processes and transport in England.

"It has been an enlightening process to identify the biggest opportunities for construction firms to cut their carbon emissions along with their fuel and energy costs," said David Vincent, director of Projects at the Carbon Trust. "As much as 25 per cent of the carbon reduction target can be achieved, and tens of millions of pounds saved, by putting an end to the wasted heat and lighting from thousands of site offices across the country."

Leading companies back plan