With a drive towards carbon net zero, JNP Group are looking to reduce our own carbon footprint at each of our offices but also to provide and develop designs that will do the same for all projects that we work on. We have an in-house Carbon Committee working group who are looking into all things carbon.
As a company JNP Group participate in the usual recycling of paper, cardboard and food waste to reduce office waste. Even with our hybrid working arrangement, our highest carbon usage is from commuting of staff to and from work, hence we have incentives for people to car share and use alternative methods to get to work; cycling is a popular choice. We also have an electric car scheme and are pleased to see a 50% increase in people joining this scheme.
For all our projects, the JNP Group structures department are fine tuning our designs, undertaking value engineering exercises, using carbon calculators, reviewing and commenting on third party proposals to reduce the amount of steel and concrete needed in our designs.
Within the geo department, as well as the best practical options for remediation on contaminated sites, we also actively promote the sustainable re-use of soils following the Definition of Waste Code of Practice (DoWCoP) on all development schemes (greenfield and brownfield); this allows soils to be re-used either on site or at another site thus avoiding the costly option of material going to landfill as a waste.
There is, however, another environmental driver to consider water neutrality. Around 70% of our aquifers are stressed (i.e. reduced capacity) and many development schemes are being delayed in planning as the scheme cannot demonstrate water neutrality. As with the re-use of soils, JNP Group can design water re-use options into development schemes such as rainwater harvesting, grey water (wash basin and shower) re-use and possible black water (foul water) re-use following treatment as well as SuDS. The aim of these is to minimise potable water demand as a result of re-use. Not only does this help towards water neutrality but it can also assist with lowering your carbon use by between 77-86% depending on which method is used.
The reusing of soils, water and specifying low carbon alternatives in structural design is certainly a great step forward towards the JNP Group goal of achieving carbon net zero, it will also help development projects achieving net zero too and boost our social value.
JNP Group are committed to being a company that considers the environment as an integral part not only to office management but also of geo-environmental, civil and structural design in order to leave a positive legacy for future generations.
Should you want to know more please contact the following:
Hilary Ilsley regarding soils re-use.
Sarah Longstaff regarding water neutrality and SuDs.
Tim Vlad regarding carbon reduced structural design.