DIEM Ltd

QHS Solutions Ltd are hosting a half day Environmental & Waste Management Explained course in Burnley on Friday 26th October.

Delivered by Chartered Environmental Surveyor and Chartered Environmentalist David Inman, of Blackburn based environmental consultants DIEM Ltd, this course will give sensible and practical expert advice on reducing environmental and waste management risks and potential costs, plus demystify some common environmental challenges that businesses face today.

For more details and to book please contact Alison at QHS Solutions on:

01282 839103 

Email, info@qhs-solutions.com

I’m noticing recently a slow improvement of energy saving measures on construction sites.  For example I’ve attached a photograph of a sensor activated hot water tap. Many clients ask for energy saving examples, so please explore the options when ordering site accommodation for energy saving measures such as light sensors, timers for heating, alternative heating sources (to diesel) and LED lighting.

The RICS APC (Assessment of Professional Competency) pathway guide for Quantity Surveying describes the discipline as:

Quantity surveyors are the cost managers of construction. They are initially involved with the capital expenditure phase of a building or facility, which is the feasibility, design and construction phases, but they can also be involved with the extension, refurbishment, maintenance and demolition of a facility.

They must understand all aspects of construction over the whole life of a building or facility. They must have the ability to manage cost effectively, equating quality and value with individual client needs.

Looking at the term “cost”, QSs hold the key not just to costing financially, but in terms of waste quantities and diverting this from landfill plus more critical, carbon accounting right through projects from design and construction to long term maintenance and eventual disposal.  The information QSs hold is invaluable for analysing material, including waste, quantities and carbon.

From a Chartered Environmental Surveyor who interprets and manages carbon, waste and materials data for environmental and sustainability reporting, my advice to trainee QSs is embrace the wider sustainability applications which you skills can unlock and you’ll be the stars of the future.

I travelled to Holland with my partner last weekend and in a commuter centre between Amsterdam Centraal Station and Schipol Airport I saw a park and ride which was about 2 Euro per day. The ironic thing was that it was only about a quarter full of cars on a weekday. 

Unlike this, the cycle storage facilities were vast, well used and in good condition.  Why is this? Well, in my opinion the modern, clean public transport is the reason with commuter trains like this:

How ironic that it’s the same organisation, Nederlandse Spoorwegen, which operates these trains and some of the shocking commuter stock in the UK under the brand “Abellio” (Northern & Merseyrail are joint ventures with Serco and Greater Anglia).

The Dutch have the mindset and the infrastructure to provide and use good quality public transport, whilst the UK, having minimal cycle facilities and few segregated cycle lanes, view bikes as a dangerous and risky option.

I had the most uncomfortable rail journey ever yesterday between Formby and Ramsgreave & Wilpshire (near Blackburn) and I feel I should share my thoughts.

The first leg was actually not too bad on Merseyrail as it was fast, frequent on old but refurbished and clean stock.

I had to change at Southport where things got bad when passengers were shoehorned class 142 Pacer, a train which was not fit for service when new. The train got quite busy and ironically on a train bound for Manchester Airport, passengers with cases coudln’t get them down the narrow isle very easily.

The seat was the most uncomfortable I have experienced on public transport and the ride quality was bordering on the terrifying.

Thinkfully I had to change in Bolton when I travelled on a class 150 Sprinter. Whilst more comfortable the unit smelt of urine and it was really dirty.

Why does Merseyrail, owned by the same Serco/Albellio JV keep its trains clean, whilst sister company Northern Rail never clean them? When I mean clean I don’t mean pick up some litter, I mean scrub, wash, polish etc. By the layers of dirt and grime “infrequently” is the word I’m going to politely use.

My view is that with Merseyrail being a consession let be the regional travel authority Merseytravel, there are higher service levels than on a franchise let the more standard route.

Sadly the Northern Rail journey passed through many political districts in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen which rediculously is not in Lancashire.

The only saving grace was that the train was on time, despite it taking 2 hrs 7 mins for a journey I could have driven in 55 mins. Why travel this way, well I want to reduce carbon and also fancied a change from driving, even though my ticket cost over £17.

However, with franchises only being worries about financial penalties for late running trains, there is little apparent focus on passenger compfort.

There needs to be more of a focus on passengers in the North West and not let another franchise on the basis to keep old and work stock on the rails.

I’ve heard people say travel is about the journey and not the destination, but yesterday I just wanted to get off.

David Inman MRICS CEnv of @DIEMLtd gives a brief introduction to PAS 2030:2012 at the launch of the @LCBPC Green Deal Club. Link to video is below:

New video of Martin Brown @fairsnape launching the @LCBPC Green Deal Club in Preston, February 2012. Link to video is below:

After attending yesterday’s excellent Lancashire Construction Best Practice Club Green Deal Consortium Club launch in Preston, I’m delighted to see DIEM Ltd mentioned in Industry today.

A link to the article by Katie Brown of SMPR is at:

http://www.industrytoday.co.uk/green_deal_industry_today/green-deal-consortia-launch/10239

The event left me with a sence of optimism about the willingness of local firms to explore ways of working together.

This morning I attended a construction carbon supply chain meeting and presentation with the common sense involved being fantastic. It was run by a main contractor who were showing free (yes FREE!) tools available, namely the EA’s construction carbon calculator. The presenter then showed how to use the calculator and someone who has used it gave a case study.

It was a simple as that. No sales, blind alleys or over complication. The session was aimed at subcontractors and I’ve never seen a room of construction professionals react so well to such a session. I’ve been to similar ones and they’ve been over long, over complicated and over sales orientated. Here, it was a main contractor engaging with its supply chain - simple as that. There was no ERDF funding, box ticking or self justification.

So, CSR in this case with the supply chain was to the correct level and I came away feeling as the local construction industry in the North West had been enlightened, not disheartened.

I can’t say this forthcoming week is going to be relaxing as my intenerary is:

Monday -  Rochdale

Tuesday - London

Wednesday - Warwick

Thursday - south Kent

Friday - Suffolk

in both meetings, direct client work and site audits.  However, except the London trip, I’m driving due to the remote nature of the destinations.  Talking to clients, we all seem to be travelling more and more.

I know that in the 6 years I’ve been in business, it was high milage for the first 2, then for 2 I managed to shrink work geographically and now it’s back to the high miles.

However the work gets done, but I do think we should be looking towards video conferencing, which many still seem scared of. The technology is there and we should embrace it, such as for training. Later this year I will be teaching surveying students online using quire cheap, yet powerful software. This offers low carbon, low cost, time friendly learning.