Reducing carbon in infrastructure projects will see a corresponding reduction in costs, says Mike Putnam, president and CEO of Skanska UK. However, carbon-reduction initiatives should be taken up at the concept stage of the project if cost savings are to be achieved.
Mike Putnam features in the 10th episode of the Construction Climate Talks series produced by the Construction Climate Challenge, an initiative hosted by Volvo Construction Equipment to promote sustainability throughout the entire construction industry value chain.
Mike Putnam is clear about what needs to be done to reduce carbon in construction projects. The Green Construction Board, which he chairs, developed the Infrastructure Carbon Review. This initiative has allowed them to demonstrate how taking carbon out of construction in the capital or operational phases has the added benefit of reducing cost as well. These efficiencies can be achieved by training people, setting targets, rewarding success, and ensuring everyone involved in the business - as well as across the industry - understands the objectives of the sustainability agenda.
The Infrastructure Carbon Review sets out a series of actions to achieve carbon reductions of 24 million metric tonnes per annum from the construction and operation of the UK’s infrastructure assets by 2050. This would yield a potential net benefit of up to £1.46 billion per year.
You can watch Mike Putnam speak on reducing carbon in construction in the 10th episode of Construction Climate Talks.
