A new roadmap provides Canadian general contractors with the tools and tactics required to ‘green’ jobsites across the country.
Growing and Greening Canadian Construction (CNW Group/PCL Construction)
A report titled Growing and Greening Canadian Construction was recently released, highlighting the importance of “greening” Canadian construction and the range of related strategic opportunities available for contractors who venture down the path toward lower emissions.
Reducing jobsite emissions
Developed among nine leading Canadian general contractors, including Aecon, Bird, Chandos, EllisDon, Graham, Ledcor, Multiplex, PCL and Pomerleau, the report details how a combination of five practical steps can lead to the reduction of jobsite emissions by as much as 75 per cent. What’s more, these reductions can be made without negatively impacting cost, schedule or performance.
A clearer understanding
The report was developed in partnership with carbon-neutral advocate Transition Accelerator, drawing data from more than 600 construction projects across North America, focusing on jobsite emissions with an aim to help bring greater attention to the significance of the issue. And, as Anton Pojasok, Head of Sustainability for PCL Construction, points out, it allows contractors to better understand where the opportunities to reduce emissions exist.
“The report uses real-world project data to identify where emissions are generated on jobsites and where the most effective reduction opportunities exist,” he says. “Because the data is aligned to how construction projects are actually delivered, versus relying on theoretical models, these are steps construction teams can implement right away.”
Steps in the right direction
The five steps that are suggested within the report as a means to reduce carbon emissions on construction jobsites include:
- Transitioning to vehicle and small equipment electrification (could result in 15% reduction of total jobsite emissions)
- Electrifying, and making improvements to, temporary heating (could result in 10% reduction of total emissions)
- Ensuring projects are connected to grid power as opposed to using diesel generators (could result in 15% reduction in jobsite emissions)
- Using renewable diesel for heavy equipment where electrification is not yet practical (could result in 25% reduction in total project emissions)
- Introducing hybrid and electric excavation equipment (could result in 10% reduction in emissions)
Although these steps will enable construction firms to make significant gains with respect to the reduction of carbon emissions on jobsites, the report stresses the fact that real momentum and progress will only be made with coordinated efforts that span across the construction value chain, including construction firms, equipment manufacturers, utilities and energy providers, fuel suppliers and governments. Only then will barriers to adoption be removed, allowing the industry to begin achieving greater environmental gains.