Increasing demand for good environmental performance presents a challenge to electrical as well as mechanical contractors. However, companies that develop environmental know-how are likely to turn the challenges into business opportunities says the ECA.
Forthcoming environmental legislation, such as the revised Part L of the Building Regulations and the Hazardous Waste Regulations, has a direct impact on building service contractors. Part L will result in significant changes in working practices as it addresses the energy use of new and existing buildings with the objective of reducing energy consumption by around 25 percent. Meanwhile, hazardous waste rules are forcing contractors to think about how they handle waste from domestic and business clients’ premises.
The forthcoming Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE) will address the problem of electronic waste, the levels of which are growing at a rate of six percent annually. WEEE places a legal and financial responsibility on the producer to recover and recycle electrical and electronic equipment. A producer is someone who makes the products, or who brands it as their own or who imports it. Contractors who are classified as producers will need to register with the Environmental Agency and will be legally responsible for the recovery and recycling of WEEE.
“Despite the new challenges, improving environmental performance can open the door to significant commercial opportunities”, said Paul Reeve, HS&E advisor at the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA). “Delegates at a recent environmental workshop held by ECA concluded that having environmental know-how about energy efficiency and waste management will help win tenders and put clear water between reputable contractors and the cowboys.” Beyond operational benefits some E&M contractors see huge potential for environmentally friendly design and build.
Although complying with the new regulations can add costs, contractors who offer services that help clients deal with the new rules could find it easier to secure tenders and add value to their contracts.
According to Reeve: “Contractors have realised the commercial benefits of good health and safety performance when it comes to pre-qualification. We should expect clients to start seeing a contractor’s environmental credentials in the same way that they see safety, where clients look for assurance that the contractor can control the job and avoid surprises.”
The ECA is working closely with the Environment Agency and with Government programmes such as Envirowise.
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There is an obvious need for the industry to be more energy efficient and pay more attention to the ways in which energy is both used and wasted. Do you think we have the products on the market to meet our needs?
